by Kelly Utt
“She’s the light of my life,” Brian said, smiling a huge grin. His face changed when he talked about her.
“That’s so nice,” Hana said, smiling back at him.
Penelope had never known Hana to be interested in kids, but she seemed sincere now.
“Where’s her mom?” Penelope asked.
Hana elbowed her. “Pen!”
Brian chuckled. “It’s okay. I just learned a hell of a lot about you two. I can answer a few questions about myself.”
Hana smiled, clearly pleased that she would learn Brian’s relationship status.
“Madeline’s mom passed away not long after she was born,” Brian explained. “Ovarian cancer. We didn’t know she had it until it was too late.”
“Oh,” Hana said, raising a hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah,” Brian continued. “Symptoms of that disease don’t usually show up until it’s pretty advanced anyway, and the pregnancy hid it even more.”
“That’s terrible,” Penelope offered.
“It’s okay,” Brian said. “In life, you win some and you lose some. And you know what?”
“What?” Hana asked eagerly.
“If we’d known Jessa was sick, we never would have gotten pregnant. And we wouldn’t have brought our precious Madeline into the world. Everything happened the way it had to. Jessa gave me the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I’ll be eternally grateful.”
He wiped a tear from his eyes and pressed his lips together, trying to maintain his composure.
“Wow,” Hana said. “That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
Penelope looked at her friend, wanting to elbow her back.
“What?” Hana asked. “It is. He is!”
“Why, thank you,” Brian said, smiling.
They had only been inside his house for half an hour, but it felt like they were old friends. And it felt like Brian and Hana might end up much more. When the conversation lulled and thoughts turned back to the matter at hand, Brian leaned forward, placing his rifle down on the floor beside him.
“I’m going to show you something,” he began. “But I don’t want you to tell anyone what you’ll see here. Do you understand?”
“Is it your bunker?” Hana asked. “Marshall told us you were building one.”
“Yes,” Brian said. “It’s fully functional now. But I’m serious. Not a word about what you will see here. Ever. Do you understand? Tell me you understand.”
“I understand,” Penelope replied.
“Me, too. I understand.” Hana said.
“Okay,” Brain said, standing. “Come with me.”
17
Brian went to Madeline’s room and gently lifted her out of bed on the way to the basement. He placed her against his shoulder and wrapped her blanket around her carefully.
“Shh,” he said. “Daddy’s got you. Go back to sleep.”
The little girl stirred only slightly, then settled into a peaceful slumber on her dad’s shoulder. She trusted him completely.
Penelope and Hana waited in the hall. When Brian arrived with Madeline on his shoulder, their hearts practically melted. Madeline was a beautiful little girl with dark hair, chubby cheeks, and the sweetest pink lips. She almost looked like she could be Hana’s child, which was a bit of a surprise, because Brian was much lighter complected.
“She’s the sweetest,” Hana said, instinctively reaching to touch the child’s leg. Brian smiled. He didn’t mind. In fact, it appeared that magic was happening right before their eyes.
“Thank you,” Brian said. “I think so. Now, Hana, grab my rifle. And follow me.”
He led them down a set of narrow stairs into what looked like a run-of-the-mill basement. Hana carried the rifle dutifully. At the bottom of the stairs, Brian pulled a string that turned on a single lightbulb, careful to cover Madeline’s eyes. Once the room was lit, Penelope and Hana could see row after row of canned food on dusty shelves. It looked like enough to feed a family for months, if not years.
“Is this a canning cellar?” Hana asked, seeming taken with the whole lifestyle. Penelope doubted her friend had ever seen such a thing in person before. She doubted she’d held a rifle before either.
“Indeed, it is,” Brian said. “My grandparents taught me. I like to be prepared.”
“Prepared for what?” Penelope asked.
Brian chuckled.
Hana elbowed Penelope again, then continued, awestruck. “Did you grow all of this food in your garden?”
“There. And on my trees,” Brian answered.
“You are amazing,” Hana said quietly. She sounded like a smitten teenager.
Penelope continued to marvel at the vibes happening between Hana and Brian. She would not have predicted this pairing. But then again, who was she to predict anything? She was the one who had gotten together with Marshall against all odds. At least, that’s the way it probably seemed.
Penelope missed Marshall terribly, and she was worried about him. “Say, Brian,” she began. “I don’t mean to interrupt the tour, but do you think Marshall is okay? I’m afraid something bad might happen. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Brian smiled sympathetically. He had a kind face, although he could look fierce when he needed to. The ladies had learned that when he’d answered the door.
“I don’t know,” Brian said. “It sounds like you three have a real debacle on your hands. A dangerous one, at that. But if I know anything about Marshall, it’s that he perseveres. When we were under fire in Iraq, there was no one else I would have rather had by my side. If anyone can make it through and get here safely, to you, it’s Marshall.”
Hana sighed. It seemed like she had a new appreciation for Marshall and others like him. Like his friend, Brian. “Oh, Pen,” she said, putting an arm around Penelope. “I think he’ll make it here. He has to.”
Appeased for the moment, Penelope nodded and the tour continued. She did her best to say strong.
