“Yes ma’am,” said David.
“Ah Mom,” said Ben. “I wanted to go into the woods.”
Mark lifted his coffee cup. “Matt, why don’t we take our coffee out to the bunker; I’d like to show it to you and the boys.”
“That’s a splendid idea,” said Matt. “What do you say, guys?”
“That would be cool,” said David.
“That would be wonderful,” corrected Wen. “Remember what I told you boys about using slang.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“That would be wonderful,” said Ben.
The group laughed at that and soon the men, young and old, were outside. The morning sky was deep blue and pillow-shaped clouds dotted the horizon. Poncho led the boys off in the direction of the shelter and Matt gave Mark an anxiety-filled look. “Let them go,” said Mark. “There is nothing out there that can hurt them. Let them be boys.”
Matt nodded his head. “I know,” he said. “Wen and I worry too much. We can’t help it.”
“You’re doing a fine job of raising them. I’m sure they know right from wrong. You just have to learn to trust them. Now, tell me about your week.”
“That’s right,” said Matt, excitedly. “I wanted to tell you what I found. There is a group of about two thousand people in Kansas City. We’re thinking about joining up with them. They seem like good people.”
Mark whistled. “Two thousand, huh? How did they manage to survive?”
“I guess they have some huge caves down there. From what I heard on the radio, they have plenty of food and water. I think Wen really wants to go. What do you think? We’d love for you two to join us.”
Mark stared back at Tiffany’s house. “I’ve got two more up in that house. I think they’re still sleeping. I don’t know quite how to say this, so I’m just going to be blunt. Wen isn’t going to like Tiffany.”
Matt’s face fell. “How can you say that? Wen is one of the finest women I’ve ever met. She gets along with anyone.”
“Yeah, well she won’t get along with Tiffany.”
Matt’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?”
“Do you know what a swinger is?”
“Do you mean like swinging on a swing-set?”
“No, not that kind; the kind I’m talking about swings from bedroom to bedroom. Do you follow me? Tiffany is like that. She’s also very attractive and very open about her, um, womanly needs.”
“Oh my,” whispered Matt, licking his lips. “No, I’m afraid that Wen won’t like that, at all. Dear God, I thought people like that only existed in the movies.”
Mark laughed. “Oh no, they’re all around you.”
“What about her husband, or boyfriend? He just allows her to be with other men?”
“Her husband is dead. He died in the attack. Yes, he said that she was too much for him. But the man she’s with now, he’s an old friend of Tiffany’s from high school. He has no idea that she’s a, um, that she has these uncontrollable urges. He loves her.”
“Dear God,” said Matt, “the poor man!”
“That’s right,” agreed Mark, “the poor man. Anyhow, you can see why I can’t tell him about her. Why, it’d break his heart.”
“I’d say so. Oh dear, no, Wen isn’t going to like this Tiffany, not one bit.”
Mark smiled at Matt. He couldn’t remember ever meeting a young man so straight and narrow. Without asking, he knew that Matt was extremely organized, and that he read the Bible to his children, each night at bedtime. He doubted that Matt had ever drunk a drop of alcohol and that the worst curse words in his arsenal were dang and darn. He couldn’t help but like the man. What was there not to like? He also knew that Tiffany was going to throw herself at the handsome young cop.
They entered the woods and quickly caught up to the boys. The three of them actually clapped when Mark moved the brush pile to reveal the trap door. Mark couldn’t help but laugh. He unlocked the padlock and opened the door. “Be careful on the stairs,” he warned. Matt took each of his sons by the hand and carefully, they followed Mark down to the bottom. “My grandfather built this place,” he said to the boys. “Back before your dad was even born.”
“Wow,” said David.
“He must be pretty old,” said Ben.
Mark opened the door and began turning on the lights. Poncho jumped up onto his spot of the sofa. Matt and the boys followed Mark, showering him with compliments. When Mark reached the storeroom, Matt pointed at the radio. “You’ve got a Yaesu,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement. “Unless I miss my guess, that’s an FT one thousand D. Holy mackerel, would I love to have me one of those.”
