The Search (13 page)

     “Yeah, considering the love of my life is still out there somewhere and should be home with us. How’s my favorite sister-in-law?”

     “You mean your only sister-in-law?”

     “Well, she’s still my favorite.”

     “The doctors told her yesterday she can come home in a few days. She has to be able to walk a hundred feet unassisted, without holding onto a wall or using a walker.”

     “How’s she coming?”

     “Well, she’s still unsteady. She lists to the left side, and they still don’t know why. But she’s trying several times a day, and yesterday she was able to make it about forty feet before she lost her balance. So she’s getting there.”

     “When are you going back?”

     “In the morning. I’m taking Markie with me. He’s all excited about it.”

     “He still hasn’t seen her?”

     “No. I’ve intentionally kept him away from her because you know how he is. He’s a hug monster. I wanted to make sure she could handle his constant squeezes before I took him to see her.”

     “Are y’all taking good care of Sami?”

     “I think so. Brad’s out most of the days helping comb the hills for Sarah. So it’s mostly up to the women to keep her company and console her when Brad’s gone. I had lunch with her today. We fixed sandwiches and had a picnic under the tree next to John’s grave. She told me about her childhood, and how John taught her how to ride a bike and taught her to fish, and she even told me about the time she and John had the talk about the birds and the bees. You know she lost her mother years ago, so he was all she had.”

     “Yes, I knew that. It’s a shame that such a sweet girl has had to endure so much misery.”

     “She’s sweet but also very tough. John made sure of that. She’s having a rough time of it right now, but she also has a lot of people who are willing to help her get through it. So she’ll make it.”

     “Hey, can she hear what we’re saying?”

     “No. She went to get coffee. Why?”

     “I was wondering about the baby. Whether the stress of her losing her father might cause complications.”

     “Debbie has been keeping a close eye on her. She says it’s hard to say for sure, but she doesn’t anticipate any problems.”

     “That’s good. After everything Sami’s been through, she sure doesn’t need any problems there. Would you do me a favor?”

     “Sure, brother. Just name it.”

     “I appreciate that Brad’s out there looking hard for Sarah. But hell, I’ve got half the state now looking for Sarah. If Sami needs him, either because the baby starts to give her problems or if she just needs him at her side, promise me you’ll pull him back in for her.”

     “I will. I may or may not be here. I may be at my own wife’s side. But I’ve already talked to Karen and Debbie about it, and they’ve essentially said the same thing. And Brad isn’t like you, driving all over the state. He’s working close by so he can be home with her at night. So far that’s been enough.”

     “Good. We’ve had so much misery lately, we sure don’t need any more.”

     “Agreed. And here she comes, by the way.”

     Bryan changed the subject.

     “There’s a group of ham radio operators that have agreed to take on the hunt for Sarah. They’ve promised to get the word out, and to call you guys if they find her.”

     “We’ll keep our fingers crossed. Don’t you worry. It’s not ‘if’ we find her, it’s ‘when.’ Did you want to say goodbye to Sami?”

     “Bye, Sami. You hang in there, tough girl. I love you.”

     “I love you too, Bryan. You be careful out there.”

Chapter 26

     Frank Woodard was on the security desk a couple of hours later when Mark and little Markie walked up.

     “Well hello, Markie,” Frank told Mark Junior. “You look like you’re going somewhere.”

     “Yes sir, Mister Frank. I’m going to see my mom at the hospital. I get to ride in a van.”

     “Oh, you do? Wow! I wish I could ride in a van. Is this going to be your first car ride?”

     “Yes, sir. Well, except for Daddy took me for rides on the Gator or the tractor. That was fun, but he says this is going to be even funner.”

     Frank was happy for the boy, but sad at the same time.

     Markie was eight now. He’d been born in the mine, not long after Saris 7 hit and they were waiting for the earth to thaw. After the thaw came, the group had restricted themselves to the safety of the compound, for it was still a harsh and dangerous world.

     It was a damn shame that an eight year old boy still hadn’t had the opportunity to enjoy something as simple as a long ride in a car.

     “So, what’s in the backpack, big guy?”

     Markie took the bag off his back to show Frank.

     “I have some cookies to give to Mom. Miss Karen baked them for me. They’re chocolate chip. She said I could have one on the trip, but not to give Daddy one. She said he’s getting fat.”

     Mark looked at him and asked, “Did she really say that?”

     Markie realized he’d stuck his little foot in his mouth and said, “Oops. Sorry, Dad. She said that was supposed to be our little secret.”

     Mark looked at Frank and smiled.

     “That’s all right. I’ll figure out a way to get even.”

     Markie pulled other things from the small bag as well.

     “This is her favorite nightgown ‘cause Daddy said she’s been asking for it. And this here is my hot wheels car because he said I could give her something that’s very special to me. And this…”

     He pulled out a fistful of wildflowers, crushed and dropping petals all over himself and the floor.

     “… this is the flowers that Miss Debbie and I picked for her. Do you like them?”

     “Uh… yes. Yes I do, Markie. But don’t you think you should put them in some kind of container or something?”

     “That’s what Miss Debbie said. But I said no, that they needed to breathe. If they don’t breathe they might die.”

