My head aches from lack of sleep and the stress of not hearing back from any of the guys. The feed store on the edge of town that Gigi has taken us to is full of people, even this early in the morning, but most of them are farmers and rural people. There’s tension, but none of the fighting and crazy that we saw on the drive here at the grocery stores and gas stations with mobs of people trying to push their way in. I’m glad we won’t be going to any of those places. I don’t think my nerves could take the chaos that’s happening in those stores right now.
I’m knocked out of my daze when Gigi pushes a case of canning jars at me and I get my head back in the game by putting it on the flatbed cart we have and adding two more cases while she grabs boxes of lids and seals. The cart is already almost filled with bags of soil, planter pots, a huge box with grow lights in it, and more seed packages than I thought there were vegetables you can grow. I keep scanning the shelves, looking for anything we might need. It helps keep the fear at bay for what’s to come if Gigi is right.
She painted a horrific picture of dark skies and no sunlight from volcanic ash if the pull of the moon’s new position causes eruptions. I try not to think about the fact that all these supplies won’t be nearly enough to survive long term if all that comes to pass.
I must look mystified when Gigi shoves rolls of cheesecloth at me. “It makes a good filter to keep the ash out of engine air intakes and ventilation systems," she says before I can even ask the question.
I just nod like I understand what she’s talking about. She mutters something about living in a commune with her first husband in Washington State when Mount St. Helens erupted. Man, I hope she writes her memoirs one day – that is a book I would read. I flinch when a large hand lands on my shoulder.
“Ladies, how are you holding up?”
I turn to see Gage’s grandfather behind us. He’s very tall like his grandson, and his steady presence has me turning right into his arms for a hug. I hold on like he’s a lifeline while his big hand gently pats me on the back.
“There, there, Luna. Everything will be okay. Just you wait and see.”
I swallow down my fear that nothing will be okay and ask, “Have you heard from Gage? He was flying back up north yesterday and I haven’t been able to reach him.”
His expression is grim as he shakes his head. “No. But you can be sure he’s already finding a way back here by now.”
My fingers tighten on the cart handle as he turns his focus to Gigi.
“Elenor, I’ve already been to the hardware store and purchased what we discussed. I also beat the rush to the card lock and bought all the fuel I could. Just going to get the animal feed here and I’m done with my list.” He looks over what we have on our cart with a nod. “I’ll get a second set of those grow lights,too. Why don’t you let me take those planters and soil bags as well as the light box with me so you don’t have to haul them in and out of your place? I have the horse trailer hitched up to my truck so I have plenty of room to take them. Oh, and don’t forget to get extra dog food for Penny.”
I look between the two of them in confusion and blurt out, “Are we moving out to your farm?”
Gigi shrugs one shoulder. “It’s a possibility. Nothing will be decided until hopefully the boys return, but if things break down here in town, we will take as much as we can out to Anders’ farm for safety and they can meet us there.”
My stomach lurches at the idea of abandoning my home, the last connection I have with my family, but I nod in understanding. It’s smart to have a place to go to if something happens here in town. I get to work helping transfer some of the heavier items over to Anders’ cart and with another pat on my back from him, we part ways. By the time we finish in the store, I’m pushing a second flatbed cart full of stuff to cram into the back of the Escalade.
My fingers are white-knuckled on the steering wheel as we drive home. My once calm, small city is a mess of car accidents, stores that are being looted, and people just losing their damn minds. I creep slowly between two different accidents that have the car’s owners screaming at each other. Gigi turns the volume of the radio up to hear it over the yelling outside our windows and I wish she would just shut it off as my blood pressure goes through the roof.
“…rescue of stranded people from roof tops of flooded coastal regions continues. Death toll estimates are in the millions. We may never realize the exact number of lives lost in this worldwide disaster.
In other news, strange reports have been cropping up of entire towns disappearing and of other unknown buildingsappearing where there were previously none. Along with that is the disturbing number of posts on social media channels showing regular people displaying otherworldly powers, strange animal sightings, and an extreme amount of violence. With communication and internet service being so unreliable right now, it’s very difficult to confirm the validity of these odd posts and reports that are getting through. Are these phenomena real? Or are they hoaxes from disturbed people capitalizing on the disasters that are affecting so many?
The Canadian government has not made a statement other than to say they are monitoring the situation and expect individual municipalities to render aid to their populations and coordinate with provincial governments for direction. The shelter-in-place alert that went out after the lunar event is still in effect, but is mostly being ignored as scared people rush to secure supplies. Looting and unrest are being reported in most major population centers, hampering first responders from…
I can’t take one more minute of the doom being reported so I hit the mute button on the steering wheel. Gigi and I sit in silence for the rest of the drive until we turn onto my street and spot someone standing in our driveway. He is pressed against the door, hands cupped around his face, trying to look through the small rectangular windows that run across the top of the overhead garage door.
“What does this fool think he’s doing?” Gigi mutters as we pull into the driveway.
I frown at the man who turns to look at us with a slightly guilty expression.
“It’s Mr. Tanner. He lives a few doors down. He was over here last night when I got back from Savemart, asking questions.” I turn away from his gaze and shoot Gigi a look. “Dad didn't much like him and he makes me nervous for some reason.”
She scowls at him through the window. “You should trust that, Peach. Always go with your gut, your instincts. They will never steer you wrong.” As she opens her car door, she tells me, “Don’t open the garage until he’s gone.”
She steps out and walks around to where he’s standing. I shut the car off and jump out to stand beside her just as she snaps at him.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing looking in our windows?”
He jerks back at her confrontational tone but quickly recovers and sticks out a hand that Gigi ignores.
“You must be Luna’s grandmother. She told me you would be staying here with her for a few days. I’m Phillip Tanner. I live two houses down.”
Gigi raises one perfectly sculpted brow. “Good for you. That doesn’t explain why you were peeping through our windows.”
He huffs in outrage and turns to me. “I was just checking on you. I know those men you moved in after your parents died aren’t here. I was concerned when you didn’t answer the door.”