At the back of the canning cellar, Brian placed his hand on a sturdy workbench. Using the free hand, he scooted it out from the wall about an inch, exposing a metal lever. Slowly, he pulled the lever. As he did, a six-foot section of the wall beyond moved. The wall-door slid sideways, opening to a metal elevator shaft that looked like it belonged in a factory, not a basement. A large elevator cage sat at the ready. It looked large enough to transport big pieces of equipment. And lots of people.
“This is next level,” Hana said, quietly so as not to disturb Madeline. “You’re one of those doomsday preppers, aren’t you?”
Brian shrugged. “I don’t know. I might fit in that category. Like I said, I like to be prepared.”
He pulled the workbench back into its place, careful to obscure the view of the button in case someone came down the stairs. Inside the elevator, he pushed another button and the door slid closed. A mechanical whirr sounded, and they descended. Brian placed a hand gently over Madeline’s ear so she wouldn’t be woken up by the noise.
“Hold on,” he said, gesturing to the rail.
“How low are we going?” Penelope asked.
“The equivalent of two stories down, which is three total if you count the basement as one below the main level.”
“Amazing,” Hana said, beginning to sound like a broken record. “Madeline doesn’t wake up?”
“Nah,” Brian said. “Not usually. She’s used to me moving her from the truck to the bed after she falls asleep while we’re riding. And we come down here sometimes. She feels safe with her daddy.”
Penelope and Hana nearly choked up. It was so nice. Brian was so nice. And Marshall was nice, too. The ladies could see why Marshall and Brian were friends.
When the elevator stopped at the bottom of the shaft, Brian pushed the button again, and the door opened. If Penelope and Hana had been impressed before, the sight before their eyes took their admiration of Brian to a whole new level.
There, under Brian’s unassuming country cottage, was a hi
gh-tech bunker like something you might see in a movie. Penelope and Hana’s jaws hung open. It was remarkable.
As they looked around, they saw a full kitchen with stainless steel counters, appliances, and shelves. Potted plants were situated on the floors and grew tall, all the way up to shoulder height. It looked like the plants were lettuce and other edibles. There was a living room area with several sleek daybeds that looked like they’d do double duty as sofas and sleeping quarters. All the decor was sleek and modern. But that wasn’t all. The tech was incredible. Monitors and screens took up an entire room in the back. Brian had his own server and four workstations in that room alone. Next to the tech room were three bedrooms with bunk beds. A total of twelve bunks sat available, ready for use. Each bedroom had a computer workstation as well. Last but not least, there was a huge storage room off the kitchen.
“What’s back there?” Hana asked.
“Go on in,” Brian replied. “You’ll see.”
Nonperishable food lined the walls. Stacks and stacks of it. A rack in the back held guns. Lots of them. And bulletproof armor.
“Brian, this is…” Hana continued.
“This place can keep fifteen people alive underground for up to two years, depending on how much we all eat. Eighteen people in a pinch.”
Penelope had heard about people who prepped like this, but she didn’t know details of what they included. She certainly hadn’t seen anything like this in person. Most of the people she knew didn’t plan their entire week of groceries, let alone how fifteen people— eighteen in a pinch— could survive in a bunker for a couple of years. She was speechless. Marshall had sent them to the right place, that was for sure. There was no way the blonde woman and her buddies could get them down here.
Hana seemed to be weirdly aroused by all of this. She stood close to Brian and licked her lips while staring at his mouth. It looked like she wanted an excuse to touch him.
“Do you have a private room down here?” Hana asked, her voice now a purr.
Brian smiled. He was feeling it. “I do. Last one on the right.”
“And Madeline?”
“She usually sticks with me when we hang out down here, but she has her own space. It’s a smaller room connected to my bedroom. I can lay her in there if she’s playing quietly. Or sleeping.”
“Can you show me?” Hana asked, the pheromones flying.
Penelope suddenly felt like a third— or would that be fourth?— wheel. She blushed, but remembered that Hana had walked in on her and Marshall earlier when Penelope’s legs had been spread wide open, Marshall’s face buried in between. Penelope guessed they were beyond being ashamed of such things.
“Say,” Penelope offered. “I’m feeling tired and would love a short nap if there’s time. Maybe me and Madeline could settle into one of the bunks? I’ll look after her. Then you two can continue the tour.”
Hana looked at her friend and mouthed the words thank you. Brian smiled. He patted Madeline’s back, thinking. He glanced at the door to the elevator, then went to double check the lock. It was pressure sealed from inside. He walked to the main station in the tech room and flipped on the monitors. Cameras from around his property fed into the station and provided a three-sixty view. All was quiet.
“Okay, Penelope,” he said. “I appreciate you looking after my baby girl while you nap. I’d enjoy the chance to show Hana around some more. Here, you can take this room.” Brian gestured to the first bunk room, then laid Madeline down on one of the bottom bunks. She barely stirred. “She should stay sleeping. She’s comfortable down here. You take the bunk directly across from her. If she wakes up, just tell her you’re a friend of mine and that I’ll be right back.”
“Got it,” Penelope replied.
“Oh, and if she asks, the code word is pineapple pancakes.”
“Okay,” Penelope said. “Got that, too. You are one prepared man.”
