This Would Be Paradise (Book 2) Read Free Page B

enough guess. Most people in the area would have started out in the cities.
    “When my family and I were heading into the shelter, we ran into a guy named Ethan. He had a big truck and a southern accent. Nice guy. Ethan offered to let us come with him, but we decided to continue to the Superdome. We should have taken him up on his offer, because we couldn’t even get close to the dome in all the chaos. We ended up backtracking and stumbling upon the apartments here.”
    Everything clicked into place. This was the guy we’d had to squeeze around on the one-way. Ethan had tried to talk him out of going into the city. Chloe had been right about Roy looking familiar.
    “Small world. That was Ethan.”
    Roy smiled. “Small world indeed.”
    When we’d seen him all those months ago, he’d been with his wife and two daughters, yet he only mentioned having one daughter. I didn’t think it was appropriate to ask about that; the answer wouldn’t paint a pretty picture.
    “That’s his sister in the car.” I hefted my thumb at the Mazda that was now back within sight. Chloe was staring intently out the windshield at us.
    “Unfortunately, we don’t have any of them inside,” he said.
    “I didn’t think it would be that easy anyway,” I said, still a little disappointed.
    “Now do you trust me enough to come inside?”
    “Depends. Can I have my gun back?”
    He looked as though he were debating it. “All right, but you can’t carry it on you when you’re inside. You’ll need to leave it in your bag.”
    “Fine.”
    After he handed me my handgun, I returned to the car and got inside. I pulled into the parking lot behind the building so people couldn’t easily spot our vehicle. Chloe and I grabbed our backpacks, each containing some supplies, and headed for the building. As much as I didn’t like the idea, I obeyed and put the handgun in my backpack. An armed doorman greeted us at the entrance, and when he saw Roy, he opened the doors. The lobby smelled of cheap air fresheners. Multi-colored pine trees had been placed all over like tacky Christmas decorations.
    We introduced ourselves to the doorman, José, and kept moving. Roy led us down the hallway to a large common area. People were scattered all over the place. A couple of kids were sprawled on the floor, playing a board game. Adults either had books in their hands or were busy with activities like knitting. The place seemed rather cozy. I hadn’t seen this many people in one place since the school.
    “Dad!” A little girl wearing clothes a size too big ran to Roy and threw herself at him. She was a shade lighter than Roy and super cute. She could have been on the Disney Channel.
    He hugged her back. “Hey, girly.”
    When she unlatched from him, she turned to me, her brown eyes taking me in. “What happened to you?”
    Clearly she was talking about the bruises around my neck.
    “Fell down some stairs.”
    Roy narrowed his eyes, not buying my story either.
    “Elaine can look at it if you want?” the little girl suggested, half hidden behind her father.
    “We can take you guys to her, right, Amanda?” Roy said, smiling down at his daughter.
    Amanda led us from the room of curious eyes and across the hallway. She knocked on one of the wood grain doors.
    A stern voice rang out from behind the door, “Come in.”
    The door opened to reveal a makeshift doctor’s office. An ambulance stretcher sat against one wall and a cabinet with meager supplies occupied the other.
    “Yes, Amanda?” asked the lady in green scrubs, who I assumed was Elaine.
    She had her red hair up in a tight bun and her glasses perched on her nose.
    “These people need an examination,” Amanda mumbled.
    The nurse looked pointedly at Roy for confirmation. I shuffled my feet, feeling like a burden.
    “The little one can have a seat.” Elaine gestured to the stretcher.
    Chloe walked over and climbed on. Elaine got up from her desk and waved the others out.
    “We’ll be right