Home Coming (The Survivalist Book 10) A. American (read after .txt) 📖

only because I had a truck that ran, but because the school didn’t want to let them go. But I got them out and we came home.”

Dad looked at me, “That old Suburban still runs?”

I nodded. “Oh yeah. That old Cummins runs just fine. She’s a little worse for the wear now, seen some hard days. But it runs, and we still use it.”

“The benefits of a diesel,” Danny added.

We talked for a while, filling in more of the blanks. Mom and Dad ate their fill, which was considerable for the two of them, and drank a gallon of tea. Mom commented on the tea and asked how we sweetened it. I told her how we got the sugar.

“I just can’t believe there’s help out there and nobody is getting it,” she said.

“People are getting it. We gave a lot out. We were giving out food and all manner of supplies at the park in Eustis when we were attacked once. A lot of people lost their lives that day,” I said.

Danny held up his hand, “And a lot were injured. That’s the day we lost Bobbie.”

Mom got a worried look on her face. “Is it safe here? We had some trouble back home, but nothing like what you’re talking about.”

“It is now,” I replied. “We’ve eliminated all the real trouble. After our last little mission, we now have enough firepower to fight off anyone. So yes, it’s safe here now.”

Mom looked out the kitchen window and saw Little Bit and kids playing in the yard. She stood up and walked to the door and stepped out on the porch. We all followed her and stood, watching them play. After a moment, Mom and Dad went out the screen door into the yard. The kids looked up. Naturally, Jace and Edie didn’t know who they were, and it took a moment for Little Bit to recognize them. But when she did, she screamed and ran towards them.

“Grandma! Poppee!” Mom knelt down and caught her as she crashed into them. She picked the little girl up in a tight hug.

“Look at you! You’re so tan and you’ve gotten so tall!” Mom said.

Hugging Mom’s neck, Little Bit replied, “I’ve missed you so much! Where were you?”

“We were at home, honey.”

Little Bit kissed her on the cheek, then leaned out and kissed Dad on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck as well. “Poppee!” She shouted. “I’m so happy you’re here!” She released him and leaned back, a look of surprise on her face, “I have a baby squirrel! His name is Ruckus! He fell out of a tree and daddy caught him in his hat. You want to see him?”

Dad tussled her hair and said, “I sure do. Are his eyes open yet?”

Wiggling to get set down, she took Dad’s hand. “No, they’re not. I have to feed him anyway; you can help.” She grabbed Mom by the hand and led them back up to the porch.

I sat down and watched them. Little Bit opened the box and took the little rodent out. She cupped it in her hands, then handed it to Dad, reminding him to be careful, he’s just a baby. I sat and watched them with a proud smile; it was as if nothing bad had ever happened. Like she’d just seen them last weekend and it was a normal thing for them to be here today. Such is the mind of a child, and I envied it. Mom and Dad sat down, Little Bit climbed up into Dad’s lap and sat there while she fed Ruckus.

The three talked, about the things a seven-year-old finds interesting, naturally. But it wasn’t about the conversation. It was about being there with her. Because while Little Bit acted the way she did, I could see it on Mom and Dad, the weight of the time lost. Of the uncertainty of ever seeing her again. Tears ran down Mom’s face as she ran her hand through Little Bit’s hair.

“Where are the other two?” I asked Mel.

“They took some stuff down to Fred’s. They should be back soon.”

Jace ran up to the edge of the porch and called to Little Bit, “Ashley, come play with us!”

She looked at Dad and asked, “Can you wipe his butt?”

He smiled and took Ruckus as she scampered down out of his lap and jumped from the top step into the yard. She was at a full run when she landed. Mel went over and took the squirrel and I sat down beside Mom and Dad.

“Who are these two?” Mom asked looking at the kids.

“They came here some months ago with their parents. But the parents were killed. We just barely managed to save the kids. Danny and Bobbie took them in.”

“Danny always did want kids,” Mom replied. “Sad that they lost Bobbie as well,” she added.

“It was sad for all of us,” Mel said.

Mom looked up at her. “I know it was and I’m so sorry.”

Mel looked out at the kids. They were back to the slip-n-slide and she said, “She’s still here though. We have to be grateful for what we have and not dwell on what we’ve lost.”

“Aint that the truth,” Dad said.

A noise in the house got our attention and Mel went inside. She returned quickly with Lee Ann and Taylor. When the girls saw their grandparents, they both started to cry and rushed over to them. The emotions started again as they were all a knot of hugs, muffled words and tears. I left them on the porch, to give them all some time. Mom and Dad were here now and there would plenty of time to spend with them. I wasn’t in a hurry.

As the afternoon turned into early evening, the house began to fill up. Everyone made their way to Danny’s in ones and twos. Crystal and Janet arrived with Mike and Ted. Dalton came in alone, as was usual. Fred and Aric showed up with Jess and Doc. The