Within an hour, Brian had the truck packed with the last of his belongings. He went to the back yard and turned off the generator. Then he walked over to the roses and his wife’s grave. He swatted down and felt the tears prick his eyes.
“I’ve got to go honey. I’ll not be back this way again, but I’ve a feeling you’ll be with me always. I’m sorry I couldn’t join you so soon, but Coop needs me and I think I need him. I love you babe, and I miss you so damned much.” He choked out. He turned when he felt Coop’s small hand on his shoulder. He turned and picked the boy up and hugged him. He went to the truck and put Cooper in the car seat. He called Daisy and she easily jumped into the back of the truck cab.
“Okay guys, we’re going to the mini-mall. I’m going to pick us up some clothes for you Coop, a bed for me and a bed for you and dog food for Daisy. How does that sound?” He grinned at the boy and dog.
“Awesome!” Cooper cried and his feet began to waggle. Brian laughed and turned the key, he carefully backed the truck and U-Haul trailer out and left his neighborhood, he didn’t look back at his home, it was one of the hardest things he’d had to do in his life. He could not look back now, only forward.
Ӝ
Emma woke exhausted. She was also confused, when she opened her eyes, she saw a gossamer film above her. There was ornate molding around the ceiling. Then she remembered. She and Paadi had stopped at a bed and breakfast to spend the night. She’d chosen the McLaren Vale suite at the Australian Walkabout Inn. It had been a hard day, yesterday. Her new friend, Paadi, had shot and killed a man, because he was too stupid or too high to realize the danger, he presented by pointing a weapon at them.
She could tell that the incident had upset Paadi, though she didn’t know the woman well. When she’d arrived at her parent’s home, she’d dreaded going in. When she’d walked in, she could detect the heavy scent of decay. Her heart had plunged into her stomach. It was real, her parents were dead and gone. Her eyes had scanned the living room, all the same, but for the heavy coating of dust. She’d walked into her once loved home, now empty but for the relics of a lost life. She knew her parents were there, but not how she’d remembered them.
She went to the back of the house and her parent’s door was shut. On the door was an envelope, taped to the door, with her name on it. That had surprised her. She took the note off the door, but didn’t open her parent’s bedroom door. She didn’t want that grizzly scene to be the last memory of them. She walked back to the living room, Paadi was looking at the photos of her parents and her. Emma had smiled sadly.
Reaching over to the night stand, Emma picked up her mother’s letter once more. She scooted up in the large bed and plumped the pillows. The sheets were crisp and clean and felt wonderful against her skin. It was a lovely room and the windows were wide open, letting the morning breeze in. She could hear mourning doves outside her window. There were several other birds singing, it was spring after all. It almost seemed normal. It was so weird. At least it didn’t stink as bad as Boston. There was a miasma of rot here in Lancaster, but not on the large scale of Boston.
Paadi had chosen the Victoria suite, it was smaller, but Paadi had wanted to keep an eye on the truck, which she could see from the room. It also had a sliding glass door to the outside and let a lot of breeze and night air in. Her own room was large and spacious and the sheets had been clean. There had been no one at the bed and breakfast. The kitchen door had been open. Thankfully, there were no bodies at least, they’d searched each of the rooms.
Pulling back her long hair, she tied it back with an elastic band. She reread the letter her mother had written to her, Dear Em, if you’re reading this, I’m afraid your father and I didn’t fare as well as we’d hoped. Please don’t open our door, I’d not have you remember us this way. If you’re reading this, it means that you’ve survived this horrible virus. I hope you can find a way to live. Know that your father and I love you so very much. Please be safe my love. I’ll see you in heaven, when it is your time. Don’t grieve for your father and I, we’ve lived a wonderful life, having you as our daughter. Love Mom.
Emma sniffed and wiped at the tears. She’d loaded up on photographs of her family, she’d removed them from the frames and placed them in plastic bags and sealed them. She’d also taken most of the photo albums. They were her only link to her past. She’d looked around her home once more and then she and Paadi had emptied the pantry of every scrap of food. They’d also raided the linen closet for TP, towels, shampoos and toothpaste. You could never have too much TP, she was sure. They’d have to raid a store
