A Second Chance

Chapter 13

"Get out." I growled, my eyes narrowing dangerously. This woman ruined my life…betrayed me. Her eyes widened in shock when I came through the door.

"Lee! You can't just say that to people! Get some manners!" Lilly shouted from the corner of the room.

"Yes I can. Especially to her. Now, you heard me. Get out!" I shouted, probably scaring the living daylights out of everyone. I didn't care.

"What's wrong, Lee? Do you know this woman?" Katjaa asked, concern showing on her gentle face.

"Oh, glad to see someone's finally noticed." I said sarcastically, letting out a growl of frustration.

"He's my husband." Irene piped in, making me tense my muscles in anger.

"Ex-husband." I corrected, sitting down on the large couch beside Clementine.

"You're a wife-beater?" Kenny asked his voice disbelieving. My eyebrows retreated into my hairline, shocked at the assumption.

"What?" I heard from the doorway. I looked up to see Carley stood in the doorway, her eyes wide.

"No! For fucks sake!" I shouted, standing quickly. A gasp came from Clementine and I backtracked on myself. I walked over to the shocked woman in the doorway. "Please, Car… you have to believe me." I went to touch her arm but she pulled away quickly.

"Why does he have to answer to her?" Irene asked with venom, standing with us.

"Because Carley is my girlfriend." I replied, practically begging for Carley to believe me through my eyes.

"Oh, it took you a long time to get over our divorce, didn't it?!" Irene sarcastically said, making me snap.

"It would have taken longer but I found you shagging another man!" I shouted, turning to face her, the veins in my neck becoming more prominent. "Also, being handcuffed in a cop car the day after your divorce doesn't help the process!"

"I didn't ask you to kill him!" She shouted back, glaring at me. I felt anger bubbling once again.

"Look, everyone, I want to clear things up. I would never ever lay my hands on a woman. Never. Truthfully, Car… have I ever laid my hands on you without your consent?" I asked, practically begging her. Her eyes shifted over me, taking in the desperation in my features. She let out a loud sigh.

"No…" She admitted, looking at me sceptically. "Lee, you have to tell me if you did, though. Not for my sake… for the baby's."

"Car… I didn't and wouldn't. As you know, I don't condone violence of any sort." I joked, trying to shed some light on the subject.

"Wait… Baby?!" Irene asked, her eyebrows imitating mine. I laughed at how insane the situation was.

"Yeah. I'm pregnant." Carley explained, grabbing my hand. I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. She looked up at me, giving me a look that clearly said 'this is not over, Everett. You have explaining to do'

"Look, I think we should all turn in. It's been a long day and I bet you wanna get out of those pants, Lee." Kenny interrupted standing and gesturing for Katjaa and Duck to do the same.

"Yeah. We'll be able to think better in the morning." I agreed, taking Clementines hand in mine and leading her from the room, Carley following behind us. Holding her little, warm fingers in mine felt too good to be true. I thought I'd lost her. As we approached the girls room, I looked down to her. She had tears flowing down her cheeks. I gestured for her to go in the room. She shuffled in, coming to rest on her bed.

"Talk to her." Carley mouthed, shooing me inside. I did as I was told, scampering in behind the tiny girl.

"Hey, look at me." I said, bending down to her height and tapping her chin gently. She did as I asked, looking in my eyes. Hazel eyes looked at me, red rimmed from crying. "What's up sweet-pea?"

"Nothing…" She replied, hastily wiping her eyes. I took her hands in mine and tilted her cap up.

"I know that's not true. Now, tell me what's wrong." I cooed, making her smile slightly. I ducked slightly so she could see my face.

"I… that man lied. He didn't have my parents." She sobbed, tilting her head down again. My heart broke for her.

"Look, Clem. People… some people are gonna lie to you… try to get you to do things that you don't want to do. You have to know when people are lying. And more importantly, when they're not." I sighed, squeezing her hands gently.

"Okay…" She said, taking her cap off and rolling over. I tucked her in softly and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight sweetheart…" I muttered, walking from the room and turning the gas lamp off. I closed the door quietly and turned. Carley had walked away since I started talking to Clem, leaving me to my thoughts.

I tiptoed past every ones rooms, careful not to wake everyone. Stopping suddenly, I opened the linen closet and grabbed a pillow and sleeping bag. Holding them steadily, I made my way back downstairs. Turning right into the living room, I saw Irene slumped on the couch, staring into space.

"Here's some…um… well, the couch isn't that comfy without these." I said, sitting the material beside her, making her jump.

"Thanks." She said. Smiling, she glanced at my hands. She gesture to my wedding ring. "I see you still wear that old thing."

"Yeah. Carley and I wear them." I answered, smiling at it lightly, shifting it on my finger.

"She seems… nice." She said uncertainly. Anger flared inside me once again.

"Irene…" I warned, tapping the sheets lightly. "It's none of your business who I choose to date. I love Carley… I hope she loves me."

"Whatever you say, Lee." She said. I grunted and turned, walking towards the stairs. I was about to walk up them when I heard her speak again. "It's good to see you again, Lee."

"You too…" I replied, closing my eyes and striding upstairs. I walked for a while, taking my time, before reaching mine and Carleys room. I knocked lightly, not daring to walk inside.

"Come in." A gentle voice called. I did as it asked, closing the door behind me.

"Hey." I said walking up behind her and putting my arms around her, coming to rest on her stomach.

"Hey." She replied, putting her hands over mine. She tilted her head to the side, looking at me softly. Her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to figure something out. Eventually, she grabbed my left hand and laid it palm-up, looking at it in shock. "You're bleeding!"

"Shit." I spat, mentally slapping myself.

"How the fucking hell did you do this? Did a walker get you?" She asked, spinning around and looking at me worriedly.

"No! I had to get through them somehow and there was a horde. I couldn't just walk. I grabbed a piece of glass and sliced my way through." I calmed, putting my uninjured hand on her shoulder and kissing her forehead. "Calm down. Don't get yourself worked up."

"Come on, you're bandaging that thing up." Carley said, going to drag me from our room.

"And if I don't?" I tested, seeing if now was the time for joking. She turned to me, her face serious.

"Then, your hand will turn septic and we'll have to give you back your stump." She replied, grabbing my arm and ragging me from the room.