The Reckoning (Earth Haven Book 3)
Page 34
“Okay.” He shifted uncomfortably on the balls of his feet. “If this is about relationship stuff, I’m not very good at it.”
“Oh, Tom, hisht and listen.” Ceri took a deep breath. “Look, there’s a reason I only had the one child. During Rhys’s birth, there were complications. The following year, I underwent a hysterectomy. I can’t have any more children.”
Tom looked at her, wondering if there was anything more. “And?” he said.
“And nothing. That’s it.”
“Um… I’m sorry?”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry that you can’t have any more children. Are you okay?”
Ceri blinked. “This was years ago. Of course I’m okay. The question is, are you okay with it?”
It was Tom’s turn to blink. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Ceri thumped him in the arm. “You bloody useless man! Think for a moment. We’re about to head out into a largely empty world. Humankind is on the verge of extinction. Producing new babies is going to be vital to avoid that. And you’re talking about setting off into the unknown with a female companion who doesn’t have a womb. And, no, this isn’t Monty Python and we can’t just keep the foetus in a box.”
Tom rubbed his arm. “You punch well,” he muttered. “Now I know what this is about. You think that I ought to see you as some sort of child-producing machine. Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t see you like that at all. I think you’re sweet, you make me laugh, you’re a much better shot than I am, and there’s absolutely no one else in the entire world I’d rather spend my future with.”
Ceri stared at him for a long moment. Then she punched him again.
“Ow! What was that one for?”
“For being better at this relationship stuff than you make out.”
“Can we go find the others now?”
They found them in the hotel car park. Tom had packed the Peugeot and white Range Rover with food and other essentials. They would travel east in convoy, Bri and Will following, until they had to ditch the cars for another mode of transport.
Bri and Will were saying their goodbyes. And, wonder of wonders, Dusty was being fussed over by Colleen.
“Going to miss you, you soft thing,” she said.
As though to continue the let’s-surprise-everyone motif, Dusty ran up to Diane and licked her hand before bounding to Peter and rubbing against his leg. With a bark, he trotted to the Peugeot and stood next to it, waiting to be let in.
Colleen stood tall and clear-eyed; she hadn’t taken a drink in days. Ceri threw her arms around her and held her tight.
“You can come with us.”
The Irish girl shook her head. “I miss Sinead. And Howard. And whiskey. I need to stay put for a while. Get my shit together. Here’s as good a place as any.”
Ceri nodded and turned to Diane. She politely shook her by the hand.
“Thanks for missing when you shot at me,” Ceri said.
“No problem,” said Diane with a smile that, for once, didn’t seem forced. “Maybe, if you ever shoot at me, you can return the favour.”
Ceri returned the smile. “You’re not so bad, you know. Almost human at times.”
She turned to Peter and hugged him.
“You and Tom saved my life by turning up at my house that day. The offer stands.” She glanced back at Diane. “For both of you. You’re welcome to come with us.”
Peter shook his head. “Thanks, but we’ll go our own way. We have things to do that won’t interest you.”
“Hmm. Please, Peter, be careful. That’s all I have to say on the matter. Where will you go?”
“South. Somewhere warm.”
“That’s kind of the general direction we’re going, too. Well, so long.”
“Goodbye, Ceri.”
Lastly, it was Tom’s turn. Colleen surprised him by kissing him full on the lips.
“That’s for burying Howard. And for coming to our rescue.”
“But, it was Ceri who shot him.”
“And thank God she did. But you were there, Tom. I’ve seen you handling a gun. I think what you did took more courage than anyone.”
“That may be a backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it.”
When he stepped in front of Diane meaning to shake her hand like Ceri had, Tom impulsively leaned forward and hugged her. As he pulled away, she looked shocked, but in a reluctantly pleased way.
“Thank you for everything, Diane,” he said. “Please, keep an eye on Peter for me.”
She nodded. “And keep those children safe. I’ve grown quite fond of them. You mustn’t tell them, though. It’d be bad for my street cred.”
Tom laughed out loud, drawing startled glances from Bri and Will.
He turned to Peter, but was beaten to the draw. He was enveloped in a mighty hug.
“I’ll miss you, old friend,” said Peter.
“Ceri was right. You can still come with us.”
Peter again shook his head. “Look, if things don’t work out with our plans, we can always come and find you.”
“It’s a bloody big world out there and you won’t be able to text me to find out where we are.”
“Not text, no. Something better. As long as Bri’s with you, and you’re within a reasonable range, I’ll be able to locate you.”
“Ah. All that alien shit again.”
“You need to look after that girl. She represents the next stage of mankind’s development. If she ever has children, they may share her abilities.”
“I will look after her. As though she was my daughter. Ceri and Will, too.”
“And take care of yourself, Tom.”
Tom walked to the car. He looked from Ceri to Bri to Will and patted Dusty on the head. He hadn’t been exaggerating in what he’d said to Peter; they felt like his family.
“All ready?” he said. “For a great adventure?”
* * * * * * *
Six months later at Hillingdon Hospital, a boy was born to a young woman from Harrisonburg, Virginia. The grandfather figure who looked on heaved a sigh as the babe filled it lungs and let out a powerful cry.
Elliott stepped forward.
“What will you call him?” he asked.
“That’s an easy one,” said Sarah. “Say hello to Frank.”
* * * * * * *
In a sunny courtyard of a large, fortified chateau somewhere near Marseilles in southern France, two papery cocoons tore apart.
A dark, tousled head appeared from one, followed by the long body and limbs of a handsome man. He looked uncertainly at the slight woman who stood, sobbing, before him.
From the second cocoon emerged the fair hair and fairer features of a young woman. She blinked at the man who stepped forward to greet her.
“Hello, Megan,” said Peter.
THE END
About the Author
When not inhabiting imaginary worlds that no others can see, Sam Kates—who swears he’s sane—lives in South Wales, UK, with a computer and a family. Sometimes he joins them for meals. He has, on occasion, been known to talk to them. To his consternation, they refuse to address him as “Sam.”