Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Understood. Three clicks. After fifteen minutes. I’ll let Edgars know our plan.” Burroughs slipped away and Rice and two men nearby followed at his hand signals.

Mickey studied the area along with Captain Daubney. As a final word on the matter, Mickey turned to Captain Daubney. “You think it could be them, sir?”

“I dunno, let’s put it at maybe twenty percent.”

“Okay.”

“First, let’s see what we got.”

“Mom?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you come to the back building for a sec?”

“For?”

“I wanna show you somethin’.”

“Now, Liam?”

“Yeah, you’ve had your toast and sausage already, right?”

“Hmm, what you got going on? What’s up your sleeve?”

“Nothin”. Just come and see.”

“Did you finish that fancy new recurve bow you and Kev keep workin’ on?”

“No. Still working on it.”

Terry snagged her clay mug filled with chamomile tea off the kitchen table and stood. Absently, she wiped the watermark from the rough-hewn table. Smiling, she smoothed the wrinkles of her white terry-cloth robe and followed Liam onto the deck. Excited, but trying to remain calm, Liam waited. Terry purposefully stopped to study him with a hand on her hip. To her left and off the deck, she spotted Shannon, waiting patiently at the fire pit.

“I see. So you’re both up early. Hmmm. This gets more intriguing by the moment.”

“C’mon, mom!” Liam gently took her free hand, pulling her down the steps. The gentle touch heightened Terry’s awareness. Something was happening, though she was at a loss for what was going on.

“Is everything okay, Liam?”

“Yeah, mom. C’mon.”

“Okay.”

“Hi, Sweetie.”

“Hi Mommy.”

“What’s Liam got that he wants me to see?”

“I ain’t tellin’—Liam made me promise.”

“Is that right?”

“Yep.”

“C’mon, Mom. Quit trying to ruin the surprise. Follow me.” Liam led both Terry and Shannon to the large double doors of the back building. The heavy combination lock rested open in the clasp and the door was slightly askew. In the early dawn, there were several candles already lit inside the large, two-story building. With minimum motion, Liam swung the door open and they walked inside.

“Hey there,” said Margo Haskins. Her bright eyes and beautiful face reflected the light from the candles near the main worktable. Margo was expecting their arrival.

“You’re up early too ?” asked Terry, “What gives?” Perplexed, she surveyed the interior of the spacious barn-like structure searching for answers. Margo was not known for rising before nine o’clock on any given day; today was indeed a rarity. The fact that it was six-thirty gave Terry pause. Something was definitely happening.

“Yep, its Liam’s big unveiling. Ahh, and Shannon’s too.”

“Unveiling?”

“Yeah!” Shannon jumped with excitement near Liam. Terry studied her movements.

“What is going on here?”

“It’s a surprise, Mom,” said Liam. He guided her to the back end of the huge worktable, last used to prep grain and repair a solar panel.

“Margo?” asked Terry. Her inquiry was mostly ignored.

“Liam’s show, ma’am.”

“This is strange.”

“Not really, ma’am.”

Liam went to a closed shelving unit and opened the large plywood doors. Reaching inside, he pulled out a large box, carrying it with some effort to the table. Beaming with obvious pride, he sat the box on the table. He motioned for his mother to open it.

“What’s this?”

“Open it,” said Liam.

“Yeah, Mommy, open it.”

“Margo?”

“Ma’am?”

Terry stood before the box with hesitation. For the life of her, she found it difficult to figure out what was going on. Granted, she knew she was in a bit of a fog after spending half the night wrapped in Andy’s passionate embrace. Or, perhaps she was simply overly tired from the past few days. Indeed, planning for a double wedding scheduled to take place in less than two weeks was taking its toll.

“What’re you children up to?”

“Open it, mom.”

Terry stalled and studied Margo, sensing the pleasure the young woman was taking in the moment. Terry mentally ran through the skillsets Margo brought to the clan. She was an excellent homeopathic healer, well-educated, and extensively trained in martial arts. She was adept with any firearm. But, she was most recognized for her incredible seamstress abilities.

“You make something for the wedding?” asked Terry. She began to have her suspicions. Until, it all came as a rush of the obvious. Kicking herself mentally, she wondered how she’d missed the signs.

“Open the box, ma’am.”

Terry opened the box and a beautiful, thick black fur caught the candlelight with ease.

“Oh, it’s the bear coat, for Mac,” she said mostly to herself. Moving slowly, she lifted the full-length coat from the box, unfolding it in a gentle cascade before her. Her first thought was how smooth and supple the fur was to caress. Her second was how well tailored it was with a nice black cloth stitched inside to maximize wearing comfort. She touched the soft, three-inch cuffs formed at the sleeves.

“It’s heavy,” she said, “My, it’s heavy.”

“Wouldn’t be heavy for daddy,” said Shannon.

“Yeah, not for dad.”

Terry glanced at her children. She stole a quick glance at Margo, before the oncoming wave of pain and loss washed over her. Her knees buckled for a second.

“Oh,” said Terry. Tears welled up to the point that she could no longer see. She ran her sleeve across her eyes.

“Don’t you like it, mommy?” asked Shannon.

“No, honey, I do. It’s probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s for dad.”

“Yeah, I know, Liam… I know.” Terry cried softly, touching the coat. She held the sleeve to her lips, sniffing.

Liam came around the worktable to stand beside her, picking up the coat by the wide collar. Reverently, he stroked the soft fur. He was amazed at the soft texture that Andy’s fur preparation expertise and Margo’s seamstress abilities had created. He decided to thank Andy and Margo again for the patient efforts and preparation taken with the bear fur during the past month. A small pang of remorse surfaced when he thought of a few impatient, snide comments.

“Thank you, Miss Margo.”

“You’re welcome, Liam.”

All stared at the coat. Liam turned to Margo.

“Can we maybe talk to my mom in private, now?”

“Of course.”

“It’s a good coat, ma’am.”

“Yes, umm… thank you, Margo. It’s beautiful.”

Margo left with a small smile, but not before giving Shannon a quick hug. Exiting the door, she closed it most of the way.

“You like it, Mom?”

“It’s gorgeous. So soft.”

Liam waved Shannon to the other side of their mother. She wrapped her arms around the white robe. Liam cleared his throat.

“He’s my dad. He’s Shannon’s dad, too, mom. I know you know that, but I can’t not think he’s coming back—I just can’t. Not yet. Not ever.”

“Ahh,” said Terry.

“Don’t get me wrong, Mom, Uncle Andy’s great. The best . And if… but, I…”

“Oh, sweetie… it’s okay.”

“He’s coming back… that’s what he said… he promised.”

Liam choked on the last words, staring at the innocence in the eyes of his sister. Tears streamed hard, as he softly stroked the coat. Anxious and confused, Shannon stared at Liam and up into her mother’s eyes.

“Mommy? Why’s everyone crying? Liam? I thought we were going to make mommy happy.”