by Annie Berdel
The atmosphere in the room was joyous as Ridley begged Jeremiah to finish unwrapping his wife’s leg and give it a quick wipe down while she waiting outside the room. Back and forth the trio teased each other until Ridley finally walked back in the room from the hallway and ambled over to the bed. Shelby watched her face for any signs of concern while Ridley examined her leg.
“You doing ok kiddo? You are being kinda quiet” Jeremiah asked
“Ya, ya. Just thinking” Ridley replied
“What’s the verdict Doc? “ Shelby inquired
“You have a long road ahead of you. Don’t expect to heal overnight.” Ridley explained
“So, Im not going to lose my leg? Ridley, come on. I need to know what’s going on here!”
“Oh, I never thought you were going to lose your leg, and you aren’t, but you are not going to walk the same again either. You have extensive nerve damage and the longer your leg stays swollen, well, the more of a chance for a blood clot or more damage. You really need to behave for a while, I mean it could take a good year until you are back up on your feet completely.”
“A year?” Jeremiah repeated
“Yes, a year”
Shelby felt the demon taunt her again. A year. Three hundred and Sixty Five days of feeling useless? That was a long time to have to depend on someone else for the most basic of needs.
Shelby looked down at her hands lying in her lap. How was she going to be patient enough? How was she going to be worth something without taking care of all the others? What if they found someone to replace her with? This was her house. What if they brought someone else in to cook the meals for her family and to do their laundry while she just lay here in this bed?
Over and over the thoughts accumulated in her head, wearing on her heart. She had her leg, but to what capacity?
“Hey, you’re going to be alright, ok?” Ridley cooed “Relax!”
“I know, it’s just. I guess I’ll figure it out.” Shelby replied
“We will.” Jeremiah chimed in
Shelby looked at her husband, not quite meeting his eyes in agreement. Yes, they were a team but a team takes two players and Shelby felt like she was letting her half down.
41
Emma watched the sight from the kitchen window. It was hard to believe that the scene playing out before her harbored any effects of the last few months. Here were mommas sitting around a picnic table chatting while their small ones played in the yard around them. A sweet, rosy cheeked baby boy was cooing beside his momma in a wind up swing. Contentment was drifting along the swirls of wind that encircled and ensnared the tendrils of hair on the young babes running and chasing each other. Autumn was almost gone. They wouldn’t have many more days outside to play this year.
Emma’s stomach clinched as the thought of winter approaching. Autumn had always been her favorite time of the year, but now it was like the grim reaper knocking on the door announcing that doom had arrived.
How many out there will not survive until spring? She thought as her eyes cascaded to the trees that ran along the edge of the far field, their leaves already showing hint of transformation into the coldness of winter. There was no stopping mother nature.
Turning from the window, Emma grabbed the kettle from her wood stove and began filling it with water, her eyes once again falling on the ones she loved outside. She would fight for them with every breath she had. They were her loves, her reason for being. She had spent so much time giving them everything she could when they were babies, everything except for her time. Dixon walked over to her, sensing her distress. Giving him a quick scratch behind his ear, she lifted his chin to look into his brown eyes. “We got this, boy.” she whispered to him, a secret once again shared with her best friend.
“Damn” she swore as the water overflowed the kettle. While water was not in short supply, she knew every drop was valuable. And then there were the demons that had crept in to remind her of what she had sacrificed. What she had made her kids sacrifice growing up. How she wish she could go back and change things. To not miss the winter concerts because she had to be in a meeting. To be there when a heart was hurting and just hug them but couldn’t because she was “the boss” and her time was required elsewhere. The fights between her and Tommy because, well because he wanted something to be bought and it would mean more time away from their kids. The resentment because he wasn’t stepping into his role.
Her eyes drifted to where her daughter, Lauren was sitting. Her mind flashed back to when Lauren was three years old, sitting at Emma’s desk at work, crying because all she wanted to do was go home. Emma felt her heart break at the memory. She wanted to go back and fix so many things but she couldn’t. All she had was the future and the ability to love them. Was it enough?
Emma sat the kettle on the wood stove and took a deep breath. Her past was coming back to haunt her. She was under attack and recognized that all too familiar adversary. Taking a step back to the sink, she looked out the window at her family. “God, protect them.” A flood of love washed over her as her eyes fell on Lauren once more, sitting at the table, paper and pencil in hand, drawing. Her Lauren. Her mind drifted to the day when she was three once again. She remembers walking into her office to comfort her and giving her sheets of paper and pens and sitting for a moment and drawing with her. Was that the start of Lauren’s obsession? Emma could not remember a time when the child was not drawing. She had saved quite a few of the scribbles on paper and would look at them from time to time. She had some of them bound and gave the book to Lauren when she graduated from High School. They had sat together turning the pages in the book and laughing at the improvements she had made year after year. Emma knew she hurt though. But like her momma, she had taken the pain and put it to work to build her own little empire. She was one of the top graphic artists in the country with her own comic book line, well until the grid went down. How would that play out now? How was that affecting Lauren, knowing that without the internet, her business was severely damaged? All of her life’s work revolved around being able to connect with others.
