Last Survivors 04: Shade of the Moon

  “Thank you,” Jon said. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

  “Well, Virgil here don’t like to admit it, but we was young once, and poor as church mice,” she said. “We had our share of helping hands. Now, you stand still, both of you, and I’ll be right back.”

  “She’s a good woman,” Jon said. “You’re a lucky man.”

  “She has her good days,” Virgil said. “But she can’t bake potato bread worth a lick.”

  Jon smiled. “We won’t care,” he said. “Right now we’d be honored to eat as good as your hogs.”

  When Katie returned, she’d packed all the bread, two potatoes, and a bunch of carrots. “Take it all,” she said. “And Godspeed to you.”

  “Thank you,” Jon said. “Ruby, my wife, she thanks you, too.”

  “Just get out,” Virgil said. “And don’t show your face here again.”

  “Never,” Jon said. “I promise.”

  It was hard walking back to Ruby without eating any of the food, but he wanted to show her how much they had, to let her have the first bites before he allowed himself any.

  He thought about how brave she was, how much her strength had helped him. It was funny. He was with her day and night, but he’d lost any interest he had in her as a woman, if he’d ever had any. Someday, maybe, he’d be over Sarah, but by then Ruby would have found that hard-working man she’d make a life with.

  “Ruby!” he called as he saw her resting against a tree trunk. “I got us some food!”

  “Real food?” she cried. “Really, Mr. Jon?”

  “Well, the hogs won’t eat it,” Jon said. “But it’s good enough for us.”

  Monday, August 10

  “Do you know their address?” Ruby asked. “Or are we gonna wander around Coolidge the rest of our lives looking for that brother of yours?”

  “Forty-four fifty-two Route Thirty-seven East,” Jon said.

  “I don’t suppose you know where that is,” Ruby said.

  “No, I don’t,” Jon said. “But the streets are full of people. Let’s ask one and see if we can find out.”

  “Full of grubs,” Ruby said. “You know that’s what you want to call them. ‘People.’ You don’t think of them as people. They’re just dirty grubs like me.”

  The closer they’d gotten to Coolidge, the crabbier Ruby had become. Jon figured she was nervous about meeting his family. Nervous and hungry and exhausted.

  “People or grubs,” Jon said. “Let’s ask one.”

  Coolidge looked like a rural version of White Birch. The people who lived there had the same worn-out look to them. But it was close to 7 p.m., and they were getting home from their jobs.

  At that, the grubs looked better than he and Ruby did. They’d found a stream a few miles back and had washed themselves, but they’d been wearing the same clothes now for ten days and had only rinsed them out a couple of times during their journey.

  “You ask,” Ruby grumbled. “Use that claver charm of yours.”

  Jon found a man who looked a little less dead than the others. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’m looking for Route Thirty-seven East.”

  The man spat in the vicinity of Jon’s feet. “What for?” he asked.

  “I’ve got family there,” Jon said. “Can you tell me where it is?”

  “Yeah,” the man said. “But I don’t reckon I want to.” He walked away.

  “Okay,” Jon said to Ruby. “You go next.”

  Ruby scowled, but she walked over to a woman. “Thirty-seven East?” she said.

  “Walk to the corner and make a left,” the woman replied. “Go about a mile. You’ll see the sign for it there.”

  “Well, thank you, ma’am, very much,” Ruby said.

  “Any time,” the woman said, cracking what seemed to be a smile in Ruby’s direction.

  “How did you do that?” Jon asked as they began walking down the street.

  “Like knows like,” Ruby replied. “You still smell of claver.”

  Jon was pretty sure claver wasn’t what the grubs were smelling, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

  “How far down you think it’ll be?” Ruby asked. “That big number.”

  “We’ve made it this far, we can make it a little farther,” Jon said. “Come on, Ruby. Think how excited Gabe will be when he sees you.”

  “I don’t know, Mr. Jon,” Ruby said. “Maybe it’s not that good an idea, him seeing me.”

  “Ruby, please,” Jon said. “We’ve got to get there, and it’s going to be dark pretty soon. Matt will feed us, and we can clean up and get some sleep. All right?”

