Last Light

  “Well, what do I do with the rest of it?”

  “You’ll need to start composting. If this outage goes on as long as they’re saying, you’ll need to plant crops for food, and you might as well start your compost now. Throw any old food in there, anything perishable. That will cut the garbage down even further. I showed Brad and Judith how to do it. That’s why they came to help me with mine. Come on out with me, hon, and I’ll show you what to do.”

  Kay followed her back through the house, and looked toward the laundry room. The girls needed her help. They’d have to get the clothes to the lake soon to rinse them out. She’d rather learn one thing at a time, but she couldn’t insult Eloise.

  Kay followed the frail woman out to the back of their yard, listening as Eloise told her how she needed to build a pen for the compost. She supposed she could get Doug to work on it. Then, when she got back from doing laundry, she would sift through the garbage for the stuff with compost potential. The thought made her sick. Sick of working, sick of dirt, sick of everything being so hard.

  What she really wanted to do was go get her hair done and sit for a manicure. She wanted to read Family Circle while a woman who didn’t speak English gave her a pedicure. She wanted to be behind the wheel of her Expedition, sipping on a Diet Coke and heading to a soccer game.

  Grow up, Kay. You’re as much a diva as Deni.

  She could do this. She could change.

  She called Logan over with the shovel, and Eloise marked out where the pile should be and told them how to get it started.

  By then, Deni and Beth were dragging the garbage can full of wet, soapy laundry out the back door. They weren’t happy campers.

  Kay thanked Eloise profusely, though she wasn’t sure she was grateful for the new work she had suggested. She walked her tired friend home, then hurried down to the lake to help the girls.

  If this went on as long as Doug thought, she would die. It would literally kill her.

  Lord, forgive me for being so spoiled. She’d never seen herself as superficial or materialistic before, but now she realized that real work wasn’t something she was that familiar with. Would she ever adjust?

  She couldn’t let the girls see her in such a negative state, because their whining was even worse than her own. Somehow, she had to let them think that she was up to the tasks. That they all were. Somehow, she would grit her teeth and act like she was strong.

  By the time they’d gotten back with the clothes and hung them on a line strung across the backyard, Deni was exhausted.

  Deni kicked off her wet, dirty shoes and went barefoot into the house. The kitchen floor was filthy because of all the sloshing water and the dirt tracked in, but there were more pressing things to do than mop. Her mother expected them to go sort through garbage now. “I’m sick of this. And I am not digging through that garbage. Let the boys do it.”

  “Would you rather be out there digging holes like your brothers?”

  “No. None of this is right. It’s all just incredibly stupid.”

  “Tell me about it. But you are going to sort through garbage. And then we have to go in and make supper.”

  “Supper? Mom, give me a break! Can’t we just have sandwiches?”

  Kay sighed. “You know we don’t have bread.”

  “I don’t want to stand over that hot grill out in ninety-degree heat. This is ridiculous. How much can a person cram into one day?”

  “So what do you suggest?” Kay asked.

  “We can eat Pop-Tarts.”

  “We’re out of Pop-Tarts.”

  “Then we could open cans and have cold beans or something.”

  Kay shook her head. “We need to do better than that, Deni. The men have worked hard.”

  “The men? What about us?”

  “Us, too. I’m starving. The family deserves a decent meal. If anyone had had time to go fishing today, we’d have some protein, but since they didn’t, we’ll have to boil some noodles.”

  “I’d rather starve.”

  Kay rolled her eyes. “Fine. Starve then. If you don’t help with dinner, you don’t eat.”

  Deni huffed and sighed, but she didn’t opt out of dinner. “All right! But just so you know, we have slavery laws in this country.”

  Kay set her hands on her hips and looked at her whining daughter. “You know what? I agree with you. It is hard. I’m not thrilled about working like a slave, either. But it’s not just you and me. Every-body in this family is exhausted. So all we can do is get over it.”

  When it was finally time for dinner, everyone came inside. The guys reeked of sweat, but they were too exhausted to clean up, and Kay didn’t have the heart—or the energy—to force the issue. They all sat at the table eating noodles, no one saying a word.

  Then came the tedious task of cleaning up.

  Sundown was a relief, marking the end of a day that had worn them all out. Kay had no trouble getting the kids to bed early. Even Jeff was glad to get some rest before he had to get up with the sun and do it all again.

  But Deni had other plans. “I’m going over to Chris’s to commiserate a little before I go to bed. I won’t be more than an hour.”

  Kay looked at Doug. “Do you think it’s all right?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so. It’s not completely dark yet. But, Deni, I want you back before dark.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “No way I’m making myself vulnerable to the crazies around here.”

