Yield (92 page)

Finding some small measure of comfort in the words himself, Devin nods. He turns toward a welcoming breeze coming through the south-facing gates. Family photos hang from the picture board. Images of
Katherine and the kids
flash through his mind.

The fireman looks back down at the papers in his hands.
“
Here,
”
he says, passing Chris the call request forms.
“
Running into flaming buildings never really inspired much patience in me. You and Terra can contact your families with these. I have to find a way back home to mine.
”

“
I think you mean,
‘
we,
’
son,
”
Jacob says. He sets his granddaughter down, wrapping her small hand in his.

“
You
’
re leaving?
”
Terra whispers. Fear begins creeping back into her eyes.

“
As much as I
’
d like to, I can
’
t stay forever, love,
”
Devin says. The fireman leans closer, pointing discretely at Chris.
“
Besides, you
’
ve got this big ox here to fend off the world for you. You
’
ll be just fine. He
’
s got a bit of a mouth on him, but I
’
m sure you can keep that in check.
”

Terra tries to smile,
tries
to be strong
—
but her sapphire eyes mist up instead
,
like rain finding the jagged edges of a cracked window pane. Terra pulls closer to the towering body of her protector. She looks down at the new life sleeping in her arms.
“
What will we tell her?
”
Terra whispers. Her eyes drift over Baby Isabel
’
s face.
“
What kind of life will she have now?
”

The question quiets them all. The hopelessness and suffering of the world seem to darken the skies above.

Devin looks out into the black storm clouds approaching in the distance. His blood runs cold
,
unsure now of things once so firmly carved into his soul.
“
I wish I could tell you everything will be alright, that the worst is over. But I don
’
t know, Terra,
”
he says, his voice without its usual sarcastic edge.
“
I don
’
t know why horrors like this ever come to pass. I used to believe in a God once. I used to go to church, even pray.
”
A hurricane of doubt flashes from his eyes.
“
My faith was shattered with our cities on Monday. I don
’
t know if either is coming back.
”

Terra leans closer to Chris
’
s reassuring arms. A glimmer of contentment embraces her, feeling their hearts beating together.

The silence stretches.

Growing uncomfortable with inevitability
’
s delay, Devin glances around.
“
Well, if you
’
re ready Jacob, I guess we better get
…
”

Terra lunges forward and wraps an arm around him.
“
Thank you,
”
she whispers. Baby Isabel looks curiously up at the redheaded man. Wonder fills her small eyes.

Slowly, Devin
’
s hands pull the young woman and child to him.
“
I don
’
t think I deserve much thanks,
”
he says
,
thinking
back through the nightmares they
’
ve endured over their three short days together.

“
You acted when others didn
’
t,
”
the teenager says. She tries to hold back tears, looking up at her journey
’
s surrogate father.
“
You’re a hero to me
.
”
Terra pulls him tight one last time before releasing the fireman.
“
Be careful,
”
she whispers. Terra wipes her sapphire eyes, looking sadly towards the gate.

Chris firmly clasps his hand. A look of deep respect and admiration passes between them.

“
Keep them safe, mate,
”
Devin says. Pride beams from his face. Remorse stiffens his feet. The fireman knows he can
’
t stay, but the thought of leaving them now feels like he
’
s abandoning part of his own family.

Chris stares confidently back into the fireman
’
s eyes.
“
I will.
”
His shoulders
barely flinch at
the responsibility.
“
Take care, D.
”

Chris uses the single letter nickname he
’
d always called his lifelong friend
,
without a moment
’
s pause or regret.

Silently, Devin turns and looks out past the crowds to the long journey ahead. Jacob and Sierra give their own brief farewells before following. They leave the fleeting protection of the razor-wire gates, moving back out into the savage world beyond.

Katherine storms through the front door and throws her keys onto the side table. The jingling crash of metal bounces back from the walls in the entryway. The keys ricochet off the scuffed pine, tumbling to the floor. Outside, the roar of military vehicles screams down the deserted street.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”
Haley asks. The teen jumps up from the love seat.

“
What isn
’
t?
”
Kat blurts.
S
he strides past her daughter and into the comfort of her kitchen. Katherine
’
s hands latch onto the range
’
s stainless steel handle.