     Frank looked at Mark, who shrugged.

     Mark said, “We wouldn’t want them to die, now would we?”

     “No, I suppose not.”

     Markie asked, “Do you think my mom will like them, Mister Frank?”

     “Yes, sir. I’m sure your mommy will love them.”

     “Yep. Me too,” he said as he stuffed the flowers back into his backpack, knocking most of the rest of the petals off.

     “What else you got in there, little man?”

     “That’s it, except for some bottles of water for me and my dad. Dad said anytime you go on a great adventure you have to take lots of water.”

     “Your father is a very smart man.”

     “Yeah. That’s because he’s real old. At least that’s what my Uncle Bryan always says. Is Uncle Bryan home yet?”

     “No, sir. He’s still out there looking for your Aunt Sarah.”

     “I hope he finds her. I love her. She always gives me millions of hugs and she always smells nice too.”

     “He’ll find her. Don’t you worry about that. Is there anything you want me to tell him next time he calls in?”

     “No. Not really. Just tell him I’m going to visit my mom, that’s about it.”

     “Okay. I’ll tell him.”

     All three of their heads turned as the words, “Wait for me, wait for me!” came rolling down the hallway.

     It was Sami, running like she’d missed a train and carrying her own backpack.

     “Sami,” Mark exclaimed. “Are you going with us?”

     “Yep. I’ve been cooped up in here for too darned long without seeing my best friend. I went to Daddy’s grave this morning and asked him if he could do without me for half a day and he said I could go.”

     Little Markie looked up at his dad and said, “Daddy, if I fall asleep can I lean on Miss Sami instead of you?”

     “Well sure, if it’s okay with Miss Sami. But why?”

     “’Cause she’s softer.”

Chapter 27

     Hannah knew that Mark was bringing their son to visit. She’d been counting the minutes until the Army van was scheduled to arrive from the compound.

     Sami’s visit, though, was an unexpected surprise.

     Hannah was conflicted. When the three walked into her hospital room, she was sitting in a wheelchair next to the window.

     And she didn’t know who she wanted to hug first.

     Little Markie made the decision for her, running across the room at airliner-speed.

     He applied the brakes at the last moment though. It was a good thing, because otherwise he might have sent both of them tumbling out the open window.

     Markie held back as much as he could, giving her the gentlest hug he could muster.

     “Daddy said I have to be careful. Because if I’m not careful my hugs could hurt you. And he said hugs aren’t supposed to hurt. I didn’t hurt you, did I Mommy?”

     “No, little sailor. Your hug was perfect. Simply perfect.”

     Tears welled in her eyes, and she fought them. She didn’t want to confuse little Markie or make him believe he really did hurt her after all.

     The adults all waited patiently as Markie pulled each item from his backpack and presented them to his mother.

     “And I brought you my favorite hot wheels car so you can put it on your night stand. And you can even sleep with it under your pillow if you want to. I do sometimes, and it doesn’t hurt it or anything.

     “And here are some cookies that Miss Karen baked. I helped her. I stirred the batter and then she let me lick the bowl. She laughed because I got batter all over my face and in my hair. But she said it was okay. She said just to wash my hair extra good before I went to bed. And that was last night and I washed it extra good. I even used shampoo this time instead of bar soap. But I didn’t do it just ‘cause I had cookie dough in my hair. I did it mostly ‘cause I was coming to see you and I wanted it to be extra clean.

     “Oh, I ate one of the cookies ‘cause Miss Karen said I could. But I didn’t eat the biggest one ‘cause I wanted to save it for you. On account of you haven’t had any cookies for awhile.

     “Daddy tried to get me to give him one but I told him no because Miss Karen said he’s getting fat and didn’t need any cookies. Also because they were for you, except for the one I ate.”

     “Miss Karen said your daddy s getting fat?”

     “Yes, but last night he snuck into the kitchen and got a brownie. He told me to keep it a secret, so don’t tell anybody.”

     Mark poked his young son in the ribs and said, “Squealer.”

     Markie looked up and said, “Oh, sorry Daddy.”

     “Oh, and these are for you too, Mom.”

     He pulled out the flowers, which by now had no petals left at all.

     “Oh, thank you, Markie. They’re simply beautiful! Did you pick them yourself?”

     “Yes. Well, Miss Debbie went with me, but she let me pick them out because she said I should only pick the ones that were the prettiest and that I knew you would like. So I picked the pink ones and the purple ones because I knew that you liked pink and purple, on account of when we used to do my coloring books you used to always pick the pink and purple crayons because you said they were the prettiest ones in the box and…”

     Markie was beginning to ramble on, but Hannah didn’t mind. Not at all.

     Markie went on and on until he looked down and noticed the sad flower stems clutched within his tiny hand. The petals were all gone and the stems themselves were twisted and bent from having been put in and out of the bag several times.

     A dejected look came over Markie’s face.

     “Well, they
used
to be pretty. I’m sorry, Mommy. I guess I broke them.”

     “Oh nonsense, baby. They are still the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen. I absolutely love them. And I want you to put them right there, in that flower vase, so that everyone can see them when they come into my room to visit me.”