“What would you like to eat?” Holly asked.

“Ice cream,” Owen said.

“And cookies!” Jamie added.

Holly laughed. “Let’s see what we have in the kitchen, shall we?”

Both children hurried through the mess hall toward the kitchen. Jamie hummed a song along the way, and Owen dragged his filthy blanket on the floor. Holly marveled at their resilience. Just days ago they had both lost their whole worlds. Yet after hours of counseling, it turned out all Holly had to do was mention the word “cookie” to get them to smile.

Pots and pans clattered as Timothy poked through the cabinets in the kitchen. Holly paused to study him. His behavior was becoming increasingly erratic. It was really too bad she couldn’t simply give him a cookie to calm him down, too, but she could always slip a Xanax in his water. It was a compelling thought.

“He’s a real piece of work, isn’t he?”

Holly smiled, seeing Bouma standing in the shadows of the hallway leading to the personnel quarters. In the dim light he looked stoic, almost like a statue. With his chiseled jawline and short, cropped hair he was the stereotypical Marine, and in a way, kind of good-looking. Besides, it wasn’t like there was a huge male population left.

The thought was selfish. She had two children to look after. And one adult who acted like a child. She watched Jamie and Owen tear into a freeze-dried packet while Timothy glared at both of them.

“How are you doing, Holly?” Bouma said. He moved closer to her, his eyes darting back and forth from her to Timothy. He had been watching the man closely, concerned that he would try something stupid with Overton and Sophie gone.

“Good.”

“Okay, good,” the Marine said awkwardly. He’d never been great with women, but he knew the short answer meant she didn’t want to talk. Turning to leave he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Wait,” Holly said.

Bouma held his breath and spun to face her.

“If you ever want to talk, I’m here for you, just as much as I am for my original team,” she said.

“When do the kids go to bed?”

“I’ll put them down after dinner tonight.”

“Meet me in Biome 1?”

Holly smiled. A walk through the gardens sounded exactly like what she needed.

“It’s a date,” she said. She stiffened, realizing that he might take her at her word. “I mean, um, I’ll be there.”

Bouma smiled, trying to hide his crooked teeth. “See you then.”