Praying for Grace (The Grace Series Book 5) by M. Lauryl Lewis

came in shudders as she fought to breathe through her tears.
    Gretchen looked at me, and without asking slowly reached out and placed a palm on my face. She closed her eyes and held Katie to her. I didn’t feel a deep connection to Gretchen like I had with Gus, but where her hand touched my flesh I could feel a cool tingle. I knew that she was “seeing” what had happened in the courtyard through my own memories.
    “I’m so sorry Katie,” she whispered. “I know how much she meant to you.”
    As her hand left my face, the coolness slowly faded. I left the two women to comfort each other and made my way to a chair that was kiddie-corner to where Abbey sat with baby Emmett.
    “What happened?” asked Abbey quietly.
    “A group came back with a Runner, and someone was bit. It was a good friend of the girl I came in with, Katie. She died.” I kept it honest and simple. I knew Abbey could handle it.
    “That’s sad. Can I help?” she asked as she watched Gretchen consoling Katie.
    “Maybe we should give Gretchen and Katie some time alone,” I suggested.
    Abbey nodded and held the baby out to me. I took him into my arms and kissed his soft cheek, which was beginning to fill out. He smelled like old milk and had obviously just soiled his diaper.
    “Let’s go see about getting this guy a bath,” I whispered. “Gretchen, we’re going to let you two sit in here. We’ll see you later, ok?”
    Gretchen smiled at me, finally unwrapping her arms from Katie. As the two of them took over the sofa, Abbey and I took Emmett down the hall and into Gus’ room.
    “He’s soaked through,” I said.
    Abbey yawned. “I swear we changed him.”
    I smiled at her. “He’s pretty stinky. I think we should get him cleaned up. He’s got to be over a week old now and has never had a real bath. You up for it?”
    “Sure! You’ll let me help?”
    “Of course. You can start by putting a blanket down on Gus’ bed so it doesn’t get wet. They’re on the loveseat.”
    She eagerly set out to help and quickly had a receiving blanket spread out. I set the baby on the bed and began to undress him. He was wide-eyed and kicked his little legs as I unsnapped his sleeper.
    “You’re filthy, little man,” I whispered to him before looking at Abbey. “I think I’ll leave him naked and just wrap him in the blanket. We’ll head up top and see about warm water.”
    “Can I carry him?”
    “Sure. I’ll bring his dirty clothes.
    I finished ridding him of his soiled clothes and swaddled him in the blanket. Abbey picked him up and gently placed him over her shoulder. She was always very careful with him and it made me smile.
    “Zoe?”
    “Huh?”
    “Are you really having another baby?”
    I looked at her for a moment. “Yeah, it looks like I am.”
    “Is it Gus’?”
    I nodded.
    “Do you think Boggs is mad?”
    I sighed. “Probably, but I hope he’ll get over it. C’mon, let’s get the baby cleaned up.”
    She looked like she wanted to say more, but bit her lower lip and nodded. We stopped in the entry area and found the stock of baby supplies. I grabbed a newborn size Pampers and was thrilled to find a bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo and a travel sized bottle of baby powder. Gus hadn’t been kidding when he said they were well stocked. As soon as Emmett was cleaned up, I’d find a quiet place to nurse him. He’d had bottles for two feedings in a row and my chest was paying the price. As we climbed to the surface, Katie’s sobs quieted behind us.
    ***
    Once outside, I took Emmett from Abbey and we walked toward a man who stood not far from the gardens. He was busy using a shovel to dig a small hole. Hearing our footfalls approach, he stopped and turned toward us.
    “Howdy,” he said. “You must be the new group?”
    “We are,” I said with a smile. “This is Abbey and I’m Zoe. And baby Emmett.”
    The man took a work glove off of his right hand and extended it to me. “Erik. Glad to meet you.”
    I shook