Chapter 117: Pregnant?
Morgan and Rick walked home together. Their residences were nearby—they were neighbors.
Morgan's son Duane was home alone. He was somewhat uneasy and always troubled Lori to help watch him.
Fortunately, Duane was diligent, sensible, and rather cheerful. He helped Lori with housework and such, earning Lori's favor.
Rick patted Morgan's shoulder and sighed. "If you really can't adapt, do other work."
"The construction side also needs people. Hershel's farm work is also hiring. If that doesn't work, you could learn to do electrical work or something..."
Rick helped think of ideas. Morgan's face showed an ugly smile. He said embarrassedly, "Sorry for making things difficult for you earlier."
Morgan was recruited into the squad by Rick. In others' eyes, the two were almost bound together. Morgan speaking out against Glenn today would definitely reach other team members' ears.
It would inevitably affect Rick.
Rick smiled. "I'm fine. You saved my life. No need to mention these small matters."
After chatting a few sentences, they walked to Rick's front door.
Opening the door, they could hear children's playful voices inside.
Rick and Morgan looked at each other and smiled. The fatigue from outside seemed washed away by this sound.
Rick smiled and opened his arms wide. "Carl, I'm home."
Carl screamed and threw himself frantically into Rick's embrace.
Duane was much more shy but still hugged Morgan. Morgan quietly asked, "Did you have fun today?"
Duane glanced at Lori in what he thought was secretly, speaking in a whisper. "Happy was happy, except Aunt Lori made us do homework and study."
For children all over the world, the greatest common enemy was studying and homework.
Lori, Rick, and Morgan, all eavesdropping, laughed at the same time.
Only then did Duane discover he'd been overheard. His dark skin instantly flushed red—red showing through black.
After saying goodbye to Lori and Carl, Morgan took Duane home.
After a bout of wild play, Carl soon entered dreamland.
Rick watched Carl fall asleep. His azure eyes were full of love for the child. Love flowing, Rick lowered his head and kissed Carl's forehead.
"Good night, son."
Closing the door, Rick faced Lori with her unpleasant expression. "So, what do you want to fight about today?"
Rick's face was very cold, without a trace of affection toward a lover.
In fact, Rick loved Lori very much.
But after Shane left, Lori's insecurity quickly erupted.
As Rick frequently went out on missions, especially long-term missions like returning to King County, Lori's emotions erupted like a landslide. She often lost her temper at Rick.
Rick also understood his wife's infidelity from Lori's various reactions. He chose to forgive.
But later, Rick discovered he actually couldn't accept it.
Plus, when Lori heard him say he'd killed people while executing missions outside, her face showed horror. She looked at him like looking at a murderer.
From that moment, Rick knew their relationship was slowly sliding toward an abyss, irretrievable.
Lori pressed her lips together. "I'm pregnant!"
"What?!" Rick froze, asking in surprise, "Are you serious?"
Lori's facial expression didn't change. Obviously this wasn't a joke.
Rick took a deep breath and asked with hands on his hips, "This... when did this happen?"
Lori was stunned for a few seconds. "This is what you want to ask?"
"What else?" Rick stepped back, staring at Lori. "What do you think I should ask?"
Lori opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
After a while, Lori confessed everything, but Rick's expression showed no reaction. He just said flatly.
"I already know."
"You know?" Lori covered her mouth, tears swirling in her eyes.
But this could no longer arouse Rick's pity. Rick frowned. "Last time at the CDC, didn't your blood test show it?"
Rick didn't know whether this child was his or Shane's. He needed the child's specific conception time.
If it was after the CDC, Rick believed this was his child.
But if it was before, whose it was would be hard to say.
Lori pressed her lips together and lowered her head guiltily. "It should be... before the CDC. In the first few days after just conceiving, nothing can be detected in the blood."
"These past few days, vomiting has been quite frequent. It's very similar to when I was pregnant with Carl, plus my period hasn't come during this time."
The more Lori spoke, the softer her voice became, as if very aggrieved.
Rick didn't think that much. "Do you want to give birth or abort?"
With their relationship broken, Rick no longer spent all day entangled in feelings with Lori. He had his own things to do.
"You want to abort the child, right?"
Before Lori could speak, Rick said it.
Based on Rick's understanding of Lori, facing this apocalypse full of panic, Lori most likely wouldn't give birth to the child.
Lori was so stubborn and wouldn't listen to advice—she definitely couldn't find medication herself, so she came to tell him about the situation.
Things were naturally as Rick guessed.
In town, medication was also extremely precious. It was all kept at the hospital—a wooden building, just taller and larger than other small buildings.
There were very few doctors there, just a handful. Even two of them were "veterinarians" from the valley.
That is, people without medical licenses but who often treated injuries of cowboys after firefights between ranches.
Although their theoretical knowledge might not be rich, their treatment techniques were much better than ordinary hospital doctors.
"You went to the hospital?" Rick asked.
Lori hesitated, then nodded. "I went looking for birth control pills."
"But they didn't give them. They said birth control pills require both husband and wife to come get them."
Rick lowered his head, falling into silence.
He didn't know what to do about this matter either.
Entanglement and hesitation churned in his heart.
The next day, the sky was overcast. Rain fine as cow hair drifted down from the sky.
Amy stretched her hand out the window. A cool sensation extended upward from her palm.
Withdrawing her hand, Amy rubbed her hands together and breathed on them.
"Caesar, is it going to get cold soon?"
Amy closed the window and lit several candles.
"Yes, it's about to get cold." Caesar leaned against the chair back, lifting his head to look out the window.
Outside, continuous dark clouds covered the sunlight. The entire sky had become a heavy lead gray.
Caesar couldn't help but ask, "How are the winter clothing and food reserves in town?"
Amy turned her head to answer. "Winter clothing reserves aren't quite enough. They can barely equip combat members, and that's after you instructed us to start collecting them."
"Then starting today, missions going out should focus on collecting winter clothing." Caesar nodded.
"As for food reserves, they're also somewhat insufficient..."
Knock knock knock—
A knocking sound rang out.