The Journal: Ash Fall (17 page)

When the phone did ring, it startled me, and
I lunged for it.

“Allexa? This is MaryEllen in Midway,” a
soft, sad voice said.

“What can I do for you, MaryEllen?” I asked,
disappointed it wasn’t John. I knew who MaryEllen was; her husband
was one of the casualties in the shootout that took place in Midway
with the Wheeler gang, just before they came here and killed my
brother.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said, “but I
really don’t know who else to ask.”

“What is it you need? Perhaps I can direct
you to the right person.”

“That’s just it…there isn’t a ‘right
person’,” MaryEllen wailed. “I want to get out of here, Allexa.
There’s no food and I can’t grow any. Charley’s dead and I’m
completely alone. “I want to get to one of the relocation centers
in Marquette, however, I don’t have gas for the truck. I’m not even
sure it still runs. Can you find someone to give me a lift to
town?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” I took down her
phone number, promising to find someone going that direction who
could give her a ride.

How sad. Even when someone survived the
initial disaster and then the weather, it didn’t mean they were
guaranteed to survive the new way of life that had been thrust upon
them.

JOURNAL ENTRY: June 20

It’s been five days since the power went out, just
one more thing to worry about. The first two days I ran the
generator a few hours each day, just like I did last Fall, and for
the same reasons: to keep the freezers going and to pump water.

Today, though, I took the venison out of the extra
fridge and started canning it. Like always, the meaty bones went
into a big pot to make soup, except this time the chunks of meat
were canned separately for stew instead of ground. We cannot lose
any meat, it’s too valuable. I processed the meat all day and into
the night.

CHAPTER 19

June 21

“Jason, we can’t all go over to Bob and
Kathy’s at the same time and leave these two houses and the garden
unprotected,” I protested.

“Mom, it’s your birthday. Can’t you loosen up
just for once?”

“No, I can’t. Besides, I need to stay here,
just in case …”

Jason frowned. “I know, Mom, just in case
John comes back.” He let out a big sigh. “I suppose we could have
everyone come here. Would that be okay?”

* * *

At four o’clock, people started showing up.
Somehow I thought it would be just the boys, Bob and Kathy, maybe
Guy and Dawn. Soon, Anna was here, and Pastor Carolyn, Dr. Mark,
Joshua and Martha, plus Ken and Karen and a few more. It seemed
that half the town turned out for my birthday.

Bob and Kathy had loaded up two long banquet
tables from the church into Bob’s pickup truck, under the
supervision of Carolyn of course, and now were setting them up
around the side yard, which Eric had freshly mowed. Thankfully the
power had come back on during the night and Jason ran an extension
cord over to the tables to keep the hot food hot.

Kathy shoved a glass in my hand and filled it
with a deep ruby liquid. I took a sip. Wine was a real treat. What
I had was rationed for special occasions and I didn’t feel this
qualified.

“If you won’t come to the party, the party
comes to you.” She grinned. “Happy birthday, my friend!” She gave
me a fierce hug. Just then Chivas came bounding across the road. To
my surprise and delight, she stopped at the edge of the road, and
actually looked both ways before launching into a full speed run,
right to Kathy. Eric must be doing some serious training with that
dog.

“Thank you,” I replied to my best friend,
returning her smile. “I really didn’t expect so many people.”

One of the tables was filling up with
pot-luck dishes and serving utensils. Lawn chairs sprouted up all
over the yard as more people arrived. Kathy was now so engrossed
with the puppy that it was easy for me to mingle.

I sought out Pastor Carolyn to give her
MaryEllen’s request. Perhaps she would know someone going to town
soon.

“As a matter of fact, I’m heading there
tomorrow to do some parish work at the hospital. I’ll take her in.
It’s sad to see so many leaving this town, Allexa. Last count on
Sunday was only twenty people. How can we survive with so few?”

“I don’t know, Carolyn, maybe it will be
easier with fewer.” I shrugged my shoulders and moved off.

“Can I steal a minute or two of your time,
Allexa?” Dr. Mark asked, most pleasantly, when I reached where he
was sitting.

