The Broad Way (The Two Gates)

by Barbara Henderson

  Driving home was easy. She was already getting something on the news about the quake. The epicenter seemed to have been about 150 miles away - north of where Mal lived. She wondered vaguely if he was ok. It didn't concern her to much. He either was or he wasn't. Her world was fine. That was what mattered.

  Malachi

  Amelia was groaning in pain. "This can't be happening. I can't be injured in another accident before I fully recover from the car accident."

  "Mal," Amelia said, "Belle, you have to get Belle on the phone."

  "I'm trying honey. Don't worry." The lines are jammed. Everything is busy. I'm taking you to the hospital."

  "Take me home. It isn't far. Maybe she is there. I think her classes were over around noon today. If she was home she might wait for us there. She won't know what to do either. Besides, I'm gonna barf. You have to stop the car."

  "You are going to what?"

  "Barf - It is probably a concussion. You throw up with those."

  "Well, hang on, I'm taking a shortcut to your house."

  Mal swerved around a tree, through a yard, and onto a side street. He was happy to have a four wheel drive vehicle. "Finally turned out to be good for something besides looking good," he thought grimly to himself.

  The arrived at the house quickly. Belle was standing in the yard with the phone in her hand. At a glance the house looked ok. Belle ran to the pickup and immediately saw that Mal appeared ok while Amelia was oozing blood from a cut on her head.

  "Amelia, oh baby, are you ok? Let's get you to the hospital," Belle said with a voice so quivery it was barely understandable.

  "She thinks she has a concussion. She is very nauseated. Get in and we will drive. I don't think an ambulance would be able to get here any time soon."

  "You better try to call Huey," Amelia said wearily.

  "Huey? Who is Huey?" Mal asked. He didn't think Amelia even had a boy friend.

  "Huey is her physical therapist. He is also a nutritionist. He has really pulled her through a very rough time but I don't know why we need to call him now," Belle replied.

  "Because I want HUEY," Amelia moaned.

  "Must be her father figure replacement for dad," Belle thought. Aloud she said, "Don’t worry Amelia, I will call Huey and anyone else you want me to call."

  "Mal was listening to the conversation, but most of his attention was on driving. The damage that he could see was bad, but not total devastation like from the hurricane's that had hit the coast in the last few years. He wondered about fires from gas lines. Should they have checked the house before the headed for the hospital?" he thought? Well, no time for that. Amelia was just too fragile. Why did she have to get hit on the head instead of him.

  As Mal drove toward the hospital he was trying to stay focused on the task of driving. He was going slowly. He was driving around trees and through yards. He had crossed several small bridges that were intact. The roads didn't appear to have any major damage. There were several wrecks he had to avoid, but it didn't appear too bad. Many of the area power lines were underground so he wasn't seeing downed power lines. His thoughts kept returning to Amelia's words when the quake first started, "Oh - my first earthquake - a sign of the times." "What did she mean by that?" He wondered.

  Of course the hospital was crowded. The ER was full of people with injuries and stories like Amelia's. Mal wondered what the damage was going to be. This was definitely not a designated earth quake zone. Probably no buildings had been built to any earthquake code. That could be bad. From high school geology he remembered that there would have been a center point for an earthquake. He thought it was called the epicenter. He wondered where it was. He tried to call his mom, but the phone lines were still jammed.

  "Mal," Belle interrupted his thoughts, "Amelia is still insisting we call Huey. His name is Huey McKenzie. He has an office around the corner. I doubt he is there, but would you go see?

  "Sure thing. I'll walk over," Mal agreed.

  Mal felt comfortable leaving the girls at the ER for a few moments. He quickly jogged around the block and looked for an office with the name Huey McKenzie on the door. He located the office quickly. It was empty. He turned to jog slowly back to the hospital when the thought struck him that major earthquakes sometimes had after shocks. He stepped up the pace and arrived quickly but out of breath at the ER.

  Mal said, "The office was empty. He is probably fine. I didn't see any damage just at a quick glance."

  They sat quietly waiting their turn. "Why was an earthquake here?" Mal kept wondering. "I always thought we lived in one of the safest places on earth. We are really out of the tornado zone. We weren't supposed to be in an earthquake zone. We have enough elevation to not be in a flood zone. Enough rain to not have a lot of wildfires. What happened? Was anyone safe anywhere?"

  "Mal, have you called your parents?" Belle interrupted his thoughts.

  "I haven't been able to get through. I will try again.'

  This time the phone rang. Shelly answered on the first ring. "Mal is that you. Oh thank God. We are all fine. AJ just walked through the door."

  4th Demension

  stratigic operations

  "Zisa, you are going to have to be careful with AJ. She is completely detached from her family at this point. She didn't even go home to check on them until she first checked on campaign headquarters," Cabiri said angrily.

  "So what? I got a break. She was born with a narcissist personality," Zisa replied sarcastically.

  "Well, watch it!" Cabiri screamed. "She has to at least appear to be normal and caring. She is useless to us otherwise."

  "Don't worry. We can fool most of the people. She will learn how to appear sincere. It isn't that hard."

