Jacqueline Druga-Marchetti - Dust

“Then when? When was I supposed to go?” Tanner asked.

Slowly, I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“And I’m flattered,” Tanner said. “Thank you for caring.”

“I’ll… I’ll walk you out.”

“Good.” Laying his hand on my back as a guide, we both looked at each other when we heard the excited cheers coming from the garage. Curious, we hurried that way.

Everyone applauded Craig. And as if he were accepting an award, he nodded to each person, with a look of pride upon his face.

“Look, Jo!” Nicky said excited. “Craig’s invention works.”

Geiger counter in one hand, Craig lifted a metal rod. “Now we can test, food, water, dirt, all for radiation it works.”

Tanner asked, “You made that?”

“Put it together myself,” Craig boasted. “What do you think?”

“I think that is awesome. Good job.” Tanner shook his head. “Do you want me to pick one up at the station, that way we have a back up for the one you made?”

Craig looked down at his invention. “You guys have these?”

“Yes.” Tanner answered.

“Great. Thanks. You could have told me earlier.” Craig turned and stormed out, murmuring, ‘asshole’.

Tanner lifted his hands in defeat. “I didn’t know he was building one.”

Simon tugged on Tanner’s pant leg. “Are you leaving, Tanner Niles?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving little man.” Tanner bent down and lifted Simon. “Do me a favor. You rest. OK? Listen to Davy.” After a kiss to Simon’s forehead, Tanner set him down, and turned to Matty. He crouched before her. “We’ll finish that story when I get to the cabin.”

“Don’t be too long,” she said.

“I won’t.” Standing, Tanner faced Davy. He laid a hand on his shoulder. “Take care of your mom, OK?”

Davy gave a closed mouth smile and a nod.

Extending a handshake, Tanner faced Burke. “You’ve been great. Keep that arm splinted. Got that.”

Burke grumbled. “Right.” He shook Tanner’s hand. “Thank you for everything. Even though…”

Sounds we hadn’t heard in forever caught our attention. A motor and a squeal of breaks.

Burke’s head cocked. “Was that a car?”

“Sounds like a jeep.” Tanner said. “Let’s check it…”

“Guys!” Craig, out of breath, stood outside the garage door. “You’re not gonna believe this. You are not gonna believe who it is.”

Everyone rushed out.

I whispered a hopeful, ‘Mona’ and followed the crew. Turning the bend to the driveway, I saw it wasn’t Mona. But the presence of him walking down the driveway overwhelmed me nonetheless. My knees buckled, my heart raced and I plowed through everyone to get to him. Tammy’s son Mick had arrived.

Mick was thinner, but otherwise, surprisingly he looked good. He looked very good. He wore camouflage gear and a military cap. I rushed to him and didn’t give the teenage boy a chance to respond, I grabbed him and hugged him.

“Oh, my God. You’re alive. You’re alive.”

“I’m strangling,” Mick grunted.

“Give the boy air.” Burke pulled me back.

My hand shot to my mouth, and I tried to catch my breath. “We thought you were dead.”

“Why would you think that?” he asked.

“We couldn’t find you.”

“I would have been here sooner, but they…” He pointed behind him. “Got hold of me.”

Two soldiers approached. Immediately upon spotting Tanner, they stopped, saluted and acknowledged him as ‘Captain.’

After getting an ‘at ease’ nod from Tanner, the one soldier spoke, “We nabbed him right away. Luckily too. We were on our way to the compound shelter for the cloud, when we spotted him walking.”

“It was two weeks,” Mick said. “Jo, you always said wait two weeks. I waited what I thought was two weeks. I was in the subway tunnel. Me and six others. But they only grabbed me.” Mick shrugged. “The military tortured me.” He pulled off his hat. “Shaved my head. I wasn’t even sick or losing my hair, they shaved my head. And…” He rolled up his sleeve. “They tattooed me one night.”

“You loved it.” The one soldier joked. “You know it.”

Mick smiled. “Yeah, I did.” He looked at me. “Hey, Jo. Where’s my mom?”

Silence. I should have expected that question.

“Jo?” Mick looked about the faces that welcomed him. “My mom’s not here is she?”

I slowly shook my head. “I’m sorry Mick.”

Mick puckered his lips and nodded. “Do you know how? Was she killed in the blast? Did she ever make it here?”

“Yes.” I answered apprehensively. “She made it. But she got sick. She got really sick. See, she looked and looked for you.”

“Why?” Mick asked with desperation. “Why did she look for me? Didn’t we say two weeks? Didn’t she think I listened? Would she have lived if she didn’t look for me?”

Quickly, Tanner interjected. “No, son. You’re mom had burns and cuts that were affected by the blast. She wouldn’t have lived if she stayed indoors. So she looked for you. I’m glad you’re all right.”

Davy spoke up, “And just in time too. Dude, we’re leaving for the cabin tomorrow.”

“Speaking of leaving.” Tanner looked at his watch then to the soldiers. “Gentlemen. Is there a military left? Have you heard anything?”

The other soldier answered, “Sir, we don’t believe there’s much of one. We were told to go to the hub, which is the rescue station. They don’t think everyone is gonna show. Barricades are down. Things are dead out here. There is talk of restructuring, but when that will happen…” he lifted his shoulders. “Who knows.”

“But we’re to meet at the hub?” Tanner asked and received a nod. “OK, then let’s go. Can I get a lift?”

“Yes, sir.” The first soldier answered. “Jeep’s this way.”

Tanner exhaled and faced our group. “This is where I go. Thank you for having me.” He edged from the circle. “I’ll be seeing you guys in a short while.” Adjusting his duffle bag, he lifted his hand in a wave and backed up with the soldiers.

What? Wait? My mind cried out. He was just leaving? Like that? Arms folded tight to my body, I couldn’t help but watch. My eyes glued to Tanner. I wanted to call to him, tell him to hold on, I wanted to say goodbye. But I said nothing.

Just about at the jeep, Tanner handed his bag to the one soldier and walked back down to us. His eyes locked on me, as he reached out for my arm. “Jo, can I pull you away for a second?”

“Um… sure,” I replied, lost for anything else to say.

Holding my arm, Tanner led me up the driveway. Far enough away from a good earshot of the group, he stopped and turned me to face him.

“Jo,” he spoke in a near whisper. “I’m sorry for pulling you away. But, I wanted to say goodbye to you alone. Don’t ask me why. But I wanted it to be private.”

I looked over my shoulder to everyone who watched. “Tanner? There’s eight people over there.”

He chuckled. “It’s still more private then saying it in front of them.” His hands gripped my shoulders, and he appeared apprehensive, maybe even nervous.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing. I just want to thank you for everything. You know, just… thank you. I won’t say how, or what, but know you did a lot for me. More than you realize.”

“Tanner?” I peered at him with question.

Shaking his head, Tanner smiled. “Don’t ask. And also know, there’s nothing in this world that is going to stop me from joining you guys at that cabin. I have directions. I’ll find it. So, it’s not a matter of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘when’. OK?”

“Ok.”

Tanner exhaled. “Ok. So, with that being said…” Another nervous exhale, and Tanner slid his hands upward. Cupping my face gently between the palms of his hands, Tanner leaned forward and kissed me.