“Of course, Mark, and thank you for coming to
my party.” I looked around and continued, “I am overwhelmed by this
turnout!” There really weren’t too many vehicles parked on the
road, as many had doubled or tripled up on rides to save gas.

“Um, where’s John?” Mark asked casually.

“I’m not sure,” I answered. “He’s
overdue.”

“How did you know about Martha?” he asked
suddenly.

I truly was confused. “What do you mean?” I
asked, sitting down at the picnic table.

“My initial exam of her indicated progressing
heart failure. Not unusual for someone her age, but she also had
dizziness, mental confusion and muscle cramps that seemed to be
something else, something I couldn’t verify without bloodwork.”

At first I didn’t know what he was getting
at, and then it struck me. “It was the salt, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was a Renin secretion and it
completely got past me! What made you think of it?”

“Joshua brought over some milk and cheese.
We’re trading my eggs and bread for his dairy,” I explained. “When
I tasted the cheese it was bland. I asked him about it and he said
they had run out of salt months earlier and he was now making the
cheese without it. I know that salt is a very important mineral to
the human body. Most of the time we get too much of it in all the
processed foods we eat, but most of us haven’t had any of those
foods for almost eight months. It was a wild guess that that just
might have something to do with what was ailing Martha, and if it
wasn’t, they still needed it.”

“Well, Allexa, that little observation likely
saved Martha’s life, or at the very least, gave her a few more
years.” Mark gave me a curious smile. “Just look at her, she’s
doing fine now.” Martha was a whirlwind of activity, helping set
out the food, socializing, and apparently having a good time.

“While we’re on the subject of Martha, I’ve
been meaning to ask you what is this business about Joshua’s goat?”
I asked. “I neither need nor want a goat, however, I had to accept
it or they wouldn’t have let you come out to examine Martha.” I
crossed my arms over my chest and waited for him to answer. When he
didn’t say anything, I went on. “So what is it you want to barter
with me for your payment from the Beals?”

“I’ll think of something. First I’d like to
ask you something else, but a bit more privately, if you don’t
mind,” Mark requested. “Can we walk a bit?”

I stood without saying anything, wondering
what was on his mind.

Further down the driveway, he asked, “How are
you dealing with the events of the attack, Allexa?”

“There are times I get a bit shaky and my
stomach gets queasy when I see the bodies and blood in my head.
Then I get angry that this happened. I haven’t felt the regret or
the guilt yet, though I have felt a level of remorse that it
happened at all. This is much like what I felt after the Harris
incident.” I stopped and looked at the man beside me. “Normal so
far, doc?” I offered a tentative smile.

He gave me a warm smile in return, his eyes
searching my face. “You’re dealing with this remarkably well,
Allexa. PTSD can be very difficult.”We had walked all the way down
the back loop of the driveway during our chat, and had just turned
to walk back, when Mark stopped short.

“That must be your new greenhouse! Amanda has
told me about it. Can I see it, please?” he asked enthusiastically,
completely changing the subject.

“Absolutely. It’s not completely finished
inside, though. I’m still adding a few touches.” I opened the door
and stepped in, Mark followed too close behind me.

I showed him what I had planted in the herb
beds, giving them a light watering as I explained the “whys” of
what I had done. In the next grow bed the radish was now three
inches tall and showing signs of thickening into bulbs. The green
beans I planted at the same time were pushing through the soil,
which greatly pleased me.

“The fish pond,” he stated simply, gazing at
the gurgling water. The lilies had survived the transplant, though
they were looking a bit peaked. Mark’s focus lingered on the statue
of the miner in the corner as I tossed the fish a handful of bread
crumbs from a bowl I’m keeping there for the kids. The little fish
splashed as they snatched the food floating on the surface.

“Over in these two grow boxes I plan on a
couple of tomatoes and pepper plants that I’ll dig up in the fall.
I’d like to see how long I can keep them producing.” I turned to
see if Mark was listening, and he was so close I bumped into him.
He gently held my shoulders, pulling me closer, looked longingly
into my eyes and then lowered his mouth to mine for a gentle but
searing kiss. My traitorous body responded instantly and I leaned
into him, returning the passionate kiss. I bunched his shirt in my
fists to keep myself from exploring his muscular chest.

