Chances were she would never get that. All she had to give indication of her family’s fate was an app on a phone, and it wouldn’t be long before she wouldn’t have that either.
For the time being they had to get moving.
Owen and Gabe would put their family to rest, but the impact of the sudden global tragedy would stay with them for the rest of their lives.
How could it not?
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Fort Collins, CO
It was strange and empty going home, Gabe knew it would be. The first place they went was to the cemetery, finding an area where they could bury their dad. Gene, Delaney and Gary stayed behind to start digging while Owen and Gabe sought out their mother.
They found her at home, in bed. She had died in her sleep, curled on her hand tucked under her face. Her fiancé’s side of the bed was messed, but he wasn’t there. He probably had gone to work.
Even though he expected to find his mother, it didn’t make it any less heartbreaking.
Shawna on the other hand, Gabe didn’t find. He went back to his apartment, she wasn’t there. The car wasn’t in the lot either. He had a feeling that would be the case. They had argued when he left for the airport, she wanted to go to her friend’s house and party.
It was five thirty in the morning, but not something unusual for her.
The only consolation Gabe had was that Shawna probably drank until obliterated and then passed out just as the event hit. She, like his mother never felt a thing.
He didn’t know what friend she went to and Gabe, feeling slightly guilty, didn’t search. He focused with his brother on burying their parents.
It was bittersweet, but a chance to say goodbye.
It took most of the day and they finished just before evening. They headed to Tom’s apartment.
Gabe feared it would feel strange and sad, but it was oddly comforting. His father had lived in that apartment since his parent’s divorced.
It was a second home.
He opened the door, the power was still on and it had only been a few days since they had been there and it didn’t have that ‘away on vacation’ smell.
It smelled clean and fresh and was, as always, impeccably tidy.
Gabe knew his father cleaned before he left.
“He was running the vacuum when I got here that morning,” Owen said. “I told him the neighbors were gonna get mad. He said he wanted to come home to a clean house.” He paused and lifted a set of keys. “My car. You know we can take it back to Colorado Springs instead of those trucks. I have a full tank. Be a lot more comfortable.”
Gene shook his head. “I’m pretty sure the Air Force wants their trucks back.”
“Too bad.” Owen set down the keys. “I love that car. I might take it though. Follow you.”
“Why not?” Gene told him.
Gabe walked to the small kitchen. “Dad has food. Anyone hungry?”
“You know what.” Delaney rushed to him. “Let me make something. I’ll cook.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Gabe said.
“I want to.”
“Okay. Okay, that would be cool.” Gabe stepped back. “Gene, Gary, make yourself at home.”
He couldn’t believe he was taking command of his father’s place, but then again, that’s what his father would do.
Gabe then made his way to his father’s bedroom. He knew what he wanted to get from there.
The bed was made, an empty laundry basket set on top. Seeing his father’s room, just broke his heart all over again especially when he looked at his father’s dresser and the pictures there.
So many pictures on a dust free surface. All of him and Owen, spanning their entire lives. Pictures with the three of them.
Gabe lifted a framed photo of him, Owen and their dad, it was a camping trip. They were teenagers. Owen stood close to their father, while Gabe just looked disgusted.
“Uncle Gene took that,” Owen said, entering the room.
“Why was I so upset in this?” Gabe asked.
“Don’t you remember?”
“I was mad at Dad?”
“No. Uncle Gene. He used to annoy you all the time. Pick on things you like just to get a rise out of you. Dad would tell you to not listen.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right,” Gabe said. “Still. I was such a shit to him.”
“Who? Dad?”
“Yep.”
“No. Well, not always, you were you.”
“Exactly.” Gabe set down the frame. “I put him through a lot these last couple years.”
“And you were making up for it. He knew it. He was proud.”
“Was he?”
“Yeah, bro, he was. He went from calling me constantly worried about you to bragging. Have to tell you …” Owen lifted another picture. “I got sick of hearing about you.”
“I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Me either.”
“What are we gonna do?” Gabe asked.
“We’re gonna do everything we can to keep making him proud. To keep him alive somehow, by doing what Uncle Gene said. Making it mean something. Do what Dad would do.”
“Oh, Christ,” Gabe sadly chuckled. “He’d be the first to volunteer to be on search and rescue.”
“Yes, he would, and he’d make us do it even if we didn’t want to. I have to tell you …” Owen said. “When you flew the plane, and did the fueling stuff, he was chest out, peacock proud.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he was. I know … we lost him. But I am so glad we were together. We didn’t want to do a Vegas vacation. But we agreed and I am glad we did. We were together, as a family when the world fell apart.”
Gabe lifted another picture. “Can you imagine if we had gone away with
