Returning from the satellite dishes, she waved to one of the six security men she had hired to watch the property. Did they wonder what was going on out there? What she was doing?
She was grateful that the problem with dish four was only a small wind-blown bundle that landed on it. Virginia didn’t want to take a chance on missing another geological event, like the solar flare. It wasn’t that she missed it; it happened so fast, by the time the sun turned her way, the flare had shot.
There was no preliminary data to alert them. And that frightened her, more than she cared to admit. If it happened once, it could happen again. Only the next time it might not be the other side of the world.
Inside, her husband Rob was sweeping the floor.
“Kids spilled some cereal,” he said.
Virginia smiled.
“All fixed?”
“Just a spur. Did Sears call about the air unit?”
“Oh, yeah.” He said brightly, placed the push broom against the wall and walked to her. “They’ll be here shortly.”
“Thank God.”
He ran his finger down the trickle of sweat on her neck. “Not much longer.”
“Where are the kids?”
“Watching TV in the other room.”
The other room, Virginia thought. She looked around the barracks-style building. She didn’t know why it was; it wasn’t small, but the separated walls, the living and eating area in one room, the hot dusty air, it made her think of the Depression. That made her think how much life wouldn’t be different from that when all went to hell.
“Something wrong?” Rob asked.
“Just concerned. The Paris flare just has me concerned. What if we stop seeing signs? What if things just start happening without warning, what if . . .”
“What if.” Rob silenced her. “Then there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“I just worry about the kids, you know.”
He nodded.
Virginia sighed out. “All right, I’m off. Heading down to the bunker. Find me when Sears shows up?”
“You got it.”
Virginia started to walk away.
“What are you working on? You need me to help?”
“Data. Collecting data to send to Colin.”
“He wants in that conference badly, huh?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think they’ll let him.”
“Why’s that?”
“Colin will deliver the truth. They’ll know it’s the truth. If he goes to the conference, the truth is public. I don’t think the conference is about finding out what to do,” Virginia said. “I think the conference is keeping the real truth from the public.” She planted a soft kiss to his cheek, wiped her hand across where her lips pressed, then walked away.
***
Luke was print boy and find boy, Colin’s designated working partner, as Bret was Darius’. Luke was in charge of printing up the data that Virginia sent, while looking for details on the first portion of the list they had composed of Invitees.
“I appreciate this Dr. Jeffers,” Colin said on the phone. “I was going to send you all my data . . . .”
“Well, Dr. Reye, part of the reason I placed all of you together in quarantine was to see what you would do. You didn’t disappoint me.”
“Thank you.”
“What about Dr. Cobb.”
“He’s working on his own way to get to the conference.”
“Two of you trying in two different directions?” Jeffers asked.
“Yes, one of us is bound to succeed. I feel . . . hold on.” He slid the phone from his mouth and pointed to the list in front of Luke. “See what you can find on him.”
“But that’s three more.”
“Jump ahead,” Colin winked.
Luke shrugged and began to type.
“Anyhow . . . .” Colin returned to Jeffers. “How hard is it going to be to get to speak at the conference?”
“Hard. Slots are filled. If I agree with what you have to present, I can present it.”
“What do you have?”
“Theories. Not much.”
“Our theories have some data as back-up,” Colin said and winced at Luke’s disclaimer.
“To be honest, it would be a lot easier to get you to speak if you had a viable solution or resolution.”
“To stop what I think is going to happen?” Colin asked almost with a snicker.
“Yes.”
“Dude,” Luke smoothed out. “Check this shit out. I made a typo . . . .”
Just as Colin was about to ‘shush’ Luke, he peered down.
Luke continued. “An extra ‘A’, and this shit came up. Oh, well.” He reached his hand for the mouse.
Colin stopped him, grabbing his hand. “Not so fast,” he told Luke and moved closer to the screen. “Dr. Jeffers, let me call you back. I may have an idea.” Blindly he hung up the phone. He gave a pleased pat on the head to an oblivious Luke, and then he took in the inadvertent search engine results that were, to Colin, more of a blessing than a mistake brought on by a typo.
***
Today I talk to him. Today I talk to him. Bret stated it in her mind over and over. She had run through exactly what she would tell Darius and how she would do so.
She had just finished the current inventory of medical supplies when she received the phone call from him stating he was on his way back.
It actually was perfect timing. The kids weren’t home, Luke was monitoring, Colin was off doing something he deemed ‘crucial’. A quiet house.
Until Darius arrived.
He called out her name with little kid enthusiasm, running about the house looking for her.
Coming out of the bedroom, Bret was not only greeted with his call, but Darius. She jumped.
“You are not going to believe this.” Darius grabbed her shoulders. “Oh, wait. Here.” He extended a bouquet of flowers to her. “For you.”
“You got me flowers.” Bret smiled quirkily at them. Purple daisies. “Can I ask why?”
“One, because I’m celebrating and sharing my good news with you. Two, I thought maybe they’d jar your memory. Someone told me that a picture or a symbol can do that.”
“Purple daisies?”