Mark held his chin high and grinned. He had always been proud of the radio, and it felt good to have someone there who could appreciate it. “Yep, it’s a beauty, isn’t it?”
Matt nodded to the radio. “Do you mind?” he asked. Can I, can I try it?”
“I would be honored.”
“Oh boy,” exclaimed Matt, sitting down at the little table and rubbing his hands together.
Mark became suddenly aware of someone standing behind him. He turned around to see Gadget. He didn’t look happy. “What’s going on?” he asked.
An hour later, the Lindeman family was gone. The Gadget that appeared down in the bunker had been the dark Gadget, sarcastic and condescending. He acted as if Mark had somehow betrayed him. And before the Lindeman family had backed out of the driveway, Gadget had returned to Tiffany’s. Still seething, Mark sat down at the table with Tina. “I’ve never been so embarrassed,” he muttered. “I’m done walking on eggshells, I’m going to start telling him like it is.”
“Well,” said Tina, “it’s about time. I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” she then sipped her coffee and quickly changed the subject. “So, what do you think about going to Kansas City?”
Mark studied her for a moment. “I think we should go,” he said. “What about you?”
“Can we leave today?”
“After the way Gadget acted, I wish we could. But you’re serious? You really want to go?”
Tina nodded her head. “I can’t wait to get out of here. I feel like this is the answer to my prayers. And the Lindeman’s are so nice, aren’t they? I’ll be happy to trade Tiffany for Wen; boy, talk about an upgrade in the friend department.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Matt says they’re not leaving for another week. That will give us plenty of time to pack. You know, it’ll be up to Gadget and Tiffany if they want to tag along. They might want to do that.”
“They can do whatever they want. Once we’re in Kansas City, we can go our separate ways. I’m tired of pretending I like her. I’m tired of watching Gadget take advantage of your kindness. That’s all they do is take. It isn’t fair, Mark, you’re such a giving person. Look at the way he acted, you shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of crap.”
Mark smiled at her. He had always thought of himself as a giving person. He had immediately recognized the same trait in Tina. “There are two types of people,” his mother had once told him, “givers and takers. They belong together. The reason most marriages fail is that one partner is a giver and the other is a taker. Those relationships are doomed from the start.” Mark had never forgotten those words. More often than not, he found them to be true.
“Wen said there are supposed to be two thousand people in Kansas City. Do you believe her?”
“I’m sure they believe it, and that’s good enough for me. Somehow, I just don’t see them as the lying type.”
Tina laughed. “She reminds me of my third grade teacher.”
Just then, Tiffany breezed into the house. She was wearing her short shorts and a tight pink t-shirt that left little to the imagination. Her face was made-up and her dark hair looked curled. “Where did the cop go?” she asked.
Mark walked over to the sink. “They went home,” he said. “Those were the Lindeman’s.”
Tina got up and walked to the door. She stepped
outside for a moment, but quickly returned. “You already have a man, Tiffany,” she said. “You keep your hands to yourself. The Lindeman’s are a happily married couple.”
“Oh pfft,” said Tiffany. “I was just coming over to meet them. What’s this I hear about Kansas City?”
Tina shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Wen said there might be some people there.”
“Oh my God, are you serious?”
“Very funny, Tiffany, how would you like a broken nose?”
Tiffany laughed. “Oh, lighten up, will ya? I vote we go to Kansas City. I have to get out of here.”
“I suppose you’ll dump Gadget as soon as we get there, huh?” asked Mark.
“Myron is a nice guy, but come on, it was never gonna happen.”
“Where is he, now?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t up at the house.”
Mark turned and walked out the door. He walked around the side of the house, poking his head into the Quonset hut. He was going to set Gadget straight about Tiffany. He found him down in the bunker, talking on the radio. Wearing the headset, Mark was able to walk up behind him and hear what he was saying. It was soon obvious that Gadget was talking to someone in Kansas City.