Emma smiled as the thought started to evolve. She would have to make sure it was Lauren’s idea, as her strong willed child did not like to be told what to do, especially by her bossy mom, but Emma had an idea that might help Lauren continue to fuel her obsession but add a new leg to her business.
Hearing the rumble in her stomach, Emma decided that lunch outside was the way to go today. What better way to spend the day then surrounded by laughter from those you love!
“Emma!”
She heard his voice and instantly felt the guilt of her own happiness disappear.
“Be right there!” she replied as she began fixing Tomas a snack. The man needed his coffee and was less then pleasant until he got it, but Emma was not going to allow him to destroy the mood she had fought so hard already this morning to be in. Love was waiting for her outside, even if it did not live in her husband’s heart anymore.
42
Ben knocked on the door and waited. He was risking a lot coming out here but he needed to get this ball rolling and put the plan in play. Knocking again, he listened for any kind of movement in the house. Nothing. Jumping down off the front porch, he strode around the house to the back door and knocked louder. Peeking in the window on the door, he thought he saw someone coming towards him so he knocked again.
“Hold on a minute!” He heard a man yell from inside the house.
Backing up a few steps, Ben slammed his fists into the front pockets of his jacket and waited for what seemed an eternity. The old wooden door creaked open slowly teasing Ben inch by inch with a view inside the house.
Ben’s face lost all color as the man standing before him remained quiet. Ben couldn’t speak, stunned by what apparition revealed himself behind the door. Not even blinking, Ben was in a state of shock.
Finally breaking the silence, the man asked if he could help Ben.
“Uh, Tom?” the Sheriff asked
; “Ya, so I’ve been told. What do you want?” he grumbled
“I was told your wife wanted to talk to me. Any idea where she is?” Ben asked
“I think she took those damn kids over the hill to visit someone. I don’t remember. I’m sure she will be back later if you want to come back later.” Tom said nearly closing the door in Ben’s face
Perplexed, Ben stuck his arm up to keep the door from closing. “Tom? You don’t know who I am?”
“Should I?”
“Well, I’m the local Sheriff, Ben Olson. Maybe I should come in and you can tell me what’s been going on out here for you to not remember who I am. Emma asked for the doctor but he couldn’t make it out here. I’ll get back into town and make sure I get someone out here to look at you. But, seriously. What the hell happened?”
Tom stared at the man, mentally turning over the options that lay before him. He could just tell the man to shut up and slam the door in his face but since he said he is the local law, probably not the best choice. He could tell him that he needed to go back to bed and guilt the man into leaving but Tom was sensing it would be good to have this man as an ally and not an enemy. Hell, he might be able to help Tom figure out exactly what did happen. Besides, he could use a beer and some company other than Emma.
Tom swung the door back open a bit and invited the man in. “You want a beer?” he asked the law man motioning him to get a seat at the kitchen table. “Ugh sure. I guess times have changed so drinking a beer when the worlds going to shit won’t hurt much, aye?” Ben quipped as he looked around the kitchen.
Damn Emma, thought of everything, he thought as he looked at the tie in to what obviously led to a battery bank somewhere downstairs.
Tom walked over to the refrigerator and pulled two beers out of the cold box. Putting them both on the table, he walked over and was trying to find the opener when Ben just popped the top with his hand. “Want me to take yours off?” Ben asked Tom. Tom felt the warmth of embarrassment drifting up his neck as he stuttered back at Ben “No. No, I um. Sometimes these bottles break if you’re not careful. Emma bought a different brand the last time she brewed a batch but…” his mind drifted off as he realized he was remembering something from his past.
“Here, let me help you out bub. You seem to have been going through a tough time here. What the hell happened to you anyways?” Ben asked nonchalantly.
“I don’t know.” Tom said wrapping an arm around his rib cage.
“What do you mean, you don’t know. Weren’t you there? You seem to be in a lot of pain”
“I mean, I just don’t know. I don’t remember. All I know is my ribs hurt like hell.”
“Damn, that must suck! No idea at all? No memory whatsoever?”
“Nothing”
“How far back can you remember anything?” Ben asked, intrigued
“Well, I can tell you I don’t remember my wife at all.”
“Woah.”
“Ya. It’s not been fun trying to live here with people who tell you they are your family but you can’t remember a damn thing about them.
“I bet” Ben replied wanting to laugh a bit of relief. This was to perfect. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Ya, get me out of here. These people are driving me crazy. And these little brats that Emma has staying here are driving me up a fucking wall”
Ben was taken aback by the comment. Here was a man who had treated Ben like a sworn enemy for years now begging him to relieve him of his pain and agony of living with his wife. Ben was trying to savor even bit of the conversation of a lifetime.
“You do know that the government has requested those kids be transported back to Washington, right?” Ben watch for Tom’s reaction to his statement
Nothing, no sign of recognition to anything that triggered a memory. “Take them” Tom replied
“I seriously doubt if your wife would just let me take those kids out of here. We’ve never really seen things eye to eye.” Ben said
“I don’t know why. You seem like a nice enough guy to me. Besides, aren’t you the law? Shouldn’t they be with their own family?” Tom asked
“Yes, but your wife is tough to handle most days. You must really want those kids out of here if you’re willing to risk pissing off Emma!” Ben exclaimed
“Hell, take me out of here too. I’m about fed up with all of this. I’m not allowed to do a damn thing around here. I don’t even remember these people.”