Usually, the smell of fresh oregano and thyme from her herb garden makes her feel better. The sizzling sound of prosciutto on Sunday mornings
,
the sharp knocks of her knife against the cutting board
…
Her kitchen has always been her sanctuary. Now it only fills her stomach with fear.

The blond housewife looks around, trying to think of something to fix her children for breakfast. She opens the pantry and cupboards. Dust and doubt fill them.

Haley follows her in. She hesitantly peeks around the corner before entering her mom
’
s domain. The 15-year-old
’
s pink-streaked hair cranes back, spotting Tyler sitting up on the couch in the living room.

Her brother
’
s eyes squint in concern. Haley holds her hands up, signaling for him to stay put.

“
Mom?
”
Haley asks. She lays a questioning hand on her mother
’
s slumped shoulders.

Katherine looks over at her pale son, then back to the sparse cupboards. Her mind races.
Please, Devin. Tell me what to do
…

Haley leans in front of her
,
trying to make eye contact with her increasingly distant mom.
“
Talk to me,
”
the teen presses. Her voice wavers, growing more and more worried at the look on her mother
’
s face.
“
I
’
m not a child anymore. You can tell me what
’
s going on.
”

Katherine stares down at the countertop, unable to meet her daughter
’
s eyes.
“
I
’
d been putting off shopping because of all the crowds and price-gouging,
”
she says quietly.
“
Now the stores are all closed. They
’
ve either run out of food or don
’
t have anyone left to work.
”

“
What
’
re we gonna do?
”
Tyler asks, sneaking closer so he can hear the conversation.

Katherine leans forward and rests her arms on the dark granite surface. The stone
’
s icy touch spreads up her elbows, freezing the solutions from her mind.

There
’
s a broken uncertainty on her mother
’
s face that scares Haley to the core. Her mom has always been everything to them. With Dad gone for days at a time, her mom had to take on everything else. Cook. Maid. Teacher. Friend.

Now her mother just stands there, silent, drained of both answers and strength.

The teenager begins rummaging through the cupboards.
“
We
’
ll be okay, Ty,
”
she says, feigning cheerfulness for her brother.
“
Look, we can fix some Top Ramen for breakfast. Dad bought a huge box so he could take some to work. That
’
ll last us the whole week at least.
”
Haley tosses the small orange package to her brother.
“
You like those, right?
”

“
You can cook?
”
Tyler asks, surprised by the sudden helpfulness of his big sister. Uncertainty scowls from his face.

“
I took a term of home ec., thank you very much,
”
Haley defends. Her eyebrows lower as she imitates one of her mother
’
s scolding expressions.
“
Of course, I did it mainly to get my GPA back up, and there was this really hot guy
…
”
Her eyes drift up toward the ceiling.
“
Anyways, it doesn
’
t take a genius to boil water.
”
Haley smirks back at her brother.
“
Even you could do it.
”

“
T
hanks,
”
Tyler smiles. The subtle jokes and affection from his sister this week were hard to get used to at first. After years of condescension and fighting, Tyler had learned to just stay away from her. But not now.

“
Any time,
”
Haley adds. She winks at him, just like she used to when they were little.

“
Yummy,
”
Katherine mutters under her breath.

Haley glares back. She pulls a saucepan out with a clang, filling it with water.

Katherine looks up at the silent reprimand. The chastisement from her 15-year-old finally breaks through.
“
I
’
m sorry, Haley,
”
she says. Kat walks over to the range and turns it on for her daughter.

“
I know. I
’
m worried, too. But we can get through this,
”
Haley says.

There
’
s a new maturity in her eyes that amazes Katherine. She pushes a lock of her daughter
’
s pink-streaked hair back behind her ear.

“
Have you been able to get a
hold of Grandma?
”
Haley asks.

“
Not yet. Everything
’
s still down: phones, Internet, everything.
”

“
They always keep their deep-freeze packed. She could bring some food out from the farm,
”
Haley says. She pauses, not wanting to risk her mom
’
s improving mood by asking again.
“
Or we could go out there.
”

“
No!
”
Katherine shouts.
“
We need to stay here for your father. If he comes home
…
”
she stops, catching herself.
“
When. When he comes home. If we
’
re not here, he might
…
”
Her voice trails off again. She knows in her heart that Devin
’
s still out there
—
still on his way back to them. But her mind screams out with so many doubts.