The group started back towards the school as light faded around them. Keith, Jack, and BB filled Ern’s grave as the somber procession moved away.
AN IMPROMPTU WAKE WAS held for Ern an hour later, in the cafeteria. It was the first time that all residents of the Ren were together in the lunchroom for an extended period of time, and it actually felt somewhat crowded to Christine.
She watched the group dynamics from her seat next to her mother.
“That Michelle sure is social,” she commented as she watched the middle-aged woman float from group to group. She was also the loudest person in the room, laughing several times.
It annoyed Christine.
“Hmm,” was her mother’s response.
Christine glanced sharply at her mom. The woman had been bouncing between maniacal and lethargic — thankfully, most of the time in the privacy of their room.
Most of the time, anyway.
Christine could see that people were starting to get wary. She knew that it was only a matter of time until people found out that her mom had mental health issues.
And all the medications that Dad has been stealing. They will find that out, too. What will happen then?
The thought scared her, so she shook her head and resumed her activity of people-watching.
The new additions to the group had merged well with the rest. Especially Tammy. The blue-eyed woman was constantly surrounded by people.
Fanboys.
Christine grudgingly admired the former anchorwoman, though. She was likeable, intelligent, and responsive to those around her. The fact that she could pull off the grubby look and still be gorgeous only irked Christine slightly.
The army radio operators were a fun group. The lanky guy looked a bit off-putting, but all three seemed quite nice. She watched them now as they hung out with Emily.
She’s finally found more of her kind. Christine watched the stocky Englishwoman engage in an animated conversation.
John had brought Melissa out. She was sitting in a rigged-up wheelchair and looked good. Of course, Christine knew that, having tended to Melissa every day since the shooting. She was a tough and resilient woman.
Jack also hung around with them, as did Q and Steve. The were boys obviously engaging in some hero-worshiping, with John the reluctant and awkward focus of their attention. Christine almost laughed out loud when she took in the scene.
The general mood seemed upbeat, despite the somber occasion. Only a few people looked truly uncomfortable or upset. Surprisingly, Nancy was not one of those. Claire and Rosa floated around the older woman like two busy bees, but they were largely ignored. In fact, Nancy wasn’t engaging anybody in conversation. She didn’t seem overly upset either. That struck Christine as odd.
Ben was off to the side. Christine liked to think that the soldier was skulking, but probably he felt too awkward to mingle with other folks. Bill had sat with him for a while, as had Q, earlier. Christine wondered what that conversation had been like.
Maria walked by, carrying a small piece of pie. She smiled and waved to Christine, who returned the gesture. As she walked past, Christine’s view was drawn to somebody else.
There he is!
Christine saw the person that she very much wanted to talk to since that morning’s events.
Might as well go over there. Not like Mom is going to carry a conversation. She got up from her seat.
“See ya, Mom,” she said as she stepped away.
“Hmm.”
Christine slowly worked her way through the crowd towards Keith. The man kept a stoic vigil near the entrance to the cafeteria.
Or the exit, Christine realized as she approached. Like Keith could bolt at any minute.
“Hey, Keith.”
He had seen her approach yet still stiffened when she said his name.
“Are you OK?” she asked.
Keith nodded. “Yeah ... I guess I’m just not used to funerals.”
“I saw you. Outside, earlier today.” She didn’t mean to make it sound like an accusation and quickly added, “A few of us did. We were worried about you.”
Keith’s eyes flared for a moment, before he looked down in embarrassment. “You did, eh?” He worked his jaw, then sighed softly before facing Christine again. “Sorry about that. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and the nearest I can figure is that I just needed to release some pent-up energy.”
“You felt helpless.” Christine knew the feeling. “There was nothing you could do to save Ern.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re a guy who usually gets things done.” She grabbed his hand in a tender gesture. “That was troubling for you to experience.”
Keith slowly, gently, removed his hand from hers. “Yeah. That’s right. Um, Christine, I really appreciate you caring — but can we not do this now? I don’t feel like getting psychoanalyzed at the moment.” He felt instant regret at his rebuke and followed it up with a weak, “Sorry.”
Christine wasn’t fazed, though. She smiled sweetly at him. “That’s OK, Keith. We all have things to deal with.” She stepped slightly closer to him and put her hand on his upper arm. “Just know, that I’m there for you. If you need me.”
She quickly turned away and rejoined the wake, leaving a confused Keith staring after her.
Chapter 60
Nancy
November 11, 11:30 P.M.
It was late at night, and all residents of the Ren had gone to sleep.
All except one.
Nancy sat at a desk in the basement room she had shared with Ern for the last couple of weeks. She was writing a note, using nothing but the dim light that came in through the window. They had been lucky their room faced the fields and not the street so they could leave their storm shutters open. The beam of light that came in from outside lit up the desk in front of Nancy and the paper she was scribbling on.
A minute later, she finished her note and stepped up to the window to