“Well, yeah. We saw purple flowers when we had lunch in the field before the accident. You loved them.” He watched her expression. It was lost. “No? Okay. Anyhow, my news. I tried to call Colin but he’s not around.”
“What? What happened?”
Proudly, Darius pulled his shoulders back. “I’m speaking at the conference.”
“No.” Bret said in shock.
Darius nodded. “I’m gonna get my chance to speak, give my theory and my idea for stopping it.”
“You mean the blowing up the world theory.”
Darius bobbed his head. “In short. I have a nuclear physicist who will be working with me to tweak it.”
“I am really happy for you.”
“Wait until Colin hears. Of course, he’ll come too.”
“Well, how . . . how did you manage this?”
Darius fluttered his lips. “Check this out. Winslow. He’s buddies with the congressman heading this up. He called him, said he may want to hear what I have to say, the congressman said he’d slot me in.”
Bret smiled. “That’s great news.”
“It is.”
“So bad news isn’t something you want to hear.”
“Who broke my guitar?” Darius asked.
“Huh?”
“My guitar. Who broke it?”
“Why would you assume that? Is it broken?”
“You tell me. That’s the only bad news I can think of.”
“I doubt that. Come here.” She called him in the bedroom. “I need to talk to you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I need you to be straight with me. One hundred percent honest.”
Darius nodded.
Bret continued, “Were you serious about us being in a relationship
? That we committed?”
“Absolutely, why would I lie?”
Bret shrugged. “I don’t know. Colin does that shit. And we . . . we slept together.”
“Yeah, a couple times. Well, twice,” Darius replied. “Why, what’s up?”
“Oh, Darius, you aren’t going to believe . . .”
A knock at the door interrupted them.
“Mom,” Luke poked his head in. “I’m looking for . . . never mind. There he is.”
“What’s up, Luke?” Darius asked. “Can this wait? We’re talking.”
Luke shrugged. “I guess. You have a visitor.”
“Can you tell them I’ll be done in a minute?”
Luke nodded. “Sure thing.” He turned to leave.
“Wait, Luke,” Darius called out. “Who is it?”
“You mom.” Luke walked out.
***
How many times had Bret heard Colin mention that she reminded him of Darius’ mother.
When the news came that Grace was downstairs, Bret was more excited than Darius. She wanted to meet the woman Colin spoke of and Darius hadn’t seen in eight months.
Darius was less enthused.
‘Wow, really?’ was his reaction, but Bret insisted they place their talk on hold and go down immediately.
They did.
She had never seen a picture at all. Darius rarely talked about his mother. They probably talked extensively about her on the week she’d lost.
That would be her luck.
Almost bashful she walked down the stairs directly behind Darius. Did Grace see her pause? Bret did just as she reached the next to the last step.
Grace was looking at the photograph table in the foyer, and turned around.
“Dare-Dare!” she belted, reaching out her arms.
Grace was not what Bret expected. After all, according to Colin she was a lot like Bret.
Grace was not Bret.
The woman in the foyer certainly did not match the mental picture Bret derived of someone who dated the distinguished Colin Reye and raised the snobbish Darius Cobb.
She was a younger mother. With Darius pushing forty, one would think Grace was gray and seasoned.
She was seasoned all right. Bret just didn’t know which way. Grace was a young mother from what Bret had learned.
First thing Bret noticed was the volume of her voice and the hick accent that was just a hint raspy from years of cigarette smoking or yelling.
The next thing she noticed was her jeans. They were tight, like jeans that were worn in the eighties or nineties. A thin belt more for decoration than ‘holding them up’ and a tight blue blouse tucked in.
She wasn’t a thin woman or heavy; she was about average. Bret figured at one time she was thin. But what surprised Bret was her height. She was a good inch over Darius’ five foot eight frame. Of course, that could have been her hair, which was bleached blonde, teased and big.
She tried to make it small.
Grace was attractive and wore full make-up. Her nails were long and manicured.
She looked more like Darius’ big sister than mother.
“This . . . this is a shock,” Darius stepped back; running his fingers through his hair. “Wow.”
“Well, I told you . . . when was it I talked to you?” She tapped her finger on her lips. “Gosh, had to be what a month ago.”
“Probably like four.”
She waved out her hand. “Who keeps track of time? We don’t on the rodeo circuit, I tell you. One city to the next.” She exhaled. “Ain’t you gonna invite me in?”
“Absolutely,” Darius held out a hand then reached for the door.
“No, no. Wait. That starving boy is fetching my bags.”
“Starving boy?” Darius asked.
“The thin one. Luke.” She smiled. “And who is this?” she walked toward Bret. “Is this the filly Colin was telling me about?”
“How do you do? I’m Bret.” Bret held out her hand.
“Oh, stop. You get a hug.” She brought Bret in for an embrace. “You’re marrying my son, now aren’t you? That’s what Colin said.”
“Mom. When did you speak to Colin?” Darius asked.
“Yesterday. He invited me in.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Darius asked.