  Stellar Dominion Outpost

  Command Center

  Raphael was a bit surprised. "Huey and Amelia? he wondered. She is not quite 18 and Huey is past 30. But, stranger things have happened. Amelia is pretty mature for her age.

  Raphael was also frustrated. He was almost continually asking the Good Shepherd to send more guardians for those he was assigned to watch over. And to build a protective hedge around them. Ashamed, Raphael realized he was looking at Amelia's injury wrong. He should be thankful she had avoided serious injury instead of being upset that she had a mild concussion. And none of his other charges were injured. It was a good day after all.

  He wondered, "What would happen if people just prayed every day for God to send more angels to watch over them and their family and loved ones?" He thought he knew the answer. He thought it would change the world for the better.

  Chapter 17

  AJ

  It was a week after the earthquake and it was still on the news. AJ was sick of hearing about it. She had done her civic duty immediately by writing articles favorable to bigger government, and specifically favorable to her candidate. Any disaster was always a good way to make the case for bigger government because a lot of the population really worshipped the government. Instead of praying to any God, they expected the government to provide all their needs. They never 'got it' that the government could only give back a smaller amount than they took in to begin with.

  "Well", she thought, "That really proves the average person incapable of taking care of themselves."

  "Correct," AJ answered herself. "Thank goodness for people such as myself who understand their lack of ability and are willing to dedicate themselves to caring for them. Decision making should be left to those with the intellect that enables them to do the best for the masses. And of course, those who dedicate themselves to such noble work deserve some tangible rewards."

  Malachi

  Malachi still had a headache from Amelia's blow to the head. She had been pretty brave about it. But Mal had nearly passed out when they put in the stitches. Thankfully, a nice nurse had seen the problem and got him a stool to sit on before he hit the floor. The girls had both teased him about being a big baby, but he was sure anyone would have done the same thing in his position. After all,
there was quite a bit of blood, and people all around moaning and groaning. The funny thing had been Huey Mackenzie. He had been in the ER just helping out. He was not trained as a doctor, or even a nurse, but he did have some paramedic training. He was well known in that hospital as a very helpful physical therapist and nutritionist. He had just gone straight over to the ER after the quake to see if there was anything he could do. There were not too many serious injuries, and it was quickly apparent that he really wasn't needed. He was about to leave when he saw Belle, and rightly suspected Amelia was the reason for the ER trip. He had stayed with them until Amelia was all stitched up and sent home with instructions to take it easy for a few days. And the usual 'come back for a follow up visit' instructions.

  Mal had taken Belle and Amelia home. He had stayed late, hating to leave them alone, fearing an aftershock. Finally, Belle had said 'why not sleep on the futon in the den?". He had stayed the night, but felt odd about staying there.

  Anyway, here it was a week later, and he was on his way to another meeting with Amelia. He had a feeling that any meeting with Amelia could be traumatic. He still had not figured out why she wanted to shop for Belle's Christmas present so early. Mal knew from experience that there was no use in buying a present before the last minute because he would wind up giving the present early, and having to shop again at the last minute.

  He was surprised that the food court at the mall was already open. It turned out that the debris that had fallen on Amelia was really just a piece of styrofoam with a synthetic board pattern. Still, it had been heavy enough to cause a mild concussion and a pretty big gash. The mall had sustained little real damage.

  Anyway, Mal was curious as to what Amelia had on her mind.

  Mal entered the mall with just a little apprehension. He was nervous about both the possibility of another earthquake and learning whatever it was that Amelia had on her mind. He really didn't think the meeting was about Christmas shopping in September.

  Amelia met Mal by the door.

  "Hey, slowpoke, what took you so long?" she asked cheerfully.

  "I am not late," Mal said seriously. "In fact, I'm about 10 minutes early."

  "Yes, well, you are usually fifteen minutes early, so that makes you five minutes late."

  "OK, look, let's cut the chatter, eat fast, shop, and get out of the mall. Truthfully, this place is making me pretty nervous," Mal said.

  "Aren't you a little curious as to what I think you should get Belle for Christmas? Amelia said as they got in line at the 'Best Burger in the World'. Mal was really learning to go for those cheesy fries with bacon bits and real sour cream.

  "No," Mal lied. "I guess you already know what you think I should get her, so I will just go get it, and leave it with you for safe keeping."

  Amelia laughed. "Ok, I will take that as a 'yes' to what I have to say."

  Sensing a trap of some sort, Mal said, "Umm, maybe we better talk about it first."

  Sitting at the table Amelia played with her food, and Mal ate mostly without actually chewing anything.

  "Ok, Amelia," Mal said bravely, "What's on your mind."

  "It's like this Mal. Belle and I have been through a lot since mom and dad died. We are in the process of setting what the grief counselor at church calls 'a new normal'. Truthfully, we will never get over the loss. We feel so alone sometimes is doesn't even seem real. And the house - oh my! It is so big and empty. I can't stand it."

  "Well, do you want to sell the house now?" Mal asked?

  "No, I want you to move in the house with us."