  “Don’t matter what I think,” she grumbled, but she began walking again.

  She’s shy, Jon thought. She’s scared of meeting people she thinks of as clavers. She lost everything—her home, her family—and now she’s meeting her new family; naturally she’s reluctant.

  But it still irritated him that she walked so slowly.

  Route Thirty-seven East was to the right. Jon started looking at house numbers, but they were only in the 2000s.

  “It’s miles from here,” Ruby said. “We’re never gonna get there.”

  “You know how many miles we’ve walked to get here?” Jon asked. “Close to two hundred. More probably, with all the detours we made to get food. So what if it’s another mile or two? Keep walking.”

  “And what if I don’t?” she said.

  “Fine,” Jon said. “Don’t. Stand here for the rest of your life. I don’t care. I’m finding forty-four fifty-two with or without you.”

  “You’d do that?” Ruby cried. “Leave me here, standing all alone, not knowing a soul? That ain’t honoring me.”

  Jon stared at her. The past few days they’d gotten along so well. Jon knew the rules and he obeyed them. Ruby lowered her guard in return. They’d talked about growing up, what their lives had been like before.

  But now she was the Ruby he’d forced out of Sexton. The Ruby who’d made it clear that she hated him. The Ruby he’d had to threaten with eternal damnation to make her listen to him.

  “Cut it out,” he said. “Go or stay. It’s your choice. But I’m not standing here one minute longer.” He turned away from her and began walking.

  He got a three-minute head start on her, but then she caught up with him. She was panting from exertion, and he stopped to let her catch her breath.

  “It’s not that much farther,” he said. “Look, there’s thirty-two hundred.”

  “I’m coming,” Ruby said. “But I ain’t talking.”

  “Fair enough,” Jon said.

  It took another twenty minutes before they reached the 4000s. By the time they got to the 4200s, they were in nearly deserted country. It took another ten minutes to reach the 4300s. By then the only houses were decrepit-looking trailers.

  “I like White Birch better,” Ruby said. “Kind of scary out here.”

  “You’re right,” Jon said. “Okay. Forty-four thirty-eight. Matt’s should be one or two houses down.”

  “What kind of people live like this?” Ruby asked. “All alone, no neighbors?”

  Jon thought about Ruby’s family’s apartment: six kids and three adults sharing four rooms. He understood that Matt and Syl got to live in their own home because Matt was a courier—not quite a grub, if not a claver.

  “That’s it,” Jon said, pointing to Matt’s home. “Come on, Ruby. We’re here.”

  Ruby held back. “Maybe you should go in first,” she said. “Give you folks a chance to say hello.”

  “You’re my folks, too,” Jon said, certain that if he left Ruby alone, she’d run away. “Let’s go.”

  He could see lights in the house, so he knew someone was home. His hand shook from exhaustion and nerves as he knocked on the door.

  “Who is it?” Syl yelled from inside.

  It had been three years since he’d heard her voice. For a moment he was fourteen again, and Syl was the girl who’d stolen his brother from him.

  He
took a deep breath. “Syl, it’s Jon,” he said. “Let me in.”

  Syl opened the door. She pointed a gun at him until she realized it really was Jon. Then she put the gun down and raced into his arms.

  “Jon!” she cried. “Come in. I don’t believe it. How did you get here? Is everything all right?”

  “Everything’s fine,” he said. “Syl, this is Ruby. We got married a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Married?” Syl asked. “Well, I guess Miranda was your age when she got married. Oh, what difference does it make? Come in. Hi, Ruby. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Wait. I’ve got to put the gun away.” She carried it out of the hallway and then escorted them to the living room. The furniture was shabby, and the house had a faint formaldehyde smell. But Jon saw one of Gabe’s trucks in the corner of the sofa, and he knew he was home.

  As though to prove it, Gabe walked slowly into the living room. “Syl, people are talking,” he said as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

  “Gabe, it’s me,” Jon said. “And Ruby.”

  It took a second, but then Gabe raced over to Jon. Jon picked him up and swung him around. “Oh, Gabe,” he said. “Gabe.” He kissed Gabe on his head and his cheeks and swung him around again.

