Free Schism by Britt Holewinski Page A

even think about Colorado.”
    Andy began to chuckle, which provoked Morgan to laugh as well. “Your brother says the funniest things sometimes.”
    “I know…so technical.”
    “What are you two saying about me?” Charlie called back from the kitchen while opening a can of peaches. “I need to spend less time with girls. I’m surrounded by too much estrogen.”
    When he returned to the worn sofa with his opened can of peaches, Morgan reached inside the can, plucked out a slice of peach, and put it in her mouth. After swallowing, she smiled with satisfaction.
    “Get your own food!” he whined, making Andy giggle so hard that her sides hurt.
    “See, this is exactly what I’m talking about!” he cried before gobbling up any remaining peaches. He threw the empty can down on the coffee table and headed to the front door. “I’m begging Ben and Jim to come with us to Colorado…for my sake!” The front door slammed behind him, its echo resonating throughout the house.
    Andy looked over at Morgan. “Well there you go. They’ll definitely come with us now.”
    Morgan looked at her with hopeful eyes.
    Andy looked away toward a window next to the front door. The sunlight was intensifying. It was going to be another hot day. “I really don’t understand why Ben and Jim chose to come here.”
    “Me neither. It’s hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were in Bermuda. This place is so different from anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s like being on Mars or something.”
    “What’s even stranger to me is that in the two thousand miles we drove to get here, we never once ran into another person until we met Maria and her brother and sister. Every town we passed was like a ghost town. I know we didn’t stop anywhere long enough to see much, but still...” She turned away from the window and sank back into the sofa. “Where could everyone be?”
    “Well, they aren’t in this town,” Morgan replied with a weary sigh.
    “Right now, at this moment, I actually miss Bermuda.”
    “So do I, which scares the hell out of me.”
    “You know,” Andy began slowly. “You should just tell you brother about being pregnant. You might feel better.”
    “You’re what?!” Charlie had walked back in the house.
    Morgan stood up with urgency. “I thought you went to talk to the guys.”
    “I forgot my…wait, Morgan, you’re pregnant?”
    She looked at Andy then back at Charlie. “Yeah…”
    “But…but how?”
    Morgan made a face. “You really need me to explain it to you?”
    Charlie looked away with embarrassment. “No, of course not. I know how but…was it…” He didn’t finish. Morgan’s body had gone rigid. “Okay. Then we’ll figure it out,” he recovered and looked to Andy for help. “Right?”
    She managed a smile. “Right.”

Chapter VIII
    D espite all doubts, the group of five left Santa Rosa headed to Colorado. Maria and her siblings stopped by to bid farewell, bringing with them a large box of food, both canned and fresh.
    “If it doesn’t work out, we might be back,” Andy said to Maria before hopping in the truck.
    Wearing a sad smile, Maria replied, “For my sake, I hope you do. For your sake, I hope you don’t. But you know where I’ll be, at least for the next year and a half.”
    ***
    The ski towns of Echo, Arapahoe, Loveland, Keystone, and Copper were all utterly vacant, while Breckenridge and Vail weren’t interested in acquiring more residents. “Not enough food,” was the reason. And as explained by three male residents who gave Andy and Morgan uncomfortably long stares, Beaver Creek had a shortage of women in town and was only interested in new female residents.
    “Thanks, but we’ll pass,” Andy told them before slamming down the gas pedal until the tires squealed.
    “Whoa, don’t make me regret letting you drive!” warned Ben from the passenger’s seat.
    “Can you believe those guys?” she went on.
    “Yeah, it’s shocking,” he said