R. Allinson - The Long Road Home

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The world has just found out that it’s going to end, with a huge unstoppable asteroid hurtling towards the planet. Claire is in Toronto with her two young sons. Her husband, Tom, is on the other side of the country and must find his way home in an increasingly chaotic landscape.
This is a parallel novella to
that follows Lucy’s sister and brother-in-law.
A short novel of 50,000, or approx. 220 pages Available in e-book and paperback.

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“They have internet here,” he said out loud.

“What?”

“I can message Claire. Hang on, I’ll be back in a bit.”

He couldn’t believe it had taken him so long to realise. He left Mike in the room and stepped out into the hallway, wondering where Eiko would be. He strode down to the reception area but it was empty, and the computer was password protected when he checked. He tapped his fingers on the desk, and then did a loop around the motel. He paused when he heard singing from one of the rooms.

Eiko, red-faced, answered the door when he knocked.

“Sorry to bother you, I just wanted to know if your internet is still working here. I lost my phone yesterday and I haven’t been able to contact my wife to let her know I’m okay.”

Eiko led him back down to reception and into a side-office. She typed in the password and left him in peace.

He checked to see if Claire was online, but there was no little green circle next to her name. He quickly wrote an email and sent it.

Claire,

Just a quick note to let you know I’m okay. We’re at a motel near Winnipeg for the night due to bad weather. We’re going to try and drive through, and get home as soon as possible. It’s been an insane couple of days and I can’t wait to tell you about it in person. I hope Mike’s sister was able to come over and let you know what happened with the plane. Don’t blame Mike, I don’t think it was his fault. Much.

We don’t have Mike’s phone anymore. Long story.

If you haven’t already, it would be a good idea to stock up on a tonne of food.

We’re planning on leaving here early in the morning. I’ll check my email again before I go, let me know how you are.

Much love, Tom.

P.S. Give the boys a big hug from me and tell them I’ll see them soon.

Email sent, Tom went back to the room and said goodnight to Mike. He was tired, and hadn’t slept properly since they found out about the asteroid. He comforted himself with the thought that the next time he slept in a bed, it would be his own, and his wife would be next to him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Claire

CLAIRE conducted her routine check of the news websites and social media as soon as she woke up. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or not, but the internet seemed slower. The news was still dire, once the pages finally loaded. The planet had not got a reprieve yet. She opened her email and gasped when she saw one from Tom. He’d sent it last night. She let out a small sigh of relief. He’d be home soon. She opened a map of Canada up in another browser to see how far he still had to come. It still looked like an awfully long way between Winnipeg and Toronto.

There was also a long email from her father, with a list of suggested items to survive the apocalypse. Claire scanned it. There were the things she’d already thought of like food, water, and power supplies, but others that hadn’t even occurred to her. Medical and hygiene supplies. She hadn’t even thought about tampons or pads when she and Lisa had gone shopping the other night. Gardening and maintenance tools. A satellite phone. Her focus had been on surviving the next few weeks, now her father was having her prepare for the next few years.

She rang Lisa and told her about the list.

“Where should we go?” Claire asked, looking out the window. It was a clear, cold day. Claire was glad it wasn’t snowing again.

“That little shopping complex by Dundas Street has one of those gardening/hardware chains — I can’t remember which one, and there’s a Shoppers Drug Mart there too. We should be able to get most stuff between those shops. Oh, and there’s that nursery across the street. They’d have tonnes of seeds, and I bet no one’s looted them yet!”

“Yeah. Onion seeds. I bet it’s the top of everyone’s list,” Claire half laughed. She wouldn’t be laughing if they actually survived and ended up eating onions grown from said onion seeds.

“Okay. Let’s go. Can Molly babysit again? I feel bad we keep dumping the boys on her.”

“Yah, she’s fine. I’d rather her stay home and be safe, than risk something nasty happen,” Lisa said.

“Okay. Yeah. Good point. Remind me to get her something special in case I forget.” Claire didn’t think she’d forget. Molly’s trembling shoulders and muffled sobs were too clear of a memory.

“It’d probably be easier if I just dropped Molly off at your place, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. See you soon. Bring lots of bags.”

_____

Lisa and Molly arrived not long after. Claire gave Molly a quick hug and told her to help herself to anything in the fridge or cupboard.

“There might even be some Tim Tams on the top shelf in the pantry. Don’t show Noah!” Claire winked and Molly brightened slightly.

She might not have been able to get any of her Canadian family to appreciate vegemite, but they all loved Tim Tams.

“We shouldn’t be too long, Molly. Call me if there are any problems. Lock the door after we leave,” Lisa told her daughter and gave her a quick hug and peck on the cheek. Claire gave Noah and Tristan each a quick kiss and told them she’d be back soon and to be good for Molly. Noah grinned happily up at his cousin. Tristan was too intent on ripping out the insides of his stuffed bear to pay any attention. Claire hovered for a second, wondering if she should take it off him, but stopped herself. He was having fun, and she didn’t know how much longer he had to have that chance.

Molly and Noah followed them back up the hallway and Claire heard the lock tumble into place as they closed the door behind them.

“Have you heard from Tom today?” Lisa asked as they climbed into Claire’s car.

“Yeah, I got an email from him. Well, he sent it last night. They were at a motel in Winnipeg. Or near Winnipeg. Something happened to Mike’s phone so they’re out of reach again, but they’re taking turns driving and should be back tomorrow.”

“Ah. Good. I guess. I was hoping he’d be back by now.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Me too,” Claire said as she reversed her car down the driveway. She looked both ways down the street. It was empty. She caught a glimpse of her next-door neighbour’s curtain’s twitching.

“What are all of the people who don’t have convenient country relatives going to do?” Claire wondered. She thought of her neighbour, Winnie. She was an older lady whose only son lived in Ottawa. Not exactly an escape. She didn’t know if they had other relatives.

Lisa shrugged. “I don’t know. Bunker down. If they’re smart, they’ll do what we did and stock up on enough food to last until this is over, one way or another.”

Claire bit her lip. “And before you even think about it, no we can’t help anyone else,” Lisa said, turning in her seat to look at Claire. Claire shook her head.

“I wasn’t thinking that. I was just feeling bad for my neighbour.”

“I know it would be nice to help other people, but we need to put our kids first, our family first. It might sound harsh, but it’s the truth, Claire.”

Claire sighed. “I know, you’re right. Maybe we can check on her before we go though.”

Lisa paused, and then nodded. “I’m sure she’d appreciate it. Just don’t go giving her all our food…”

_____

The two women arrived at the shopping complex. There were a few cars scattered around, but no movement. A memory of the last time she’d been here flashed through Claire’s mind. It had been a bright summer day, and the parking lot had been almost overflowing. They’d had to circle a couple of times before finding a place to park. Families, young couples, older couples, and tradesmen all purposefully going about their business. There had been a cheery group of older men and ladies running a hot dog sale, raising money for the local hospital. Tom had bought one. They’d bundled the boys into one of those overlarge shopping carts, and picked out some shrubs and a couple of fruit trees for the backyard. The future had seemed bright. It all seemed rather desolate now. The gloomy winter’s day didn’t help, nor did the garbage blowing across the mostly empty parking lot. Claire buried her hands deep in her coat pockets and snuggled down into her thick woollen scarf in an attempt to avoid some of the bitterly cold wind. The snow from the other day hadn’t been properly cleared, and Claire stayed close to Lisa’s side as they trudged through the slippery mess to the doors.

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