  Gabe clawed his way down. “Who’s that?” he asked, pointing at Ruby.

  “You remember Ruby,” Jon said. “She was your . . .” He stopped before he said “grub.” “Your friend,” he said. “Remember? You played tag with her and she made your meals?”

  Gabe stared at her. “She’s not Ruby,” he said.

  “Don’t be silly,” Jon said. “Of course she is.”

  “No, Mr. Jon, actually I’m not,” Ruby said. “This little one never saw me before in his life. My name is Opal Grubb. Ruby’s my sister.”

  “Her twin,” Jon said, thinking back on the conversations he and Ruby had had. “The one your father couldn’t tell apart sometimes.”

  “I have no idea who you are or what’s going on,” Syl said, “but I think we’d all be better off having this conversation sitting down.”

  Jon held on to Gabe, who seemed more than happy to sit on his lap. Ruby— No, Opal took the chair opposite them. Syl sat with Jon.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Gabe asked. “Mommy said she’d come take care of me.”

  Jon had dreaded this moment for weeks. But he knew he had no choice. He held his little brother tightly, hoping Gabe could feel his love.

  “Gabe, do you remember how Val used to be in the house every single day?” he said gently. “And then one day she wasn’t there anymore? Do you remember what your mommy said when you asked her where Val was?”

  Gabe nodded. “She said Val was gone. Maybe she was dead. She’d never come back.”

  “That’s what dead means,” Jon said. “It means someone will never come back. Gabe, your mommy is dead.”

  “No,” Syl murmured. Jon nodded almost imperceptibly.

  “She wanted to come, Gabe,” Jon said. “Your mommy loved you so much. But sometimes things happen that can’t be helped.”

  “NO!” Gabe screamed. “I want my mommy!”

  “Gabe, I’m sorry,” Jon said, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

  Syl slid over and took Gabe from Jon. “Gabe, listen to me,” she said. “Do you know how long a week is?”

  Gabe shook his head.

  “A week is seven days,” Syl told him. “Remember yesterday when we were counting? Why don’t you count to seven, Gabe? Show Jon how smart you are. Use your fingers, and count to seven.”

  “One,” Gabe said, holding up a single finger. “Two. Three. Four. Six. Seven.”

  “Almost,” Syl said, lifting Gabe’s middle finger. “Five, then six, then seven. Seven’s a pretty big number, isn’t it?”

  Gabe nodded.

  “Two weeks is fourteen days,” Syl said. “See, I’m counting to seven, too.” She held up seven fingers. “Your seven fingers and my seven fingers, that’s how long you’ve been here, Gabe. Two weeks. Fourteen days.” She lifted Gabe’s hand to her mouth and kissed it, then let him relax his fingers.

  “They’ve been the hardest fourteen days of your life,” she said to Gabe. “And today is the worst day you’ve ever had, maybe the worst day you’ll ever have. Your mommy is gone, Gabe, and you must feel so sad and angry and scared.”

  Gabe began to cry.

  Syl held on to him tightly. “You should feel sad,” she said. “You won’t see your mommy again. And you should feel mad. Jon said that was Ruby and he was wrong. And maybe you’re a little mad at Mommy for not being here. But I don’t ever want you to feel scared. Matt and I love you so much, Gabe. You’ll always have a home with us. Jon loves you and Miranda and Alex love you. Jon?”

  “I love you, Gabe,” he said. “You’re my brother. I’ll always love you.”

  Syl stood up, still holding on to Gabe. “I think you should go back to bed, sweetie,” she said. “You can keep crying as long as you want, just as long as you remember how many people love you. All right?”

  Gabe nodded.

  Syl kissed him. “Who’s the best boy in the whole wide world?”

  “Me,” Gabe mumbled.

  “That’s right,” Syl said. “You’re the best boy in the whole wide world, and don’t you ever forget it.” She carried Gabe down the hall, and Jon could hear her singing a lullaby very softly.

  “You all right, Mr. Jon?” Opal asked.

  Jon wiped the tears off his cheeks. “We need to talk,” he said.

  “Talk,” she said. “I’m listening.”

