by J. B. Craig
Pete was her near-constant companion - apparently, he had seen the whole thing unfold, and when she was up nights, she could sometimes hear him wake in the other room with gasping, shuddering breaths. Finally, they worked out a system - they shared a wall, and when one of them woke with bad dreams, they’d knock softly on the wall. If the other was awake, they’d knock back - a brief, reassuring ‘we’re okay’. Jonah and his little brother, Manito hovered like mother hens in Pete’s absence, too - she highly suspected that the three had come up with some kind of agreement that she would always have someone nearby to look out for her. Though normally she might’ve felt stifled by all of the attention, it was nice to have their company while she recovered, both mentally and physically.
By the end of her first week of recovery, Maria could move, if slowly. She had strict orders to stay on bedrest, but she felt restless without being able to help like usual, so she spent some time in the kitchens and at the aid stations with the chores that didn’t require her to stand for very long, as backaches couldn’t be just rubbed with her injuries.
Pete took his sweet time releasing her, but by late June, Maria was finally able to work back up to light exercise. She was ready to run again - and, perhaps more importantly, eager to sail.
That evening, Maria caught Pete in the hall as he was tying his tennis shoes for their nightly run. “Pete?” Maria called, and he looked up with a smile. “Before we head out, can we talk for a minute?”
“Of course,” Pete said quickly. “Porch swing?”
Maria nodded. As they settled in, Pete asked, “What’s up?”
“I want to go home,” Maria said bluntly - she saw no point in beating around the bush. “I want to get in touch with my dad - he has to be worried sick. After Reid left us with the draft, we were short of able bodies and the infrastructure was still going in - the community garden, seeing that all of the community members were trained in emergency response and basic tactics.” At Pete’s nod, Maria continued, “But they’re doing okay. The community can support itself now. I’m making better progress, and I’m moving well enough that I feel confident that I can sail.”
“I don’t want you to push yourself too hard,” Pete said. “I know you’ve been back on guard duty, but if we aren’t careful to keep you rested and infection free, you can backslide.”
“I know,” she said. “Believe me, I know. But I’m also still worried that there won’t be enough food for all the mouths, and I don’t want someone to go hungry because I was too afraid to push home to Dad.”
“You’re part of the community here.” Pete frowned. “You contribute every day. Hell, you put your body on the line for them.”
“I know, I know,” she says. “I’ve become so much closer to you and to Bannon, to Uncle Timmy, to Jonah, to Manito. I have friends here, and it’ll hurt to leave. But, if there’s anything I’ve learned from everyone here,” she continued, “It’s that the next emergency is always around the corner. I’m afraid that if I don’t separate myself now, I’ll never leave.”
Pete nodded in understanding. “It’s a good group here,” he said. “You’re lucky to have such close family nearby. Mine is neither as close, nor as tightly knit.”
“It seems like you’ve found a home here,” Maria said tentatively. She was very fond of Pete - as close as they’d been during their trek to the island, they’d become even closer during her recovery. Part of her didn’t even want to give him the option - but she knew, in fairness, that she had to. “And I want you to come with me. But - I can’t guarantee that we would be going to the same, safe set-up at Rock Harbor.
“My dad was supposed to be heading there, but if something happened to him on the trip, if he was late…” Maria shook her head, unwilling to consider the possibilities. “And the rest of the trip might be dangerous. I would understand if you’re not interested in leaving.”
“Maria,” Pete said gently. He leaned over, taking her hands in his own and gripping them tightly. “I promised I’d see you home, and I intend to follow through. I do love it here,” Pete admitted, “But that’s because of you, Maria. I like your uncle, and I like your cousin, and I like the men and women at the station - but you’re the reason I’m here. Okay?”
Maria breathed a sigh of relief. “Good,” she said, squeezing his hands back. She thought that maybe they were having a moment - it seemed like she and Pete been dancing around each other for a while, both vaguely flirting but neither willing to make the first move. “Yeah. I’m glad.”
A noise from inside the house startled them both, and they sprang apart. “So, uh,” Pete coughed. “Guess we’ll have to break it to your family?”
Maria let out an exaggerated groan, though her heart was still hammering. “That is one conversation I am not looking forward to having,” she said - and hoped Pete couldn’t tell her voice was a little lighter than usual at his decision to go with her.
21. Tough Goodbyes
The next morning, Maria chose to do some light gardening - much to Pete’s chagrin. He had wanted her to rest more, but she needed to show that she was better. Though they were keeping her on a regular sleep schedule and off of guard duty still, Maria was determined to help how she could, and while her back occasionally twinged, it felt good to stretch out and work in the dirt.
After wrangling a promise not to overdo it out of Maria, Pete headed out for day shift. Timmy and Bannon were on night shift, and as she was finishing up at the garden, she met them as they were coming down the road. “Hey, guys,” she greeted. “Before you go in, can the three of us talk?”
