After All This Time

Chapter 12

Chandler's POV

I felt confident that Katelyn had no idea that I put the roses in her dressing room, which was good. She couldn't know it was me until tonight.

I ran over my lines quickly in my head as me, Katelyn, and Jessie got into position.

We were in the house that Carl and Enid owned.

The house was within a small town that everyone was staying in.

Me and Katelyn stood in the hallway while Jessie went over and sat on the couch in the living room.

I closed my eyes and got into the character of Carl while the camera got positioned in front of us.

"Lights!" I heard Neil yell from offstage. We were hit with a few strange lights. "Camera!" he yelled. The cameraman gave him a thumbs up.

"Action!" Neil finally yelled.

Katelyn immediately became Enid.

"I don't understand why you're so worried!" I claimed.

"I don't know," she said, putting on a fake dumb face. "Maybe it's because my husband is going on a really dangerous run and I don't know if I'll ever see him again!"

"Oh, come on!" I acted. "I've gone on worse runs before and I've always come back from those! Plus, dad and Glenn are going, too."

"I just don't understand why I can't come with you," she responded.

"You need to take care of our daughter," I reminded her, gesturing to the living room that was off-screen. "Beth needs you."

"Maggie can take care of her," she suggested.

"No," I told her. "You're not coming."

"What're you gonna do to stop me?" she asked with challenge in her voice. "You gonna lock me in the closet again?!"

"Mommy?" I heard Jessie call. "Daddy? Please don't fight."

Katelyn, or Enid, looked from the living room to me with a "Now look at what you've done" look and sighed.

We walked into the living room, the camera following us.

Jessie-Beth-looked up at us with tears in her eyes.

I kneeled in front of her. "Oh, sweetie," I said soothingly. "Don't worry."

"I don't want you to go, Daddy," she said sadly. It was honestly breaking my heart. "You might never come home."

I pulled her down into a right hug and stroked her long dark hair. "Don't worry, honey," I told her. "I'll come home."

Katelyn came over and kneeled next to me, lightly grabbing Jessie's arm, causing her to let go of me and look at her.

"He will, baby girl," she said sweetly. "He will."

Jessie looked from Katelyn to me. I nodded, putting a smile on my face.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Andrew and Steven came into the house.

"Come on, Carl," Steven said sadly. I remembered that this scene was right after Glenn saying goodbye to Maggie.

Me and Katelyn stood up. Jessie started crying and grabbed into my leg. "No, Daddy, don't go!" Man, this girl was good.

I looked down at her, real tears threatening to spill but I held them back."

I reached down and grabbed Jessie, pulling her up and hugging her tightly.

While her arms were wrapped around me, I turned to Katelyn. She was looking at us, grief in her eyes. I then remembered that I had to kiss her.

Slowly, I leaned in.

We kissed for a short moment before pulling away.

"I'll come back," I repeated.

I set Jessie on the ground and she immediately clung onto Katelyn.

I turned and grabbed my bag and followed Andrew and Steven out of the house.

I glanced over my shoulder. I could see Katelyn and Jessie hugging each other tightly. I forced myself to turn back around and continue walking.

Pulling me out of the zombie-infested world, I heard Neil shout, "And cut!"

Me, Katelyn, Jessie, Andrew, and Steven approached Neil, awaiting his instruction.

He was smiling when we stopped in front of him.

"You know what?" he said. "I think we got it."

The 6 of us gave each other high fives.

Once the celebrating was done, he told us, "Alright, guys, you got lunch. Be back here in an hour and a half."

We all nodded and walked off.

I walked to my car. But I wasn't going to get lunch. Oh, no. It was time to prepare the next part of my plan.