Brian shrugged and smiled as he tucked his daughter in, pulling her little blanket up over her shoulders. “It’s just the way I am.”
Hana beamed, her excitement overflowing. She and Brian exited the room, closing the door behind them.
Penelope did need to rest. That wasn’t a lie. Besides, she would have been sipping air and holding her breath if it had been. She couldn’t stop her body from doing that melodramatic bit, even for a little white lie, unfortunately. She wondered if she’d ever outgrow that particular condition. Figuring it didn’t matter, she closed her eyes. She felt safe. Marshall stayed on her mind, but she knew there wasn’t anything she could do to help him right now. Hopefully, he’d be here soon. If he was here, he’d tell her to get some rest. She glanced at Madeline to make sure the girl was still sleeping soundly, then she joined her, drifting off to sleep.
18
When Penelope woke, she noticed that Madeline was no longer in the room. She jumped out of her bunk, her mind reeling. Being underground, it was impossible to tell what time of day it was or how long she’d been sleeping. Penelope typically used her phone to keep up with times and alarms, but she didn’t have that either. She needed to get a burner phone soon, before she lost complete track.
“Madeline? Brian?” she called, rubbing her eyes. “Hana?”
It felt to Penelope like she’d been sleeping less than an hour, but she suspected it had been much longer. She hoped Madeline was safe. So much for looking after the girl.
“Out here!” Hana called, cheerfully, from the main room.
“Coming,” Penelope replied.
She stood, then tousled her hair with her fingers, attempting to look decent. She needed a shower. Those eight miles had left her disheveled and sticky.
When she walked out of the bunk room to join the others, she saw quite a happy scene. Brian was seated on one of the sofa beds with his arms stretched out along the back. He looked satisfied. Hana sat beside him, one hand on his knee while she used the other to play dolls with little Madeline. For her part, Madeline smiled sweetly, enamored with Hana. They looked like a family.
“That was fast,” Penelope said, before she had a chance to think better of it. “How long was I out?”
“Pen!” Hana said softly, opening her eyes wide and tilting her head. “Stop it.”
Penelope shook her head. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Let me try again… Good morning.”
“Good morning to you, too,” Brian said. “Penelope, meet Miss Madeline.”
“Hi, Penewlope,” Madeline said, the mispronunciation adorable. Penelope is a hard name for a little kid to say.
“Hi, there,” Penelope replied, sitting down on another sofa bed nearby. “You can call me Pen if you want. All of my friends do. Are these your dolls?”
Madeline smiled. “Pen. Okie dokie.” Then she launched into an explanation of who the dolls were and what they were doing. She had four total. Sisters, she said.
Something about the dolls reminded Penelope of her friends. A pang of sadness hit her. The four of them had been close for so long that it seemed troublesome for them to be at odds like this. “You know what?” Penelope asked.
“What?” Madeline replied. She was such a cutie.
“I have three friends and together, there are four of us. Just like your dolls. We’ve been friends for a long time. Hana is one of us, too.”
Madeline looked over at Hana and back at Penelope. “Where are your friends?” she asked innocently.
Hana sighed. She felt sad, too.
“I’m not sure where the other two are right now,” Penelope explained. “But Hana and I are here. I’m sure we’ll see the others soon.”
Hana stood, changing the subject. “Pen, how about some coffee? Brian made us some.”
“Sure. And seriously, how long was I out?”
Brian looked at the smartwatch on his arm. “About five hours,” he said.
“Five hours? Wow,” Penelope mused. “It felt like one hour. Maybe two. I guess our little run last night wore me out.”
Brian chuckled.
“Have you heard from Marshall?” Penelope added.
“No, nothing yet,” Brian replied. “All has been quiet around here. But I’m ready to get to work on your… situation… once you’ve had coffee and something to eat. There’s a shower if you want one.”
“Great. Thanks,” Penelope said.
Brian had made them some eggs and pancakes, complete with pineapple topping. Apparently, there was a good reason for using pineapple pancakes as a code word. Penelope ate like she was starving, filling her belly with more food than she thought she could hold. She figured the stress was probably affecting her. When she was finished eating, she showered then changed into a clean set of clothes from her go bag. Hana and Brian had already changed, so Penelope assumed they had showered, too.
She wanted to ask Hana what was happening with her and Brian, but she decided to be mature about it and wait. There were more pressing matters at hand. And besides, it was plain to see what was happening between them, really. Regardless of whether or not they’d had sex last night, they were very much a couple. And a happy one, at that. Stranger things had happened.
Ready to move forward and face whatever the day might bring, Penelope joined Brian and Hana in the tech room. Madeline continued to play with her dolls in the main living area nearby. Brian had three of the monitors turned on and was searching through the day’s news when Penelope arrived.
“I’m here,” Penelope said, plopping down in a squishy chair. She had to give Brian credit. The place was as comfortable as it was functional. He had done an amazing job. “Great place, by the way, Brian. You should design these things for VIPs. You know, like the president and cabinet members. Maybe military leaders. Don’t they have bunkers like this, only bigger?”
Brian chuckled, then glanced at Hana. “Something like that.”