Free The Homecoming: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 5 by Darrell Maloney Page A

somehow feel that it’s my responsibility to do so. But I want you by her side because she’ll probably need your support. I know she’ll be devastated by the news.”
         “Scott, there’s something you need to know…”
         “What?”
         But Linda had second thoughts. If Sara wanted Scott to know the true nature of her relationship with her parents, it was up to her to tell him. Not Linda.
         “Never mind. She’s still up. They just put the baby down for the night, and she and Jordan are relaxing out back. Would you like for me to get them now?”
         “Yes. Might as well get it over with. But before you do that, there’s something else.”
         “Something else? What?”
         “When I come home, I’m bringing my fiancé. She’s a wonderful woman. Her name is Becky, and she’s the nurse who saved my life after I got shot. She helped me get through my mourning for Joyce too, and somewhere down the line we managed to fall in love.”
         Linda was stunned, and a little bit hurt. She’d never quite given up on the possibility of her and Scott reconciling.
         But she took the high road.
         “I’m so happy for you, Scott. For both of you. I’ll tell the others after we deal with Sara’s situation.”
         “Thank you.”
         “No problem. I’ll go get her and Jordan.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    -14-
     
         “Sara, honey, how are you?”
         “Hi, Scott. I’m fine. How about yourself?”
         “I’m okay, sweetie. Is Jordan there with you?”
         “Yep. Right by my side.”
         As Sara was talking, Scott could hear Jordan in the background, saying, “Hi, Dad.”
         “Honey, I’m afraid I have some very bad news.”
         There was a brief pause on the other end. Then Sara came back and asked, “What is it, Scott?”
         “I went by your old house to see if your parents were still there. I’m terribly sorry. They didn’t make it. Neither of them. I’m so sorry.”
         There was a longer pause.
         While they were waiting for Sara to absorb his words, Scott looked at Becky. Both of them had tears in their eyes.
         Becky nodded toward her hand that Scott was holding, to show him he was squeezing it so tight it was turning blue.
         He let go immediately, then put his arm around her instead.
         Sara was on the radio again.
         “Scott, if you can still swing it, I’d still like to go by there. If you don’t mind coming to get me.”
         “I don’t mind, honey. But I have to warn you. They’ve been removed from the house. But the scene itself… well, it’s not a pretty sight, or a nice place to be. It’s no longer the place you called home and felt comfortable in. It’s a cold and dark and dreary place now.”
         “I understand. I just need to get some closure and say some things to my parents that I should have said a long time ago. And that’s probably the best place to do it.
         “Unless they were buried and I can visit their graves. But from hearing yours and John’s stories about body collection, I guess that’s not the case.”
         “No. I’m afraid not. Had I known they were there and were your parents I’d have done something special for them. Buried them myself someplace nice. But I didn’t know they were there, and I didn’t know they were your folks. I’m sorry.”
         “What can you tell me about the way their bodies were handled?”
         “We always make a point to treat the bodies with dignity and respect. Yes, they were burned together in the streets. But they were gently carried, by hand. And someone always said a prayer for them before they were burned.”
         “And the bones and ashes?”
         “Some of the crews gathered up the ashes with the bones and put them into storage drums, where they