  "That won't work and you know it. Belle wants a proper wedding and a proper marriage. Just like in the old story books."

  "I know that silly," Amelia said. "I am saying why not get married now? Or in a few weeks? It would have to be soon because we want you in the house for the holidays - you know - Thanksgiving and Christmas - so you would have to get married in October so your anniversary won't conflict with the holidays."

  "We?" Mal asked? "Have you talked about this with Belle?"

  "Of course not. She would kill me. But she is so tired and so lonely. I know she would do it if you asked her."

  "Amelia, I don't mean I wouldn't like to marry Belle right now, but wouldn't it be better to just stick to the plan and get married next summer?"

  "Mal, you don't know what Belle has gone through. The storybook wedding is really not going to happen no matter when you get married because our mom and dad won't be there. Pastor CC will do the ceremony, but who will give away the bride? We don't have any uncles, and only one grandfather who lives in Europe and hasn't seen us in ten years." And wouldn't I look great limping down the aisle with a cane instead of a bouquet?"

  "You would look just fine. You don't limp all the time, and you don't use a cane half the time." Mal said. "But I don't know who could give away the bride. Isn't there some old family friend or something?

  "No, and from what Belle said about meeting your parents, there isn't going to be any love lost there. If your dad was different he could do it. But I don't know if they will even attend the wedding," Amelia said bluntly.

  "But what about Belle? She may not even be slightly interested." Mal said thoughtfully.

  "I think she will be if you ask her. She has been bawling already about how she is going to get through the holidays. And she told me the best night's sleep she has had since the accident was the night you slept at the house."

  "Just tell me one thing Amelia," Mal said, "Will these little meetings with you always be so earthshaking?"

  "Earthshaking?" Amelia said questioningly.

  "Well, meeting number one there was an actual earthquake, and meeting number two you want me to get married. That is two pretty 'earthshaking' events.

  "Don't be such a baby Mal. People don't call family meetings about nothing you know. Now, let's go break the news to Belle. And then if she says yes you tell your family and I will tell the pastor. It won't be that hard."

  "Oh, my parents," Mal thought. "That may not go to well."

  4th Demension

  stratigic operations

  Zisa almost lived in AJ's head. Almost. She could easily have moved in, but she sensed that AJ's capacity to maintain the appearance of a stable life was just not much. She would have to be careful or AJ would start talking to Zisa anywhere or anytime. If Cabiri were still in charge AJ's brain would already be on overload. As it was AJ's susceptibility to suggestion was extreme. She was quite arrogant to begin with, so the slightest suggestion of anything that appealed to her superior attitude was accepted immediately without question. It was going well.

  On the other hand, Shelly was a potential problem. AJ and Frederick were always on one side and Shelly and Mal on the other side. Zisa was going to have to encourage some sort of mother-daughter relationship. Shelly had always wanted to be close to her daughter so if AJ would throw her a bone every now and then Shelly would respond.

  Frederick was also a problem. Zisa was fairly certain he was on her side for eternity. He was so openly contemptuous of his wife that Zisa wasn't sure why she stayed with him. There must still be some affection. If Frederick could be just a little encouraging Shelly would likely stay on their team.

  Stellar Dominion Outpost

  Command Center

  Raphael wasn't surprised that Amelia wanted Belle and Mal to get married. He knew Amelia was right that Belle was carrying a big burden. It was strange how the tragic death of a loved one brought out the best in someone. Belle and Amelia had both hung on for each other. Each might have given up if the other had not been there. But Raphael was not sure it was the best thing to do. He had seen it happen many times. Couples married in haste and repented in leisure. He had seen it work well also. God alone knew the outcome.

  Chapter 18

  AJ

  AJ was happy. It was less than four weeks to the election and it looked good for Mitchell Farmer. AJ was delighted to be part of the campaign. He was really a neat guy. It was such a shame he wa
s stuck with that stupid wife. She really was a drag. AJ was happy anyway. She had been invited to several important press conferences, and even been allowed in on some of the strategy sessions. Everyone had said what a shame she was still in school because they could have used her skills in several places. But reaching her age group was important too. Mitch was going no place but up. By the next election everyone who was reading her columns would be able to vote.

  AJ was wondering about something important though. She had felt certain she would meet the man of her dreams at college. So why was she growing so attached to Mitch? He was married. She didn't really care about that of course. But a lot of the public did care. "Zisa," AJ said absent mindedly, "Can you give his wife some sort of disease or something that would be fatal?"

  Malachi

  Mal had taken a few days to think over Amelia's idea that he and Belle should get married right away. It was a big step and he wasn't prone to do anything that big without a great deal of consideration. He had already stepped out of his comfort zone when he became a Christian so fast. He had no regrets about that. But this was different. Mal guessed his biggest question was how his parents would react to what they would consider a hasty marriage. Also, Frederick had already insulted Belle. He would only think the worst if they got married in October. Finally Mal came to the conclusion that if he was going to marry Belle his decisions about when to marry should be based on what he and Belle thought was going to be best for the marriage. The only way to get her opinion on that was to just ask her. He picked up the phone and dialed Belle.