Gadget turned and saw Mark; he then quickly ended his conversation and signed off. “I guess there are people in Kansas City,” he said.
“Give me a break,” said Mark. “You’ve known about them for a while, haven’t you?”
Gadget stared down at the floor and nodded his head. “I knew everyone would want to go there. I didn’t want to lose Tiffany.”
Mark pulled up a chair and sat across from his friend. “Look,” he said, “Tiffany isn’t who she makes herself out to be.”
Gadget laughed, bitterly. “Yeah, I figured that out. Last night, she called me Larry, three times. I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.”
Mark put his hand over his mouth to hide his smile. “That had to be tough,” he said.
“Nah, I got used to it. Have you ever been inside her bedroom?”
Mark shook his head, unsure if he wanted to hear about it.
“I didn’t think so,” said Gadget. “I knew she was a sex addict from the moment I walked into her room. She has boxes of weird stuff, just lying all over the place. She even has photo albums. I saw a few pictures of Larry in there.”
“I’ll take your word on it. Look, do you really want to live like that? You could never trust her. She’s just too damn wild.”
“I know. I was just hoping that I could change her. I thought that maybe if she knew what real love was supposed to feel like, she might settle down. I do love her, Mark. I’m crazy about her.”
“I know you are, but you have to let her go. She wants to go to Kansas City. Tina and I have already decided to go. You know what she’ll do when she gets there. You have to be ready for that and close that chapter in your life. You’re too good a man to be Tiffany’s houseboy.”
Gadget nodded and put his face in his hands. “She’s going to break my heart, isn’t she?”
“I’m afraid she is. A leopard can’t change its spots. One day she’s going to wake up and her looks will be gone. What will she do then?”
“I don’t know, but I guess it’ll be without me, huh?”
Mark reached out and slapped Gadget on the shoulder. “You’ll be happily married and will have forgotten all about her. There is someone out there for you. Trust me on that, it just isn’t Tiffany Lystrom.”
They talked for another hour, discussing what they would pack up and bring to Kansas City. In the end, they decided to take very few things. The world had moved away and had left behind plenty of stuff. Gadget tried talking Mark into finding a motorhome, but Mark wouldn’t hear of it. He would drive his Ford. The only problem he could see was filling his gas tank. Gadget thought about that and quickly solved the problem. “If you run me into town, I’ll pick up a couple of electric pumps. I’ll rig them to run into our gas tanks, the other end we’ll just drop in other vehicles or into storage tanks. It’ll work.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” said Mark. “When do you want to go?”
“I’m good to go, now.”
Chapter 27
Over the next several days, the group prepared to make their move. Gadget, being practical, had Mark drop him off at an RV dealership. When he returned, he was driving a brand new Winnebago. Behind the big motorhome, Gadget pulled an enclosed, sixteen foot trailer. He parked it in the cul de sec and after giving the group the grand tour, he opened the trailer. “I’m sure everyone has keepsakes,” he said. “After I load up my tools, there should be room for everyone’s stuff.”
Mark and Tina had already had several heated discussions over what to take to Kansas City. Gadget had solved that problem. And while Tina felt the same way as Mark did about taking things that didn’t belong to them, they weren’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Tiffany absolutely loved the motorhome, and she and Gadget spent the first night sleeping inside it.
The day before they were scheduled to leave, Matt Lindeman showed up in his squad car. Mark and Gadget were just fitting the last things into the trailer. They had needed every inch of room. Matt put his hands on his hips, admiring the motorhome. “That sure is a beauty,” he said. “My dad used to have a Winnebago. We sure loved that thing. How much did it set you back?”
Gadget stepped forward. “Tiffany bought it,” he said, lying. “I think she paid close to sixty thousand dollars for it.”
Lindeman whistled. “That’s a little too rich for my blood. She sure is a beauty, though,” he turned to Mark. “Are you and Tina riding in there?”
Mark shook his head. “Nope, I’ve got my Ford. We’ll be fine in there.”