Timmy and Bannon exchanged a glance, but readily agreed. As they sat down at the kitchen table, Bannon asked, “So. Are you going to tell us that you’re leaving us, or that you and Pete are finally hooking up?”
Maria went bright red. “No one is hooking up with anyone,” she hissed. “Honestly, Ban!”
“So it’s the former?” Uncle Timmy guessed. “You’re heading to Rock Harbor, and Pete with you.”
Maria stuttered - and then she laughed. “Am I that transparent?” she asked.
“You get it from my brother-in-law,” Timmy said, grinning. More seriously, he added, “Maria, we completely understand. I miss my wife and our little boy every day, and I’m sure your Dad’s just as worried sick about you.”
“You do?” Maria asked. She was stunned - somehow, she thought there’d be more...something.
“Absolutely,” Timmy said. “I have one condition. You don’t leave until your boy pronounces you one hundred percent fit for duty. My understanding from him is that you have some areas on your back that are still scarring over, and your Dad would murder me if I sent his little girl home only to have her get a secondary infection.”
Maria nodded easily. That was more along the lines of what she’d been expecting. “That’s fair,” she agreed. With a lopsided smile, she added, “He’ll be thrilled. More opportunities to nag me.”
“While we’re talking about this,” Bannon began. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “Dad - I’ve been thinking about this a long time, and I think we should go with them.”
Maria’s jaw dropped. “What?” Uncle Timmy asked. “Bannon Beretta, this is not the...”
“I know, Dad, I know,” Bannon said. “Just hear me out. Okay?”
At his father’s terse nod, Bannon continued. “I don’t want to leave our home behind,” he said, “Even if Rock Harbor is the next best thing. Part of me wants to stay here and wait for Mom and Reid to come home to us - keep defending the peninsula, holding out for them.
“But things are getting worse,” Bannon said. “The community is holding together, yeah - we’ve got food in the ground and rations, a defensible perimeter. But we’re a tiny sanctuary in the middle of two looted cities. People are going to keep coming, and the killing is going to continue.” He straightened his back, looking Maria and his father in the eye. “Mom would tell us to prioritize our safety over defending our property. There isn’t any reason w
e couldn’t pack up, load as much as we can into the boat, and leave a note in case she makes it home before Reid gets to her. We could call him on the HAM radio, tell him there’s been a change of plans and that he should head to the Harbor too.”
“Son - we’ll talk about this tomorrow,” Timmy said. He sounded both angry and worn-out, like Bannon’s words had sapped the rest of his strength. “But I need to sleep on it, or I’ll say something I’ll regret. We have a lot of memories tied up in this house, and we don’t have to decide now.”
He stood up and walked out, signaling an end to their conversation. Bannon looked at his cousin. “I’ll stow away if I have to,” he said quietly. “But I need to go. I can’t keep fighting. I mean, look at me,” he said, lifting a section of hair behind his ear up so Maria could see a few silvering strands. “I shouldn’t be going grey at eighteen. My dad didn’t, Aunt Leigh didn’t, Pop didn’t. I just -” His voice broke. “I feel like every time I kill someone - every time I watch the light go out of their eyes - I die a little inside too.”
“Ban,” Maria said sadly. She reached over the table to squeeze one of his hands. “I know. I know you aren’t the kind of person who will ever harden your heart to it. But if you left without saying goodbye to your Dad - it might be several months, or longer, before you’d see him again. Would you really want to do that to him?”
Bannon looked away. “It’s not my first choice,” he said, jaw clenched. “But Mom was the one who taught us how to sail. If Mom can make it home, she can make it to us in Rock Harbor.”
Bannon ducked into the pantry - he was making a show of shifting things around, but Maria knew her cousin, and could sense that he needed to be alone with his thoughts. She decided not to press him further, heading to her bunk in Reid’s room to relax and rest her back.
After a while, Maria heard Uncle Timmy pacing and muttering angrily to himself through the thin walls. She couldn’t hear most of the content, but she felt a little awkward being privy to it nonetheless. Finally, she decided to get up - her bedroom door had a loud creak in it when it was fully opened, so if she swung it open it would hopefully let him know that she was up and available to talk, if he wanted to.
After a few minutes, there was a knock on her door, and she wasn’t surprised to see her uncle waiting for her. “Walk with me, please,” he asked her, and she quickly nodded, slipping on a pair of shoes.
They headed out to the porch, Maria settling into the swing and Timmy sitting across from her in a wicker chair. “Maria,” he said. “I hate to ask, but I’m just making sure. Please tell me you didn’t put him up to this?”
Maria quickly shook her head. “I didn’t,” she confirmed. “I was as shocked as you were. I can understand why he feels that way, but I had no idea he’d been wanting to leave so badly.”
Timmy wiped a hand over his face. “I didn’t either,” he said. “I can’t help thinking that I’ve done both of my boys wrong by staying here too long. When your aunt learns what I let them do here, the responsibilities I’ve asked them to take on-”
“She might be upset at first,” Maria said gently. “But - I’m sure she’s doing what she needs to do to survive, too. I think she’ll understand. You taught them to survive, to defend themselves. I don’t think an electrical apocalypse comes with an instruction manual.”
