December 24th 2020 9:30 AM

Bob POV

''Don't walk away from me while I'm talkin' to you!'' I tell Jeep.

Jeep walks out toward the gas pumps, but I'm right alongside him, not giving up.

''How long you gonna follow her around like a puppy dog? Cleaning up the messes she makes while she steps out with every guy around here other than you?!'' I ask.

I see Jeep stiffen and turn around.

''Don't say that about her! She's not like that!'' Jeep says to me. I give Jeep a hard stare and think 'Yes she is.'

''You really think she's gonna stick around here after that baby is born and off her hands?'' I ask my son as I know she won't.

Jeep shakes his head, as it burns him to know she won't stick around.

''Look I know it doesn't make any sense to you, but it's just something I have to do.'' Jeep says. I sigh and feel sorry for my son.

''See that up there?'' I ask my son, pointing at the sign. ''Your mother thought I was crazy for wanting to buy this place, middle of nowhere... But I just knew this was what I was supposed to do. Told your mom to just wait. Told her when they finally ran the freeway through here like they were plannin' on, this place would be like Grand Central Station.'' I say as I take a breath. ''But I was wrong. The freeway never came and now the only people who ever stop here are the ones who are lost. And your mom? Well she got tired of waitin'.'' I say.

''C'mon dad. You can't blame yourself for what she did-'' Jeep says.

''Yeah, I can. And I'm sayin' you're about to make the same damn mistake I made, believing in something that's never gonna happen...Or someone. It's time for you to move on from this place, Jeep. I don't wanna see you wake up one morning old and pissed off, realizing you're lost just like everybody else who stops here.'' I say.

Jeep looks up at me, my words hanging heavily. A tough pill to swallow.

''Now get to work on that truck. I wanna have these people on the road by nightfall. At least the suburban people on the road by nightfall.'' I say not admitting to liking the others as I could kinda see as family myself.

Jeep POV

I go to work on the U-Haul truck first but I see something is off in the distance. Dark clouds line the horizon to the south like a living wall. I shift my gaze up the highway to the north. Same thing. Dark clouds are pushing their way over the distant mountains. A storm is coming.

Evan Downey POV

I see a man, Bob I think his name is come into the diner, from talking to the mechanic I believe. He sees Kyle sitting at the counter, digging into a plate of banana pancakes. Kyle is about to address him again, when something else steals Bob's attention.

''Yeah, wait a minute.'' Bob says.

The tv has gone on the fritz again. Only now, the image is mostly snow. Bob climbs back on the chair and faces the tv.

''What's wrong with you today?'' Bob asks the tv before he whacks it. The image flickers but doesn't improve.

''I told you to get the satellite TV. But you don't wanna listen.'' the cook, Percy says.

''What the hell do I need that crap for?'' Bob asks.

''History channel man!'' Percy says.

''I got all the history I can take.'' Bob says.

''That's for sure.'' the waitress, Charlie says.

''What's your problem now?'' Bob asks.

''Where do I start?'' Charlie asks.

''You know, this was the top-of-the-line model when I bought it.'' Bob says.

''Yeah, in the 50s.'' Charlie says.

''You shouldn't be watching anyway. Okay, baby, this is gonna do it.'' Bob says and then he whacks the tv.

The picture snaps back into focus. Only it isn't the picture he wanted.

Hope Grace Constance POV

I see the tv screen has the graphic of the Emergency Broadcast System and I go pale. What has happened?

The tone echoes in the diner and I try to breathe normally as I am worried and panicking. Everyone turns at the tone and I see my family ready to do anything to keep me calm.

''See? Clear as day.'' Bob says while mom comes toward me.

''Everything's going to be okay Hope.'' mom says.

''Nice work Bob. What the hell's that?'' Percy asks at the me time mom tells me everything's going to be okay.

''It's just one of those test things.'' Bob says but the screen has ''this is not a test.'' Bob switches the channels. All the same.

''Don't look like a test.'' Charlie, the waitress says.