Walkers

Chapter 22

The heat broke Sunday morning as winds from offshore carried mist and high clouds inland, driving the Santa Ana back to the desert. In the evening Joana and Glen sat close together on the couch. A Woody Allen movie was playing on television, but neither of them laughed, because neither of them was really watching the picture.

"It's over," Joana said, as though to herself. "It's really over. Why don't I feel happier about it?"

"It's been a rough time," Glen said.

"For sure."

They were silent for several minutes, then Joana spoke again.

"Do you realize it's been only eleven days? Eleven days since I went for that swim at the Marina Village and this whole ghastly nightmare started. It seems like the walkers have been following me forever."

"It will take a while," Glen said. "You don't get over something like that in a day. You'll need some time for reentry to the real world."

"Ah, yes, the real world. Where the dead stay dead, and only the living walk."

After a moment Glen said, "It was bad with Peter, wasn't it."

"It was the worst. Because I knew him. Or I knew who he was before he became that… thing. The others were bad enough, but I never knew them when they were alive. They were just zombies. They might as well have never lived. I'm talking too much, aren't I?"

"Go ahead, if it makes you feel better."

"It doesn't really. I'm just running on nervous energy. The only thing that will make me feel better is time."

"Was there any trouble with the police about Peter's death?"

"Oddly enough, there wasn't. That Sergeant Olivares from downtown moved right in and took over the whole scene. He said not to worry, it would go into the books as accidental death. I think he knows more about the walkers than he will admit."

The doorbell rang, and they both jumped, muscles tense. Then they exchanged sheepish grins.

"Who is it?" Joana called.

"Warren."

She walked over and opened the door. Dr. Hovde came in. At his side was a tall woman with blonde hair, just beginning to silver. She had smiling blue eyes.

"Joana, Glen," said the doctor, "I'd like you to meet Marge. My wife. Honey, these are the people I've told you about."

Marge Hovde shook hands with both of them. "I'm very glad to meet you," she said. "Warren tells me you've just been through some unpleasant times."

"Yes, we have," Joana said, "but they're over now."

"I'm glad to hear that." Marge looked at her husband. "With a little luck our bad times will be over too."

Glen looked from one to the other. "Does this mean I'm losing a neighbor?"

"Just as soon as I can pack my records and clear out," said Hovde. "The events of the past week have made me do a lot of thinking about life in general and my life in particular. We had our differences, Marge and I, but who doesn't. One thing I learned for sure is that living alone is not my style."

"Mine either," said Marge. "So when Warren said why don't we try to work things out, I jumped at it. Then it seemed foolish for him to be driving back and forth from one end of Los Angeles to the other, so…"

"So I'm moving back to the Valley," Hovde finished for her. "Now that we've had a near-divorce, maybe I'll fit in better."

"I think it's wonderful," Joana said. "And I just know it's going to work out. The two of you look so right together."

"Yes, we do make a lovely couple," Hovde said, grinning at his wife.

"Modest too," she added.

"I'll be moving out too before long," Glen said.

"Really? You mean you and Joana…?"

"That's it."

"I guess it's pretty old-fashioned of us," Joana said, "but we're going to get married."

"Right after the World Series," Glen added, smiling.

Dr. Hovde pumped Glen's hand. "I'm really glad to hear that," he said. "Congratulations. You're getting a hell of a woman."

"I know it," Glen said.

"And, Joana, all the best to you, always." He kissed her on the cheek, and they all laughed for no other reason than feeling good about themselves.

Joana brought out a bottle of burgundy and they drank to each other's good luck in the future. In a little while Warren and Marge Hovde left. Joana stood in the doorway smiling after them.

"They look like newlyweds," she said. "Holding hands and giggling with each other."

"I've never seen the doctor look happier," Glen said.

"What do you think we'll look like after twenty years?"

"Lord, who knows? Who wants to know. I've had enough predictions and apparitions for one lifetime."

"I'll second that," Joana said.

Glen stretched and cracked off a yawn. "I'd better get going. Tomorrow it's back to the workaday world."

"Good old world," Joana said.

She kissed him good night in the doorway and they stood for a long time holding each other very tight.