Through the Storm(49)

“Well, you did hit me.” The face of the woman showed fear, but with his shotgun across her lap, he didn’t want to challenge her too much. Neal casually brushed the side of his jacket. His pistol remained in place. “Who are you?”

“This house belongs to my family.” She lifted the shotgun with both hands. “Who are you?”

“Your house?” Neal rubbed the back of his head. Could this be the wrong place? He looked about and spotted pictures of Josh and his family. As he did, one photo in particular caught his attention. He looked back and forth between the woman and the picture. “Are you Claire?”

“How do you know my name?”

“Because I’m a friend of your dad. I’m Neal.”

She stood revealing a bulging belly. “Neal?” She stepped closer with the gun limp at her side. “Dad said you might be coming but … well, that was a week ago.”

Ginger snarled and she moved back. “I’ve always liked dogs, but this one might change my mind.”

“Calm down, Ginger.” Neal pulled the dog back toward him. “I’ve had to walk a lot to get here. Where’s Josh?”

“Tie up the dog and follow me.”

Claire handed Neal his shotgun and then led him up a dark stairwell to the master bedroom.

Sunlight from a window illuminated the room. Josh’s head rested on a pillow. The rest of him lay hidden under several blankets.

“Is he dead?” Neal asked.

“Not yet,” Josh mumbled. “Is that you, Neal? I can’t see so well.”

“Yes, it’s me.” Neal stepped to the side of the bed. “What happened to you? How can I help?”

No answer came from his friend.

Across from Neal, Claire drew close to the bed. She pulled up a chair, sat, and clutched her father’s hand. “He’s been drifting in and out of consciousness for a day now.”

“Is he dying?” Neal cringed as he asked the question with his friend on the bed before him. “How did he get hurt?”

“He’s never managed his diabetes well.”

“I knew he was diabetic, but why is it killing him?”

“I’m not sure of all the details. He’s a stubborn man and doesn’t talk much about his illnesses, especially the diabetes. I’m pretty sure that’s what is killing him … but … well, it’s more complicated than that.” She let out a deep breath and continued. “I came down to visit him from Everett last weekend. When the news of the sun storms broke, Dad encouraged me to stay just in case things got bad.” She sighed and shook her head. “Things sure did get bad. A couple of days later, I could tell he wasn’t well. I finally got him to admit that he had run out of insulin.” She stroked her father’s hand.”

“I’m sure we can get more.”

Josh shuddered, but his eyes remained closed.

“I’ve checked with the VA hospital. They’re doing triage of all patients and are saving the insulin for children and people less dependent on the drug—not old guys with type 1 diabetes and lung cancer.”

“Cancer?” The word hit Neal like a blow to the gut. “I didn’t know. I haven’t visited in years, but we’ve exchanged phone calls, emails, and Christmas cards.”

“I guess that’s not the kind of thing he wanted to say in a card, email, or call.”

Neal nodded. “I should have visited, but I’ve been busy … since Beth died.” Neal knew that wasn’t true. Since she had died, he had struggled to maintain connections with anyone, even his sons.

“Sometimes people drift apart, but I think Dad wanted to reconnect with you on this visit and say goodbye.”

After talking with Claire some more, Neal brought water and food to Ginger and returned to the bedroom. He pulled up a chair and continued the vigil over his dying friend.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Claire said in a soft voice.

“I’m sure Josh is glad you were here.” Recalling how she had spoken about her father’s illnesses, Neal asked, “Are you a doctor?”

“No, a nurse. Does it show?”

“You seem confident around illness, so yes, I guess it does.” Neal smiled at her and again noticed Claire’s bulging belly. Conversation had never been his strength and this one could turn into a minefield. She looks pregnant, but I’ve seen more than one guy assume that and the woman was just fat. How do I ask? And what about the father? Where is he? Is she even married? Things are so complicated nowadays. “Ah, you mentioned you live in Everett. Ah, are you … married?”

She grinned. “Yes, I’m married.” She rubbed her belly. “Dad would be very perturbed if I wasn’t.”

His eyes dropped to her belly. “So you’re … ah ….”

“Pregnant? Yes, that too. Twenty-one weeks.”

“So, where is your husband?”

“Rob? He’s a lieutenant on the USS Reagan. For the last few years, our home has been in Everett.”

“Where is he now?”

“Somewhere in the Indian Ocean.” Her voice trailed lower with each word and she turned her gaze to the window.

Neal knew what she was thinking. With technology around the world burned out by the sun, what would happen to a modern, computerized vessel? “They harden warships against EMP. He’ll come home.”