Beyond(38)

I try for casual. “Hey, is Dr. James in his room?”

Lars studies me. “How long have you been standing there?”

I look around, shrugging my shoulders. “I just walked up the hallway, why?”

His face softens. “No reason, and yeah he’s in there. You see Sam?”

“He’s helping build a tree house for the kids,” I say, stepping forward and knocking on the door. “They probably need a hand if you’re not busy.”

“I’ll go there now,” he murmurs, walking past me.

Opening the door, I find Dr. James standing by the window, staring out of it.

“Hey,” I say. “I forgot to ask about the medicines Dane found.”

He jumps and turns to me. “Olivia. I haven’t had a proper look through everything but I did see some antibiotics and some disinfectants, so that will help.”

“Good,” I reply. “Is everything okay?”

He looks lost in thought, and I get the feeling something isn’t right.

He sighs tiredly, but nods. “It’s fine. A few of the kids have bad coughs and I don’t have anything to offer them. I read pineapple juice might help but we have none of that either.”

I stand straighter. “I saw a few tins of sliced pineapple in the kitchen. I’ll go and give them to the sick kids.”

He smiles then, a little sadly. “You’re a good woman Olivia. Just like your father was a good man.”

“Thank you,” I reply quietly. “We do the best we can in times like these.”

“Yes,” he murmurs, “We do.”





Chapter Twenty





“If she puts her hand on him one more time,” I threaten, staring daggers at the back of Jordan’s head.

Gina laughs. “She’s doing it on purpose. Dane isn’t even paying attention to her.”

I look at my friend and raise an eyebrow. “How’s things with Lars?”

She shrugs. “A little weird to be honest. It’s like he’s dating me and Sam.”

That was exactly what he was doing.

“I don’t want anything too serious though,” she adds absently. “And he’s good in bed so I shouldn’t complain.”

I wrinkle my nose. “That’s as much information as I’m going to need. What did you do all day?”

“I made candles,” she replies. “We’re running out and we desperately need more. I think we’re going to need to stay in darkness as much as we can.”

I nod. How long until all supplies ran out? Then the hunts would become longer, more dangerous, or we’d have to live solely off the land. The thought was a little scary.

Okay, it was a lot scary.

“We can make do,” Gina says, interrupting my thoughts. She bumps her hip against me. “We always get by. Cavemen survived, surely we can.”

I laugh at that. “As long as the crops keep growing I think we will be alright. The potatoes are important. We won’t have much meat, but we will have some. I can always go hunting for birds.”

She rubs her stomach. “I could go for a huge turkey. Are they any turkeys around here?”

I laugh, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “We could look for one.”

“Olivia,” Dane says, coming to stand next to me. “Are you busy right now?”

“No, why?”

“Because I want to taste your *,” he whispers in my ear, making me blush.

“Oh, well… I… uhhh.. I think I could make some time.”

Gina laughs, leaving the two of us alone.

“Good,” Dane replies, kissing my neck. “I don’t think I can wait any longer, so unless you want people to see a show, we need to get to our rooms. Now.”

We practically run there.





“You have no proof,” I hear Lars say.

What was up with Lars these days? Deciding I was sick of trying to piece together this puzzle, I walk right up to him and Dr. James. The two of them were standing in front of Dr. James’ room, near where I saw them speaking to each other last time.

“Proof about what?” I ask, glancing between the two of them.

I was missing something here.

Dr. James swallows, and I don’t miss the emotion that crosses Lars face.

Fear.

“Nothing,” he replies. “This is between the doctor and me.”

I look to Dr. James. “Is everything okay?”

He looks to the ground, sighing. “He’s right. I have no real proof.”

“Proof of what?” I ask, brow furrowing in confusion. “Someone tell me what’s going on here!”

Dr. James looks to his door. “Come inside Olivia. The others don’t need to hear this.”

As I walk by, Lars grabs my arm. “He has no proof Olivia. Only his assumptions.”

Lars was Dane’s best friend. I didn’t like thinking he was up to something, but something didn’t feel right. “Okay, I just want to know what the problem is.”

“The problem is,” Lars grits through clenched teeth. “The doctor is making accusations about me that I don’t f*cking appreciate. And with no damn proof.”