“I would if you answered yer phone. I tried. Then I finally got a hold of Colin. He said something about you skydiving and hanging out in Texas. Then you and your fiancé came back to Pittsburgh. I got held up in New Mexico. But when I spoke to Colin yesterday, telling him I’m ready to come off the road, he said come on in. And here I am. Wow. Colin certainly has done good for himself.”
Luke walked in the door with arms full of bags. “Where do you want these?’
“Oh, just put them there till we figure out where I’m sleeping. Thank you.”
Luke nodded, set down the bags and headed down the hall. “I’m gonna go work on the tracking.”
“Have a cheeseburger!” Grace called out. “How nice is that boy. He your son?” she asked Bret.
“Yes, he is.”
“Don’t he eat?”
Bret chuckled. “Actually, he does.”
Grace winked. “Mind if I give it a try fattening him up?”
“Go right ahead.”
“Time out.” Darius made a ‘T’ with his hand. “How long are you staying?”
“Dontcha want me to stay?” Grace asked.
“That’s not what I said. I asked how long?”
“For good, for a while.” Grace shrugged. “Colin said to move right in. We’re all one big happy family and he has lots of rooms.”
“Rooms. But they aren’t all bedrooms.”
“Welp, he told me that, too,” Grace said. “He told me that it’s high tail time you and Bret shared a room anyhow.” She smiled at Bret. “Little advice, try on the shoe first.”
“Oh my God.” Darius closed his eyes.
“What?” Grace asked surprised. “Just givin’ advice.”
“Did you break up with Chad?”
Grace laughed. ‘Three years ago. I’ve been seeing Ron. He was the comedian and crowd charger for the rodeo.”
“A clown.”
Grace smiled and nodded. “We broke up. Said I was too serious about all the stuff going on. And I told him. If anyone knows it’s my boy. He’s the earth genius.” She winked again and nodded. “And I ain’t no genius. Don’t pretend to be. But hell, something is going on. All this hot shit. Bird attacks. Bugs. Planes dropping. Volcanoes erupting. Hell on fury it’s the book of Revelation . . . I told this to Colin. He said absolutely. We’ll discuss it when you arrive. I’m here.”
“Colin told you it was the book of Revelation?” Darius asked.
“He said it was something like that and something big was on the horizon. I want to be with you guys now.”
Bret stepped forward. “Well, we’re glad you’re here.”
Darius hummed out a ‘hmm’.
Grace shot him a look.
“Did you fly in?” Bret asked.
“Oh, I drove. Pickup is beat to hell and back though.”
“Then you must be tired. Come on in; I was about to fix lunch.”
“Got any Jack?” Grace asked.
Darius looked at his watch. “It’s one o’clock.”
“How does that song go? It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
Darius forcibly chuckled and it showed.
“When’s Colin getting back? I can’t wait to see him. Since we’re all gonna be one big happy family.”
“Mom,” Darius said with a snicker. “Colin is being polite. I hope you aren’t planning a reunion. I mean, it’s been fifteen years. You’re staying here, great. But I’m sure he’s moved on emotionally.”
The door opened and Colin walked it. “Good lord, I’d recognize that fanny anywhere. To die for.”
Grace smiled at Darius. “You were saying?”
***
Darius was on the phone. Outside with everyone e
lse, but he was on the phone.
Underneath the umbrella-sheltered table, he sat with Bret. He spoke while her focus was on everyone else. The kids were swimming and Colin cooking on the grill, while Grace teetered between Colin and the pool. Jumping in, doing belly splashes and being loud.
Darius rubbed his temple.
Bret snickered watching him.
“Just . . just don’t worry about it,” Darius said. “Blue is normal. Watch for red. Thanks.” He flipped his phone closed.
“Chuck?” Bret asked.
Darius nodded. “He hasn’t a clue what he’s doing. It’s not his forte. I feel bad.”
“Then why don’t you go in the house and downstairs and help him. Or do the work?”
“I can’t. I promised Colin two hours out here.”
“Family time.”
Darius grumbled.
“Darius.”
“No, the world is falling apart and we’re having a picnic. Bret, have you seen the news?”
“I try not to. It’s depressing.”
“Hell, yeah,” Darius said. “Paris, the dead . . . .”
“It’s depressing, Darius.”
“I know. I just have so much on my mind. So much work. I have to get ready for this conference, and now…now she’s here.”
“She?”
A loud splash erupted from the pool and the kids screamed in joy.
“She,” Darius reiterated. “I didn’t expect her to show up.”
“She’s your mother.”
“I know, and I love her. It’s that she drives me nuts. And now, she’s trying to rekindle with Colin, a man she hasn’t been with in fifteen years. Insane.”
“She surprised me,” Bret said.
“How so?”
Bret glanced over to Grace. “I don’t know. I expected different. She’s so . . . so . . . .”
“Trailer park?” Darius asked.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you just said that.”
“What? She is. Is it awful of me to say that nowhere in my apocalypse survival plan, did I envision my mother in my new civilization.”
“Yeah, that’s awful.”
With a grunt, Darius rubbed his eyes. “And then . . . then my plan with you went out the window.”
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