  Doug got Jeff’s shotgun and handed it to her. “Take this with you, just in case. And be careful with it.”

  Kay didn’t like it. “Doug, do you really think she should go? I don’t like her carrying a loaded gun.”

  “Come on, Mom. Dad taught me how to use it.”

  “She can handle it,” Doug said.

  Kay didn’t protest further, but as Deni hurried out, she prayed silently that God would watch over her.

  forty-two

  Deni decided to leave her bike at home and walk the four blocks to Chris’s house. Neighbors loitered outside, their lawn chairs in the middle of the street. The sound of laughter and friendly chatter lilted on the breeze.

  It looked like a block party in Mayberry.

  She found Chris sitting in one of those circles, visiting with her neighbors.

  “Deni!” Chris sprang up as Deni approached. “I was thinking of coming over.”

  “Don’t have to. Here I am.” She looked around and spoke to each of the neighbors, most of whom she’d met at the lake.

  Chris took her hand and pulled her away. “My parents are driving me crazy. You won’t believe what I’ve had to do today.”

  “Couldn’t be worse than what I did,” Deni said. “First I helped push our Expedition four miles. Then I had to wash clothes by hand, then sort through garbage for recycling and composting. It was a lovely day.”

  Chris looked at Deni like she’d stolen her thunder. “Okay, that’s bad. Maybe yours was worse. But my dad made us all walk to the apple orchard we own five miles away and pick apples. We had to carry back huge bags of them. It took all day long. But I guess it was worth it. We’re hoping we can use them to trade for some of the things we need.”

  Deni longed for the taste of a Granny Smith on her tongue. Their food for the last couple of weeks had been tasteless and utilitarian. “Can I have one?”

  Chris shrugged. “Okay, come on in. But just one. They’re all the currency we’ve got.”

  Deni went in, and Chris gave her a small one. She bit in. Flavor exploded on her tongue, almost bringing tears to her eyes. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. No kidding. It’s like ambrosia.”

  “I know. And to think I only ate about one a month before.”

  They heard a cheer outside and went back to the open front door to see what the fuss was.

  A fluorescent green Volkswagen bug was rolling up the street, pulled by two horses.

  “Look at that!” Still holding the apple, Deni went back to the street. Neighbors we
re moving their chairs out of the way, laughing and high-fiving the driver through the windows.

  “Who is that?” Chris asked.

  Deni pushed through the crowd to get a better look. “Mark!”

  Mark Green held the horses’ reins through the hole where the windshield had been. “Hey, Deni! Chris! Hop in!”

  Deni ran around the car and got in. Chris piled in next to her.

  Deni felt like a beauty queen in a parade as the neighbors stood on the side of the road letting them pass. Mark laughed and waved like the conquering hero.

  “How did you do this?” Deni asked.

  “Just a little ingenuity, my friend.”

  Oh yeah, he was getting cocky. The attitude looked good on him.

  Deni looked out the window as they passed Vic’s house, and he came running out.

  “That’s my boy!” he shouted.

  Mark beamed with pride. “It worked, Dad! You were right.”

  Vic laughed and high-fived a neighbor.

  “Where’d you get the horses?” Sam Ellington asked as he ran along beside them.

  “Traded my motorcycle. The guy figured it would be a good deal when the lights come back on.” He lowered his voice and looked at Deni. “The guy’s a conspiracy theorist. He’d read the president’s letter, but didn’t believe it.”

  A few of the neighbors asked him if he could rig the horses up to their cars to get them home.

  “That’s just great,” Deni muttered. “Someone figures this out after we spent all morning pushing our car.”

  “This is gonna catch on big-time if the outage lasts,” Chris said.

  “Yeah, if people can get horses,” Deni said. “Hey, Mark, you could rent them out, make a fortune.”

  Chris leaned forward to look at him. “You wouldn’t trade one for a bushel of apples, would you?”

  He laughed. “I’m keeping these babies.”

  He reached his driveway and carefully guided the horses into his yard. The VW rolled behind them into the grass. Several of the neighbors were waiting when they got out of the car. They descended on him, examining his design, trying to determine if they could copy it.

  When Vic came up, he put his arm around Deni and whispered in her ear. “I’m almost finished building my wagon. It’ll be a nicer ride than this to Washington, if you’re game.”

  Mark heard that, and turned from the neighbor who was on the ground, looking at the changes he’d made to the car. “What did you say, Dad?”

  Vic just grinned. “Never mind.”

  Mark looked troubled, but he was polite as the neighbors questioned him. Finally, when they had all gone home, he turned back to Deni and Chris, then glanced at his dad. “How do you know each other?”

  Chris shrugged. “Your dad’s a trooper. He’s been letting us swim in his pool.”

