CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“They’re on their way, although it may take some time,” smirked Eric.
“What do you mean?” asked Luke.
“Let’s just say the boys are having fun making it difficult for them to get through the roads. FEMA sent a message telling them if they did not show within twenty-four hours, the offices would be overtaken by federal agents and Pelican Insurance would officially have nothing except frozen assets.”
“I bet that made them move,” smirked Cam. “How many?”
“Three. Two men and a woman. It seems all their employees are dead,” frowned Eric.
“Then we make damn sure we keep the one we have alive. I checked with Cruz this morning. She’s still unconscious, still in critical condition but showing signs of improvement. At least her kidneys aren’t shutting down at this point.”
“We have no idea who she is?” asked Cam.
“Not yet. Fingerprints show nothing. Facial recognition software didn’t hit anything. All that tells us is that woman is squeaky clean. The boys did say that they found evidence of someone having copied things before they got there. If it was her, she signed her own death warrant.”
“Brave woman,” said Luke. “All the more reason to keep her alive. Are the cousins still standing guard?” Eric nodded.
“The cousins on the outside of the room. Rowe and Jethro trading off sleeping on the inside of the room in the recliner.”
“Those big bastards are going to have backaches for months after sleeping in that damn thing. See if we can get a spare bed in there,” said Cam.
“There’s no room, Cam,” said Hex. “She’s got so many wires and tubes coming from her we can’t inhibit the space around her for the comfort of our men.”
Luke didn’t like the answer but he understood, nodding with a grunt. When the room seemed to turn brighter, the men stared at the window thinking it was actual sunshine coming through. Instead, they found clouds and grayness once again. Turning, they saw the light.
“Grandpa. Grandma,” smiled Luke. “Is everything okay?”
“We’ve just done a final check, baby,” said Irene. “No more bodies to be found at this point, at least not in our area. Homes can be replaced and I know you’ll help these folks.”
“You can count on it, Mama Irene,” said Cam.
“We checked on the animals and they’re all doing well. Whatever Finley and Grant did out there, it was brilliant. The bridge held, the structures held, all of it. There were some fallen trees and branches, but the animals don’t seem to mind that,” said Matthew.
“Matthew, can you tell us if the young woman will survive?” asked Hex. “I know it’s a lot to ask of you but we need her to tell us what happened.”
“I expect that she will live,” said Matthew, “but she will never be the same again. Not for the reasons you believe. She will need to tell you.”
And just like that they were gone again.
“Is it just me or are their visits becoming shorter?” frowned Eric. Luke wanted to yell at his friend, tell him to shut up, but he knew he was right.
“I’ve noticed,” whispered Luke. “But if I admit that, I admit that time is growing shorter for all of us. What about our own fathers? Will they cross over like all the elders did? Will they become ghosts and be with us only a short while, or a long while? I don’t want to think about it.
I can’t think about it. Everything we are - everything we have is because of those men and women.
It doesn’t feel right that they be taken from us. ”
“Luke. Brother, we’re all getting older,” said Eric.
“Hell, the pond does an amazing job but hiding our age is becoming a full-time job. Dad and the others had to stop all VA benefits because their age was causing alarm. They’re now listed as dead in the system.
Can you imagine how that makes them feel? ”
Luke’s face went white and he stared at his friends. He had no idea they’d done that. No idea that they were all considered deceased according to the military now.
“I know it’s inevitable. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Hex chuckled, shaking his head.
“We’re privileged Luke. I don’t just mean to be here at Belle Fleur. To have the life we live. The wives we love. We are privileged to have been a witness to miracles we cannot explain. If I were to die tomorrow, I have no right to complain about the life I’ve been given. I won’t be that arrogant.”
Luke just stared at them and then nodded.
“You’re right. We live as we always have. One day at a time.”
“Perfect,” smiled Eric. “Now, let’s go speak with our friends at FEMA. We may have a present arriving for them soon.”
“I’m not sure they’ll see it as a present but I can assure you that others will.
Cam and I spoke with Grant. He’s hired an entire team to rebuilt the homes of those affected by the hurricane.
Unsavory contractors will be clawing at jobs, leaving people in worse shape than they are now,” said Hex. Cam nodded with a sly grin.
“Then let’s form a board. A sort of review board. Any contractor wanting to do work in the area has to be approved by Grant first, then backgrounds done by us. They’ll learn quickly to not fuck around with our people.”