Delaney sniffed. “We all lost so much, so many.”
“We all have to grieve this together.”
“I keep looking at my phone and thinking about my babies. I just so hope they were sleeping when this happened or that it was fast and peaceful.”
Gary reached over and grabbed her hand. “I saw a lot of people go. A lot. I didn’t see a lot of suffering it was so fast.”
“But Tom’s was a slow poisoning. Like the man on the plane who didn’t wear his oxygen mask correctly. I feel so bad for them.” She leaned her head back against the wall. “And I can’t even get excited.”
“Excited?” Gary asked.
“My brother … you know how we saw movement?”
Gary nodded.
“I talked to Wiley, Gene’s partner in Billings and told him. I really thought someone had my brother’s phone. He just let me know … Stew, my brother, is alive.”
“That’s great news.”
Delaney nodded. “His screen was broke on his phone and he couldn’t answer. But it kept tracking his movements. Wiley said the whole town of Clarksville is alive.”
“Is that where your brother is now?”
“I’m waiting to hear from him.” Delaney looked at her phone. “I feel guilty for being happy.”
“Don’t. You know, I didn’t know Tom well. But he seemed like the type of man that would tell you to get in a truck and he’d drive with you to find him.”
“He did seem that way.” Delaney jolted when her phone rang.
“That’s probably him. Answer. Go on.”
Nervously, nodding, Delaney stood and walked a few feet before answer.
Gary listened for a second as she emotionally sobbed out a ‘hello’ then cried a little more as she spoke on the phone. She drifted farther down the hall with the conversation.
Even though there was such an abundance of sadness in that hallway, Gary was happy for Delaney. She was one of the very few people left that lost a lot, but not everything.
Just like the two brothers, Gabe and Owen. They hadn’t lost everything, they still had each other, and Gary hoped, for their sake, they realized that.
<><><><>
Gene made no phone calls. Even though he wanted to know how Tom was, he didn’t want to hear any bad news.
He was so indebted to Jeff the pilot for refueling the plane and flying him to Colorado Springs. Even though Jeff had been going nonstop, he was grateful to Tom and his sons for all they had done. Without them, Jeff told Gene, Flight 3430 would never have made it.
Gene radioed the Colonel letting him know he was on his way.
The Airforce had a car waiting for them when they landed and they drove them without hesitation to the base.
Gene was told nothing about Tom on the way.
They were escorted below and to the medical facility.
When they walked in there was a small waiting room just before a hall. A couple of sofas and chairs with a coffee pot on a table.
A woman and man were there when Gene entered, he didn’t know them, but Jeff did.
The man and woman stood immediately and Jeff greeted them warmly. “I am so happy you are all alright. I’m sorry I had to take off.”
“No.” The man shook his head. “We understood, you had a lot of lives on that plane.”
“What am I thinking.” Jeff snapped his finger. “Gary, Delaney this is Gene Taylor. The man we all spoke to on the phone. The guardian angel that kept us all alive.”
The man, Gary shook his hand and the woman embraced him.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you very much.” She stepped back from the embrace.
“You’re welcome,” Gene replied. “How’s Tom?”
Silence.
Delaney and Gary just looked at each other, then to Gene.
They didn’t need to speak or say a word.
Gene knew.
Tom was gone.
It didn’t take much direction or asking people for Gene to find his way to the room where they said Tom was.
The door was closed and he stood outside nervously, before opening it.
He pushed in the handle then slowly on the door.
As it partially opened, he saw the foot of the bed, and Owen in clear view.
He stood by the window, arms folded tight to his body staring to the bed, until he heard the door.
His head sprang up as Gene walked in.
“Uncle Gene,” Owen said with such relief as he rushed to Gene.
Gene wrapped his arms around him, finally seeing the bed, but not really looking. He wanted to embrace Owen, convey that he was there. “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” Owen said.
Gene stepped back, leaving his hand on Owen’s arms and squeezing it when he saw Tom in the bed.
His friend looked as if he were resting. Lying on his back, eyes closed, covers to his mid chest and head tilted slightly toward Gabe as if he were staring at his youngest son.
An ache of emotion slammed into Gene’s chest and his hurt eked out of his throat in a form of a moan.
Gabe sat at his father’s side. His hands clasped over his father’s hand and Gabe’s chin rested on top.
“I’m sorry, Gabe.” Gene walked over and placed his hand on Gabe’s back.
“We tried, Uncle Gene,” Gabe said. “We tried. It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not. But your dad, you know, your dad would want you two to make this mean something. You survived and to
