“And what makes you think everyone else won’t think the Percy family is normal?” Sarah asked.
“Because they’re not,” Nancy answered. “No matter what kind of show they try to put on themselves, they are not the Cleavers, and they never will be, no matter what they say. I know for a fact that Gray is at odds with his mother. The moment she starts talking about her own family, he will say something, and then we sit back and watch the Percys implode on themselves. People don’t want instability in their leadership. They want someone rock solid. That’s what you are, Mrs. Riker. And that is what Jane Percy is not.”
Nancy smiled, proud of what she had brought to the table, and when Mrs. Riker placed her hand on Nancy’s shoulder, she thought she was about to be praised. But she had interpreted her efforts wrong.
“I appreciate the idea,” Mrs. Riker said. “But I’m not going to bring the kids into this.”
Nancy shook her head. “Your children are already involved. Everybody is involved, and if you don’t win this vote, then you risk losing everything. Do you really think Jane Percy will be better for this place?”
“Of course not,” Mrs. Riker said. “But I—”
“Then don’t lose!” Nancy shouted, losing control of her temper. “You can’t just sit there and expect them to play by the rules because they won’t! They never play by the rules! They will do whatever it takes to get what they want. I know that firsthand.”
Breathless by the time Nancy was finished, she immediately realized that she had crossed the line by raising her voice, and whatever clout she had earned looked like it has vanished.
“I appreciate the suggestion,” Mrs. Riker said. “But that’s not how I’m going to do things.”
Nancy stepped back and shrugged. “Fine. If that’s how you want to play it, then so be it, but don’t blame me when the Percys have control of the facility and you’ve lost the rest of your family.”
Nancy immediately left the portable, storming out of there like she had so many times when she argued with her own parents. She felt like a teenager again, and she hated it. She even hated the tears that were starting to fill her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away.
“Fucking stupid,” Nancy said, muttering to herself as she put more distance between herself and the Riker’s portable.
Nancy walked all the way to the back fence of the compound, away from the living quarters where there was nothing but some exercise equipment where the firefighter trainees would run their drills on the obstacle course.
Nancy paced around, knowing she had overreacted. She had allowed her own hate toward the Percys to cloud her judgment. Once she had a moment to calm down, and Nancy was able to pull herself out of the pit of despair she found herself wallowing in, she knew she needed to go back to Mrs. Riker and apologize. But when she turned around to do just that, Mrs. Riker was already standing in front of her.
“Oh,” Nancy said, shocked.
“How are you doing?” Mrs. Riker asked.
Nancy stared down at her feet, embarrassed from her earlier outburst. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you are,” Mrs. Riker said, and then she stepped closer. “But that’s not what I asked.” She grabbed hold of Nancy’s hands. “I want to know how you’re feeling.”
Despite all of the progress Nancy had made since she came here, the moment Mrs. Riker grabbed hold of her hands, she felt like a young girl again. She felt helpless and afraid and angry.
“I keep reliving it,” Nancy said. “Watching my parents die.”
“I can’t pretend to understand how difficult it is to have the Percys stay here after what they did to your family,” Mrs. Riker said.
Nancy wiped at her eyes, trying to retain her composure. “I try to keep myself busy so I don’t think about it.”
“Your suggestion wasn’t a bad one,” Mrs. Riker said. “I just know how Jane will react once we go down this road. She’s not the kind of person to give up, and if I continue to engage with her on her level, then things are going to get worse, not better.”
Nancy conceded that Mrs. Riker probably had more experience in dealing with Jane Percy than she did. But she still felt like she had to do something. “I’m just tired of sitting on the sidelines. And I know my little outburst back there didn’t set me up for invitations to future meetings, but I want you to know that I’m on your side. Whatever it takes for you to keep control of this place is the necessary action you need to take.”
Mrs. Riker studied Nancy for a long time before she finally spoke. “You really have been forced to grow up. You sound like a woman twice your age.” She sighed and then pocketed her hands as she turned around to face the rest of the facility. “A part of me wants to do what you suggested, but I have spent my entire life trying to show my own family how to live, and if I stoop to Jane’s level, then what am I showing them?”
“That you’re a fighter,” Nancy answered. “That you will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”
Mrs. Riker turned to Nancy. “I already am like that, Nancy.” She placed her arm around Nancy’s shoulders and then pulled her close. “Thanks for the reminder, though.”
Standing there with Mrs. Riker made Nancy realize just how lucky she was. She could have found herself stuck with some very bad people after all this happened. But she was fortunate enough to have come under the tutelage of decent people.
Nancy was about to express those feelings toward Mrs. Riker when a scream rocketed from somewhere on the compound. Both Nancy and Mrs. Riker immediately sprinted toward the sound of distress.
They