“If only it did,” he sighed. “Honestly - I don’t think it’s a bad idea for him to go with you both. You and Pete could use a third to watch your backs - and I can’t ask any more of him. He’s not a born soldier, never will be, and he’s got a better chance out there in the boonies at being a farmer rather than a killer.”
“You aren’t coming with us?” Maria asked.
Timmy shook his head. “Call me a sentimental old bastard,” he said, “But if Sally and Reid make it home, I want to be here to greet them in person. I’ll make sure they have a safe bed to sleep in, food to eat and water to drink. I’m not ruling out joining you both in Virginia eventually, but I know that you and Pete are ready to go, and you’re Ban’s best shot out of here for a while.”
“Like you said, nothing has to be decided now,” Maria said. “If you change your mind between now and whenever I’m ready to sail, the more the merrier.” She looked over at her uncle and added, “Part of me is surprised that you’re letting him go. With Reid and Aunt Sally both away, I’d have thought you might be set on keeping him close.”
“Not at the cost of his happiness,” Timmy said, shaking his head. “Plus, if Rock Harbor and the Dragons can work out a communication strategy, we can keep the family connected and support both communities - and there’s no better tech salvager than our Ban.” With a little chuckle, he said, “To be honest, I decided all of this within the first hour after our conversation, but I wanted to think about all of the angles and pitch my requirements to him when he wakes up.”
“Whatever they are, I accept.” Maria and Timmy both looked up in surprise to see Bannon, poking his head out from inside the kitchen window. “How could I sleep with you two deciding my fate?” he asked. He was grinning from ear to ear - it was the happiest Maria had seen him since his brother left. “Especially with both of you elephants stomping around the house.”
“Oh, go to bed,” Timmy grumbled as Maria and Ban burst out laughing.
22. Sailing Down the Bay
The very next morning, the trio informed Jonah and the Chief of their decision to leave. Though both were disappointed that they weren’t staying, they were understanding. The community shuffled schedules around so the rookie guards got to fly solo, freeing up their schedules for extra time to plan, rest up, and spend time with Uncle Timmy whenever he was free.
With her purpose restored, Maria felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. While Pete spent a few more days quizzing his aid trainees and Bannon finished up his second HAM transmitter rig, she threw herself into planning for their route and putting together a supply list. It was easier to sit still with a departure date set, as she was no longer fighting off the sinking feeling of ‘I’ll never get home.’
After their victory a few weeks ago, the community was well-outfitted with weapons, so Chief told Maria to keep her M16. He also gave them what ammunition he could spare, and also freed up one of the dwindling crates of MRE foodstuffs for their trip. When Pete protested, the Chief said “We might not still be standing here if it hadn’t been for you kids. You’re about to head to a new location, which might or might not have enough food to go around. Take the damn MREs!”
Handshakes, hugs and back-slaps were doled out all around. Finally, the last man standing on the dock with the three travelers was Uncle Timmy. Pete was the first to receive his hug, and Timmy handed him a backpack. “You take care of these two,” he said. “I put a couple of ‘prepper surprises’ in here that might come in handy.” Pete hugged him back, thanked him for the backpack and for the weeks of safe and happy lodging, and then boarded the Miss Behavin’.
Maria had received her own gifts from her uncle last night - one of his favorite switchblades, small enough that she could conceal it in her boot, and Reid’s favorite necklace, a Macau fish hook pendant. The last was only ‘on loan’ - he was trusting her to see it safely to the family home, where Reid could take it back when he no doubt visited his brother and favorite cousin in the future.
“Thank you so much for letting us stay with you for so long,” Maria said, as she received the next hug. “We really, really appreciate it. I don’t know what we would’ve done without your help.”
“For my heroic, tough niece? Anything,” Uncle Timmy said, hugging her back tightly. “I’d serve by your side any time. And you can tell my your dad I said that,” he smiled, eyes twinkling and full of moisture. “We’ll see each other again, and next time, your Aunt Sally will be with me.”
Maria stepped onto the boat and began to help Pete untie the lines, hoping to give Ban and his father a little privacy. She kept an eye just in case they needed a little moral support - but t
hey seemed to be okay. After a brief discussion, Uncle Timmy handed him his pack, and took a necklace from around his neck, putting it on his son. Maria blinked a few tears out of her eyes as they wrapped each other up in a tight, fierce hug.
With their goodbyes said, Bannon walked over and hopped onto the boat. “Anchors aweigh, Cap’n!” Bannon announced - and if his smile was a little watery, neither Maria nor Pete mentioned it to him.
Bannon pushed off the dock, Pete raised the mainsail, and Maria began to give the pair orders as she navigated the sloop out of the harbor. Before long they were exiting the Bay, and headed towards the sunken span of the Bay Bridge.