  “Is Ruby all right?” he asked. “Where is she? Why the substitution?”

  “Ruby took my place, that’s all,” Opal replied.

  “And nobody there noticed?” Jon asked.

  “All I did for those folks was scrub their floors,” Opal said. “The only parts of me they ever saw was the top of my head and the top of my rear. Ruby and I tried it out the day before the cops found me. No one knew the difference.”

  “But you could have been sent to the mines,” Jon said. “You did that for Ruby?”

  “I’m the older,” she said. “And a whole lot tougher. Ruby couldn’t handle none of that. Guess if you really knowed her, you’d know that. Course if you really knowed her, you’d have knowed I ain’t her.”

  “She’ll be okay?” Jon asked.

  Opal nodded. “They’re nice folks,” she said. “Never hit me once. Course I know how to clean a lot better than Ruby. But she’ll learn. She’ll be okay.”

  “I’m glad,” Jon said. “I liked Ruby.”

  “You got something else to be glad about,” Opal said. “Can’t see how we’s married, given you thinking you was marrying Ruby.”

  Jon laughed. “You’re right,” he said. “I guess we’re not.”

  “Not what?” Syl asked, joining them.

  “Married,” Jon said. “Turns out we’re not.”

  “How’s the little one?” Opal asked.

  “He’s sleeping,” Syl replied. “It’ll hit him again tomorrow, but he’s all right for now.”

  “You were great with him,” Jon said.

  “He’s a great kid,” Syl said. “Spoiled rotten but really very sweet. Matt and I’ve tried so hard to have children. We feel like Gabe’s a blessing that fell into our laps.” She paused. “Matt wasn’t optimistic about Lisa’s chances, but we never thought she’d die. What happened, Jon?”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Miss Syl,” Opal said. “But could I have some water to drink?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Syl said. “Come into the kitchen. I’ll find you something to eat.”

  “That’s real kind of you, ma’am,” Opal said.

  “Call me Syl,” she said. “Now sit down and let me get you something. How about some potato bread? Things are a little tight around here since I can’t work anymore and we have Gabe to feed, but there’s still more than enough. Here, some carrots. Jon, the glasses are over there. We have running water, thank goodnes
s.” She sniffed. “You stink,” she said. “Your clothes are in your suitcase. Opal, you should fit in mine. If you don’t mind cold water, you can shower before you go to bed, and I’ll wash your clothes in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Syl,” Jon said, handing Opal one of the glasses and sipping some water from the other. “Where’s Matt?”

  “Working,” Syl said, putting the bread and vegetables on a plate, which she handed to Opal. “He left yesterday. He’ll be gone for a couple of weeks.”

  “I’m sorry I missed him,” Jon said.

  “Why don’t you stay?” Syl asked. “Opal can sleep in my room, and you can share Gabe’s.”

  Jon swallowed a bite of carrot. “It’s not a good idea,” he said. “A couple of days ago I told some people my name and where I was from. I didn’t say I was going to Coolidge, but they might figure it out. It’s too dangerous for all of us if I stay.”

  “Start from the beginning,” Syl said. “What happened to Lisa?”

  “She killed herself,” Jon said. “She left a note taking full responsibility for stealing Miranda’s baby from the Stocktons. It probably would have worked except I came home. And Ruby ran away.”

  “The cops picked me up, thinking I was Ruby,” Opal said. “And Mr. Jon here decided to rescue me.”

  “We got married,” Jon said. “Well, I thought we got married.”

  “We said our ‘I do’s,’” Opal said. “But we never did no consummating.”

  Syl shook her head. “I liked Lisa,” she said. “She was easier for me than Laura. Oh, Jon, I haven’t said how sorry I am about Laura. You’ve really had a rough time of it. How are you doing?”

  “I don’t know,” Jon said. “So much has happened. I don’t think I really understand it yet, that she’s gone.”

  “She was my teacher,” Opal said. “She was a good woman.”

  “I didn’t know you knew,” Jon said. “I never told Ruby.”

  “I can figure things out faster than her,” Opal replied. “Miss Syl, I swear these are the best carrots I ever had.”