“I’m a Ford guy, too. We’re going to be riding in my Bronco. I’ve still got a few things to fix, but it’ll get us to Kansas City. So, are we all set for tomorrow?”
“You bet we are,” said Gadget. “What time do you want to take off?”
“I thought we’d leave around five. Does that work for you?”
“Five O’clock in the morning?” asked Tiffany, who suddenly appeared from the motorhome. She was dressed in a pink string bikini, which she hadn’t been wearing a few minutes ago. “That’s pretty early, but I guess I can sleep on the way,” she stuck her hand in Lindeman’s chest. “Hi, I’m Tiffany.”
“Matt Lindeman, I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, would you like to come inside for a beer, or something?”
The light went out behind Lindeman’s smile. He checked his watch. “No, Wen has dinner waiting for me. Thank you, though. Yes, look at the time. I had better get going. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.”
Tina walked out and saw the back of the cruiser as it kicked up a cloud of dust. “He wasn’t here long,” she said. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Ask Tiffany,” said Gadget, crossing his arms.
Tina wrinkled her nose. “Why are you wearing your bikini?”
Theatrically, Tiffany tossed her head back. “If you must know, I want to have some color before we leave on the trip. I’m going to use my tanning bed. Tina, you really should come over and use it. You’re as white as a ghost.”
“Are you kidding me? You couldn’t pay me to get into one of those things. Haven’t you ever heard of skin cancer?”
Tiffany laughed. “How did I know that you’d say something like that?”
“Yeah, whatever,” grunted Tina. She walked over and looked into the trailer. “Wow, we really filled that thing up, didn’t we?”
“We sure did,” said Mark. “Just remember, if the Lindeman’s ask, Tiffany bought the RV and the trailer. They’re very straight laced.”
“Oh Mark,” said Tiffany. “Will you quit saying that? I heard you the first time.”
“Shouldn’t you run off and tan?” said Gadget. “You’re going to catch a cold if you stay out here.”
Tiffany laughed and
strutted back into the Winnebago. She reappeared a moment later, carrying four cans of Coors. “I thought we’d have a drink, first,” she said. “We’ll be saying goodbye to this place in the morning. I’m going to miss it.”
Tina gave Mark a pained expression, but she accepted two of the cans from Tiffany and she handed one to Mark. “I’m going to miss it, too,” she said.
Tiffany handed Gadget a can of Coors. He took it and gave her a hard look. “You know,” he said. “You shouldn’t mix pills and alcohol. You’ve been drinking all day. I think you’ve had enough.”
“What is wrong with you?” she asked. “In case you didn’t know it, three of us lost our families to this damned cul de sac. I was trying to have a moment, here.”
Gadget took his beer and launched it down the gravel road; it exploded in a shower of foam. He then turned and walked up to Mark’s house and disappeared inside. “Do you have to be such a bitch, Tiffany?” asked Tina.
Tiffany scowled, and then she tipped the can of Coors to her lips. Mark watched in disbelief as she drained the entire can down her throat. She smiled and belched. “I’m off to go tanning. Will you please ask Mr. Sensitive to wake me up in half an hour? The timer on my tanning bed is broken.”
“We’ll tell him,” said Mark.
“I hope you get burnt,” said Tina.
Tiffany laughed, as if Tina were nothing more than a minor nuisance. She then turned and walked in the direction of her house. Tina took Mark by the arm and turned him around. “I wasn’t looking,” he whispered. “She’s disgusting.”
“I’m not telling Gadget to go wake her up.”
Mark laughed. “I have to tell him, I promised I would.”
“Fine,” said Tina, “whatever.”
They walked back into the house and found Gadget, arms crossed, sitting on the sofa. “Hey,” said Mark. “Tiffany wants you to wake her up in half an hour.”
“I’ll bet she does,” said Gadget.
“How does it feel to be a slave?” asked Tina. “I couldn’t do it. I’d let her fry like an egg.”
Bunkers Page 22
