Isolation | Book 4 | Holding On Jones, Nathan (best smutty novels txt) 📖

there yet, but they were certainly way closer to it here than in Stanberry. Besides, what was he here for but to help make that happen? What was he working for if not to make the world a better place for his children?

Now that he was here, seeing what the survivors of the pandemic in the US were working to accomplish, he found himself becoming more certain that Gorstrom had been honest with him.

He was being treated like any other volunteer, like she'd promised. And if that was true, then Houston really was a much better place to raise his children than Stanberry. Where they could go to school, and be close to a hospital if there was an emergency, and have access to pediatricians, and regular dentist visits, and everything else that could improve their lives.

Maybe he could convince Ellie of that, get her down here to see all this for herself. He knew that the manager in her wouldn't be able to ignore such a major and important project, whatever she said about wanting the peace and quiet of farming in Stanberry.

It was a possibility for the future. That, and going back to having his kids half the time once travel became easier and safer.

“Look!” Billy abruptly shouted, pointing. “There are kids playing in that park!” He turned to his mom, expression pleading. “Can I go play too? Please?”

“Maybe later,” Gen said, tussling his hair. “We still need to get moved in and figure out how things are done here . . . for all we know we can only use that park at certain times or something.”

“Oh.” The six-year-old pouted as he looked down at the playing kids. “I thought we didn't have to worry about Zolos or staying inside anymore.”

“Maybe we can go for a walk,” Nick said. “We need to head to the store anyway to pick up some food and a few other things for our new apartment anyway. While we're out and about we can look around the neighborhood, see what's here.”

That cheered Billy up a little.

Shopping shouldn't be all that different from before Zolos, from what the FARR worker had told them. She'd pointed them to a place within walking distance where they could get their food rations, which included not just staples but a limited selection of luxury items, as well as other essentials. Especially for the higher tiers.

Nick kissed the top of Gen's head. “Ok, I'm going to go start moving our things to the rooms we decided on. How about you guys get ready to go? You can make up a list of stuff we need.”

She brightened at that suggestion. “Sounds good,” she said, shooing Billy towards the door. “Come on, let's go!”

Nick watched them disappear inside with a smile, again deeply grateful they'd chosen to come with him. If he'd been here alone this would've felt much more like the sentence it technically was, but with them here he actually looked forward to getting started.

Zolos had devastated them, and would probably have lasting effects he hadn't even considered, but he held out hope that they could get past it. That by the time he could see his kids again this pandemic would be far behind them.

✽✽✽

Letting out a weary groan of relief, Ellie settled down on the blanket Hal had laid out atop a scenic hill near the Norsons' house. As he settled down beside her she cuddled against him in the cooling evening air, both looking contentedly out at the view.

It had been a long day. They all tended to be, these days, but today had been more stressful than most. Tallie had gotten a huge sliver as she was helping them carry firewood, and it had taken almost a half hour of heartbreaking tears before she reluctantly agreed to let them take it out.

After that Hal had found some kid's gloves that fit her well enough, but by then she didn't want to go anywhere near the woodpile. Winn had mercifully invited the poor girl to come and bundle herbs with her for drying, but even so they'd lost daylight getting it all sorted out, leaving them scrambling to catch up on everything that needed to be done.

Of course, with the supplies the relief workers had given the town they weren't in desperate need, but it galled Ellie to not be self-sufficient, or at least working towards it. Besides, whatever Gorstrom said about the country's surplus, those supplies wouldn't last forever; it was better to not be completely dependent on them when they ran out.

She'd already seen for herself how quickly a situation should become dire, and she didn't want to be in that position again if she could help it.

Sensing her exhaustion and stress, Hal shifted around slightly and began massaging her shoulders and upper back. Ellie groaned in relief as his strong fingers worked into sore muscles and she felt the deep-seated aches and pains, not to mention a ton of built up tension, slowly ease away.

“Thanks, I needed that,” she murmured. “Hours of stooping out in the garden are murder on my back.”

“Yeah, this life takes some getting used to, doesn't it?” he said, working his way down the muscles along her spine. “Aching muscles when you go to sleep, stiff muscles when you wake up.”

He said that, but if he was exhausted by a day of backbreaking work, then so stiff he could barely move in the morning after an inadequate night's sleep on an uncomfortable bed, like Ellie felt most days, he showed no sign of it.

Probably one of the benefits of still being in his early twenties, instead of his thirties; his body was still resilient and borderline indestructible. Also he'd started out in great shape, which probably helped.

Then again, Ellie had thought she was in pretty great shape too, and this life was beating the stuffing out of her.

After a few minutes of contented silence Hal abandoned the massage and wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her