“Are you serious? I’m getting paid to get those kids back home. We could always split that if you want to take a trip and blow some steam off for a bit. Probably save me a lot of hassle.” Ben said
“You’d pay me to take those kids home? How much?” Tom asked
Judging from the expression on Tom’s face, Ben knew this man had no clue what he was walking into. Chuckling to himself, Ben felt like he had just hit the lottery. “Well, probably a couple thousand.”
Tom’s face lit up. This could be what he was looking for to escape this god forsaken place. “Let me think about this. You say you’re the sheriff in town? How about I come in to see you in the next couple days. Is that ok?”
“Sure. I’ll be in my office usually
“How are we going to transport these kids there to Washington? I can’t exactly walk.” Tom asked
“I’ve a couple military jeeps that were gifted to me being the law and all. I have to be able to get around. I’ll be using one of those, or you will be if you decide to go.”
“Sounds like a plan. Say, we don’t need to tell anyone about this, right? I mean, if Emma is dead set against those kids leaving she would probably be upset about our conversation. We should probably keep it between us boys, right?” the desperation in Tom’s voice apparent
Ben stood to leave, slapping Tom on the back “Sure bub, sounds good. I’ll see you in a few days then?”
“Sure thing. Thanks for stopping by Sheriff. Let me see you out before anyone gets back.”
Tom watched the Sheriff sputter down the driveway, a smile lit Toms face as the wheels were spinning on escaping his own home. Ben, driving away, a smile illumined his face as he realized he had to be the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet right about now.
43
“Let’s go to the back field so we won’t bother anyone” Emma said as she started packing up all the equipment.
“You mean so we don’t bother Testy Tom!” Tiffany shot back quicker then she expected to. Emma gave her a sideways glance of disapproval
“Sorry” Tiff whispered to everyone “It’s just, he is so uptight and all we do is walk around on eggshells. I mean, what gives with his cranky ass self?”
“Tiffany Louise!” Johnisse yelled at her girlfriend “I mean, the man has been through hell and back, give him a break! How would you be if you couldn’t remember anyone after you been left out in the rain and had all kinds of creepy, crawly, eight legged, bug eyed, hairy creatures crawling all over and into who knows what!” Johnisse had moved over and was standing behind Tiffany, leaf in hand as she reached up and teased the skin on the other woman’s neck.
“Jay!” tiff screamed “That is not funny in the least little bit!
“Ladies!” Emma used as much authority in her voice as she could muster to get their attention. She was not in the mood for fun and games. This was serious business and their lives could depend on it and if they wanted to act like kids then Emma wanted no part in it.
“Yes, ma’am” Tiffany said as she looked at Emma like she had just been called to the principal’s office.
A snicker crossed Jay’s face as she watched her old boss get control of the group.
Just like old times. She thought. Jay had never once seen Emma step over that line of dictatorship, that wasn’t Emma’s style. Instead, Emma won your loyalty by respect, a trait few bosses had these days. The woman didn’t make you do anything she wouldn’t do herself, including cleaning the public restroom to show her expectation of clean. She would show you once but then expecte
d it to be kept that way and the pride showed in her business as they always scored high on cleanliness when under an inspection.
“Let’s just get this stuff packed up and get the rest of the group and get out back so we can get started. I want to at least get through a few rounds before the sun starts to go down and we need to get back here and get chores done. You ladies about ready?” Emma asked as she looked at the mess that Tiffany and Johnisse had made of the ammunition that was supposed to have been neatly packed in the wooden crate.
“I almost have all the clips ready to go” Tiffany replied without looking up.
Jay looked at her boss over the top of Tiffany’s head and rolled her eyes. “Noobs!” she mouthed at Emma who was about to open her mouth before she caught the twinkle in Jay’s eye.
“Make sure you count all those clips, Tiffany. It will be a test question later?” Jay added.
“Test? No one said anything about a test!” Tiffany exclaimed as she continued to load her equipment into the box.
“Yes, there is a test.” Emma chuckled. “First question is what the difference between a clip and a magazine is?”
It was a gorgeous day to be outside and having fun while learning something at the same time. Emma had a sneaky way of making that happen, learning while having fun. She used it to her advantage over the years not only on her kids but her employees in the corporate world also. She wasn’t a “Here, do it this way because I said that’s the way we do it” kinda teacher. Her skills were more involved for lifetime learning as she wanted the student to understand the whys, the foundation of why you were expected to do something in a particular way. She found that, especially with female students, it was necessary to teach the building blocks so that they understood how all the moving parts played a part and this was just as important as building a pizza to learning how to shoot a firearm. Today was no different. She had spent time sitting and reviewing each part of the tool they were about to shoot before they even laid hands on the firearm itself so that way when they were ready, they could identify specific terms and match them to the action but also for the respect of the firearm itself. A lot of instructors like to dive head on into teaching someone how to shoot and neglect the fundamentals of learning.
