Part 10 (1/2)
”What do we do?”
”The only thing we can. This town is far enough removed. Very few outsiders come in. This thing is only going to take a few days. We do the only thing we can. Sit down right now, devise a story, and devise a plan. We have a chance at stopping this thing here and now. Stopping it from spreading. But we have to act fast,” Val said. ”We have no choice. We have to shut down. We have to seal the town.”
Chapter Seven.
Lincoln, Montana
December 16th
Andy wasn't gone all that long from Emma's, maybe a half an hour, but it was long enough for Del to get to the house after he saw Andy in town.
His car was parked in the driveway, angled as always to stop a car from pulling in next to him. Where did he think he was, at a mall?
Since Del was on his extended visit, he was always at the house. Andy didn't let it bother him too much, he just hung around Emma who avoided Del. Del was there for Richie or Heather. Seldom Cody. It was as if he refused to recognize Cody as a grandchild.
After parking his truck, Andy walked around to the back and lifted the bushel basket from the rear. He carried it with him up the driveway to the house and stepped inside.
Andy could have predicted what he'd see.
Del and Richie in the living room, the standard pizza box, empty soda cans tossed about as they played video games. They used a white board to communicate. After three weeks, Andy thought for sure Del would have learned to sign some.
He tapped Richie on the head to let him know he was there. ”I'm back; I'll be in the kitchen.” Andy signed. ”Hand me a slice?”
”Sure thing,” Richie replied and grabbed a piece of pizza for Andy.
Del paused in playing. ”Hey, nice basket of tomatoes.”
Richie signed, ”I thought you were dropping them off at Bonnie's diner.”
”I was,” Andy signed. ”But she was gone early tonight. They must not have been busy. You having fun?”
”Yeah, actually, I kinda like him more now.”
Andy laughed.
”Ok, enough,” Del said. ”I know you guys are talking about me.”
”N ... not every ... every th... thing is about you-you.”
”Re....re...really.”
Andy sighed.
From the kitchen Emma yelled, ”I heard that, Andy. You have my permission to deck him. It is my house.”
Andy ignored her typical statement and looked at Del. ”We .. we were t ... talking about you.” Andy stumbled over the 'R', then skipped it and said, ”He ... he ... likes being with ... with you.”
Del smiled, grabbed a pen and wrote down what Andy said. He showed it to Richie.
Richie nodded.
”Cool.” Del grinned. ”Let's hang out more. You can go continue to be errand boy for Emma, Andy, she's in the kitchen.”
Thinking 'he's such an a.s.shole' but not saying it, Andy went into the kitchen. He set the bushel on the floor. ”B ... B ... closed.”
”Really?” Emma asked. ”That's odd. She must have been dead in the diner tonight.” After a shrug, she thanked Andy and kissed him. ”I appreciate you going down there. We'll just take it tomorrow. Right now, prepping these tomatoes for canning is a b.i.t.c.h.”
”I ... t ... told you. N-not to start tonight.”
”I know. But now I won't be happy until we finish.” She peered over Cody's shoulder. ”Oh, honey, good job.”
Cody held a plastic knife, pretending to peel the tomato, but she smashed it more than anything.
Andy grabbed a paper towel. As he wiped the child's hands, the back door opened.
Stew walked in.
”Dad?” Emma said surprised. ”What the heck are you doing here at this hour?”
”I just finished my poker game and I remembered what I had to tell you this morning.”
”Really?” Emma asked. ”What's that?”
”The other ...” Stew paused. ”Why does the baby have a knife?”
”It's plastic and play. She's fine. We're canning.”
”At nine thirty at night?” Stew asked.
”I started and can't stop until I get a good grip on things. What do you have to tell me?”
”I was saying ...” Stew paused. ”Holy s.h.i.+t.” He walked to the bushel of tomatoes. ”Where in the h.e.l.l did all this come from? They're ripe.” He grabbed one and sniffed. ”Perfect. Where are you getting homegrown tomatoes in December?”
”Um ... the hole.” Emma said.
Andy explained further. ”She ... g ... g ... grew them.”