Kate almost broke at the sight of what would have been a normal day back at their former home on Peak’s Island. She halted to watch them from afar for a few seconds, remembering those days when safety was not an illusion.
She took a mental snapshot of the scene to save for what would come tomorrow. When the enemies were barreling down on the walls and the horror of monsters returned, she would have this image to inspire her and keep her fighting.
“Kate,” Beckham said. He stood and waved her over. “What are you doing here?”
“Turns out my team could handle things on their own for a bit,” she replied.
Javier ran over and hugged her. “Second time in one day. This is great, I’ve got something to show you.”
“Oh yeah?” Kate looked at Beckham suspiciously.
“I was just telling Dad that I’ve been practicing some boxing moves Connor taught me,” Javier said. “I’m ready to fight some Variants.”
Kate pulled him close against her side with one arm. Normally she would have scolded him, but today he needed confidence and she had to admit it was good he was learning to defend himself.
She waved at Connor, the Secret Service agent that had been protecting Javier and the girls. He was watching over them all now and gave a friendly wave back.
“Where’s Tasha?” Kate asked.
Jenny gave her a playful smile. “She’s with Timothy.”
“They went for a walk together,” Horn said. “Told ’em to stay within view of other humans.”
“And you think they’re going to listen to that?” Kate asked with a laugh. “Big Horn, I imagine you still remember when you were a teenager.”
“God damn…” his words trailed off.
“Give them this time together,” Beckham said. “They deserve it as much as anyone else.”
“He’s right,” Kate said. “I’m just glad we’re all still together. For better or worse, we’re all one big family now.”
“We’re just missing Fitz and Rico,” Beckham said.
“They’re off on a ‘walk’, too,” Horn said, using his fingers to indicate quotation marks in the air.
“Days like this I really wish Mom was here,” Jenny said. “I can hardly remember her now.”
“Oh, honey,” Kate said. She went to the younger girl and gave her a hug.
Horn sulked. He rarely spoke of Sheila anymore, but Kate could tell the big guy was thinking of her now.
“When this is all over, are we going to move back to Maine?” Javier asked.
Beckham and Kate exchanged a glance. Even if they were victorious, returning to Maine was probably not an option.
“What about a nice house along the Gulf, somewhere we can enjoy the beach almost every day instead of just in the summer?” Beckham asked. “I kind of like it here.”
“The beaches in Mexico are better,” Horn said. “But I can’t speak Spanish worth shit except to order a cerveza. So Texas will have to do.”
“Gingers like you don’t do well in the sun,” Kate said with a slight smile.
“I’ll make sure he wears sunscreen,” Jenny said.
That earned a few laughs from the group.
“Really, I like it here and so do the dogs,” Jenny said. “Tasha seems to like it too, when Timothy is around.”
“Oh, we’re not letting that young man stray too far ever again,” Beckham said.
“No, we aren’t,” Horn agreed. “I’m keeping my eye on him. For more than one reason.”
Kate spotted two more figures walking toward them. “Speaking of lovebirds…”
Fitz and Rico waved as they crossed the streets and joined the group at the tables.
“Please, help yourselves,” Beckham said.
Jenny held out a plate of cut apples.
“Thanks,” Fitz said. “Sure is a nice day.”
“You always liked the calm before the storm,” Rico said. She gave him a playful elbow in the ribs. “But don’t lie, you’re just happy ’cause you’re with me again, aren’t you, Fitzie?”
Horn laughed. “You know, I’m pretty sure the guy used to hate it when you called him that.”
“Oh, he still does,” Rico said. “But he’s learned to deal with it.”
“Because deep down he actually likes it?” Kate asked.
“Nah, that isn’t it,” Fitz said. “I just realized Rico’s too damn stubborn to ever stop doing something I dislike, and I use up all my energy fighting monsters to fight her on it.”
“It only took him eight years to learn that,” Rico said with a laugh.
“At least he figured it out,” Beckham said.
“Hey, where’s Dohi?” Javier asked. “I wanted to show him some of my new moves.”
The young boy kicked the air and chopped it with his hands.
“Nice,” Fitz said. “But I’m afraid Dohi’s looking after someone right now.”
Kate had a feeling it was the captured Chimera Corrin.
Ginger and Spark grew tired of the tug of war and trotted over to Jenny and Javier. Spark dropped the stick on the ground and Javier picked up the slobbery toy.
“Gross, guys,” Jenny said.
Javier threw the stick and the dogs rushed after it, barking. Jenny laughed and ran after Spark and Ginger. They bounded over the grass, stumbling over each other in a desperate attempt to get at it first.
Kate relished those moments. The conversation, playing with the dogs, and just being with those she loved more than anything had been something she had missed desperately. It was just the break she needed from work, and a good reminder of why they were fighting so hard.
Part of her felt like she should be working, but now she was enjoying the moment with no idea if there was a future where she could enjoy time like this again with her family and friends. Besides, they had prepared as much as they could, and the kids needed something to look forward to. Some hope to cling to when all else appeared dire.
— 20 —
An hour after lunch with the family, Beckham sat in a seat next to Horn in the cramped Galveston hospital room where Ruckley was being treated.
“Damn, you look like the female version
