She shook the old blanket outside the backdoor, dust flying in the air. Whatever detritus she was able to shake from the linens would leave less mess in the wash water.
She left the blanket over the railing on the porch for Beth to collect and launder. Carol stepped back into the dilapidated farm house in search of more sheets. Daryl and Carl had come back to this house yesterday, the place where Sophia found shelter a few months back. They found that the herd had missed it, or at least left it standing, so Daryl and the younger Grimes led the group back to here for the time being.
It wasn't far from anyone's thoughts how close they were to the Greene farm but none of the group had the stomach to go back. Yet. There was talk of going back to bury their dead, but no one was leading that march back down the road.
Here they were out of the weather and would hold up until they got their bearings. Rick had confided in her that they would try to stick here until both Maggie and Lori gave birth. During that time, they would reaccumulate supplies, vehicles, and their wits. No one was unscathed any more, none of them. They all needed time to take a breather, recoup, and move on.
Carol tried not to think of her little girl, and was actually thankful to see the Cherokee roses were done blooming. It wasn't that she didn't miss her Sophia, the ache was still there. Carol just had other things to focus on, things she needed to do to take care of the rest of her cobbled-together family.
She glanced up at the soft footsteps entering the room. Maggie leaned against the door frame, looking pale and drawn. "Sit down, honey," Carol insisted, grabbing a kitchen chair and spinning it to face the girl.
It was then that the older woman fully took in the girl: her sweat pants drenched, her face pinched. "Oh," was all she could think of saying, before grabbing Maggie's arm, and tugging her into the chair. "Let me go get your sister and Rick."
"And Daddy," Maggie muttered, her eyes filling with tears.
Carol squeezed her hand with a smile. "And your dad," she promised.