  His eyes drifted up to his father. Something flashed between them. “Well, that’s nice. You should have told me. I’d have come over, too.”

  Mark’s mother came out to admire the vehicle, so Vic headed back home. It was clear there was bad blood between them.

  When everyone had left them alone, Mark unhooked the horses and led them into his fenced-in backyard. The horses began to graze in the tall grass. Mark unbridled them, then tossed the gear onto the patio table.

  “So, Deni, what was my dad saying about going to Washington?”

  Deni hesitated, but Chris nudged her. “Tell him.”

  Deni didn’t know if it was wise to share it with him, but she couldn’t see her way out now. “Your dad offered to take me to D.C. to be with my fiancé, when he leaves in a few days. I’m still thinking about it.”

  Mark chewed on the corner of his lip. “Did, huh?”

  “Yeah, but I can’t decide if I should or not.”

  “I’ve told her she needs to stay here,” Chris said.

  Mark’s lips tightened. “I agree with Chris. You don’t need to set out across the country with my dad or anyone else.”

  “But he says he has money and provisions. And he’s building something to take us there.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen what he’s building. It’ll work. But, Deni, it’s dangerous out there. You’re better off waiting here. If this guy you’re marrying has any sense, he’ll come for you. I would if I were him.”

  That surprised her. “Thank you, Mark. That’s really sweet.”

  A hint of red seeped into his cheeks. “Not trying to be sweet, just stating fact. If a man loves a woman, he wants to be with her no matter what. If he doesn’t come, you should dump him.”

  Her smile faded, and she shot Chris a look. “What did you do? Tell him to lecture me, too?”

  Chris’s eyes took on that pleading look again. “I didn’t have to tell anybody anything, Deni. It’s a no-brainer. You don’t need to go with Vic.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Deni promised. But the truth was, the more they tried to talk her out of it, the more she wanted to go.

  That night, as Deni lay on her bed, writing to Craig by the light of the candle, she counted up the days it might have taken for him to come. He could have been here days ago if he’d really wanted to get to her.

  She thought of Mark’s words tonight.

  If a man loves a woman, he wants to be with her no matter what. If he doesn’t come, you should dump him.

  Was Craig content with their separation? She didn’t want to think that, but why hadn’t he come? Wasn’t he worried about her plane crashing? Wouldn’t he move heaven and earth to make sure she was all right?

  Unless . . .

  Maybe he was injured, unable to get to her. He might have been in a car accident when the power suddenly failed. Maybe he’d been injured, and they couldn’t get an ambulance to him.

  Maybe he was sick, unable to get medical attention.

  Or maybe he’d been mugged for his bike on his way to her. He could be lying in a hospital calling out her name.

  Whatever the reason, it had to be big. And if he couldn’t get to her, then she should go to him. What if he was lying in a hospital bed and she never came? Maybe he was counting the days, praying for her arrival.

  She thought of Vic’s invitation again. He was building something to take them there. Something comfortable and creative, like Mark had done. Maybe going with him was the right thing to do. If she didn’t, the course of her future might be changed. She couldn’t take the chance of losing Craig forever.

  forty-three

  The next night, Brad brought the Brannings a real treat. Venison! He’d taken his boys deer hunting, and the outing had been productive. It was the first red meat they’d had in weeks, and everyone was grateful.

  But Deni saw the tension on her mother’s face as her dad invited the Caldwells to join them for dinner.

  Deni couldn’t help watching the interactions. The memory of Brad following her through the neighborhood the other night, hiding when she glanced back, kept running through her mind. And so many of the neighbors were suspicious of him. The stitches on his forehead were evidence of that.

  She wondered, for the thousandth time, if the neighbors were right about Brad.

  Kay and Judith cooked the venison on the Brannings’ barbecue pit. Then both families sat at the patio table in the Brannings’ backyard and feasted until they were full.

  Deni was quiet, silently devising her plan of escape while everyone laughed and talked. The children scattered into the yard, playing as the sun set and the breeze cooled things down. She and Jeff stayed with the adults, simply because there was no place else to go. The house was getting dark.

  Her father seemed more relaxed than she’d seen him in weeks. “I want to talk to you guys about something,” he said as he picked his teeth with a toothpick.

  “Go ahead.”

  “I was thinking of having church on Sunday.”

  Brad, who sat leaning back in his patio chair, looked at Doug like he was crazy. “Church? How you gonna do that?”

  “I was thinking of having it he
re in our house.”

  This interested Deni, because she knew that the Caldwells didn’t go to church. Most Sunday mornings as her family loaded up the car, they’d see Brad and his family out washing their cars or playing ball in the yard. What was her father thinking, bringing this idea up to them?

  Brad laughed. “Who’s gonna preach? You?”