I stepped back, breaking the contact. We were
both breathing hard.

“What am I doing?” I said aloud and I pushed
against his hard body, fleeing out the door.

* * *

“Are you okay?” Kathy asked, giving me an odd
look.

“I’m fine,” I replied too quickly. Looking
for a diversion, I spotted the food table. There were bowls of
pasta salad and baked beans, deviled eggs I’m sure came from
Martha, and cookies. “I’m surprised at all this food, Kath. How are
people managing this?” Before she could reply, Eric and Emilee came
across the road, pulling a wagon loaded with chilled beer. He’s
obviously been busy brewing!

* * *

Everyone had left and the yard was cleaned up
by eight o’clock. I was once again left alone.

It’s the Summer Solstice, the longest day of
the year. The sun was hanging low in the fading blue sky, and still
had more than an hour before setting. I took my final glass of wine
to the greenhouse and sat by the pond, letting the bubbling water
soothe my jangled nerves. I did not want to think about Mark’s kiss
or how it had affected me. I had told John I wasn’t attracted to
the doctor…

I hadn’t lied to John, I had lied to
myself.

CHAPTER 20

June 23

I had just poured my first cup of coffee when
I heard a truck pull into the driveway. Curious, I stepped outside,
after slipping the Kel Tec into my pocket.

The white truck with the green logo had just
come to a stop. I stood on the bottom step, clutching my coffee
cup. John was back!

He wearily got out of the cab and walked
around to the back, grabbing his bag. When he headed toward the
house, he finally looked up and saw me standing there.

I set my cup down on the step, and he dropped
his battered bag where he was standing.

“You look tired,” I said, breaking the
silence.

“I am,” John replied. “I’ve been driving for
almost twenty-four hours.” He took several long steps and reached
out for me, crushing me against his chest.

“I’ve been so worried, John,” I whimpered,
wrapping my arms around his neck.

“It’s been a nightmare clusterfuck,” he said,
with just an edge of anger. “Is there more coffee?”

John never swore anymore, so I knew this had
to have been a very frustrating time for him. When I was seeing him
and Sven at the Eagle Beach house, the other miners from his crew
were always around and trying to unwind from the day. The language
got very rough at times. It was just the way it was and I tended to
ignore it. Now, John always was careful of what he said since
Emilee or Jacob might be around.

“After I talked to you on Tuesday, I waited
at the Louisville airport for the next flight. I slept on the bench
nearest the departure gate so I wouldn’t miss the loading call,”
John told me. “Late that night, there was a full plane and we
finally made it to Green Bay. That’s when everything fell apart.”
He ran his hands across his bald head, and the familiar gesture
warmed my heart. “The power went out across four states, and I was
stuck in the airport with a dead cellphone and no electricity to
recharge it.”

“The power was out here too, until
yesterday,” I said, not wanting to interrupt his story. I wanted to
know what took him so long to get back.

“Without electricity to run everything, no
planes could land – or take off.” He took a sip of coffee, closing
his eyes in appreciation. “They kept telling us it wouldn’t be
long, it wouldn’t be long, but nothing changed. I finally decided
I’d be better off renting a car and driving back to Sawyer, but the
rental agencies couldn’t run without power either.” He looked at me
in exasperation. “How did things run smoothly before there was such
dependence on electricity? Everyone seems incapable of making a
decision without a blasted computer in front of them!”

“The disadvantages of progress. What did you
do?”

“I flagged down a taxi, one of those minivan
units and paid the guy cash to drive me to Sawyer so I could get
the truck. I was exhausted and slept for a couple of hours while he
drove. When we hit the Wisconsin-Michigan border, there was a four
hour wait to get passed through the checkpoint. Then it was another
hour to get through the inspection and questioning.”

I’d made the trip by car before, from Moose
Creek to Green Bay, and knew how long it could be under normal
conditions. Now things were far from normal, and may never be
again.