21 The Way Home Hurdles

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Mid morning only two reapers saw them off - Kendricks and Taylor, Kendricks had to and Taylor wanted to. John was ready to leave and he was sure the others were too. The night before George was reaping so she took the back bench seat to nap. Reggie sat beside him, quieter than her norm. They all noticed, but no one mentioned it. Joy sat behind him looking out the window. Grace took the seat behind Reggie looking out her own window. And it was quiet as a tomb.

Reggie after sleeping through the night and into the morning now seemed OK if subdued. She didn't offer to speak about what if anything she experienced in her brief brush with the Dark, and no one asked. Joy was still fuming and did her best to project her feelings toward George, who pretended she didn't notice. That meant an awkward situation in which no one mentioned what was on everyone's mind.

The road north of the bridge was fogged in forcing him to drive more cautiously. He hoped to get through this dense fog before George woke up and got any ideas about driving, which would seriously raise his stress levels. He imagined her driving at over a 100 mph in this fog and shuddered.

Reggie's head followed a highway sign as it passed by. "John, I thought we were going back up 505. Why are we on the 101?"

"I've heard so much about the wine country, I thought we could take a slight detour. Maybe stop for lunch soon and then on our way over to the 505 we can check out a few wineries."

She grinned broadly, the first smile since yesterday afternoon. She looked back between the seats probably checking for George, who if she was awake wasn't showing her head above the seat back.

Joy overheard and tore herself from the passing scenery. "You sure that's wise, John, not checking with the Great Hooded One?"

As long as George was asleep he didn't feel the need to counter Joy's comments usually intended to goad George. Reggie ignored her mother, too. Grace tended to stay on neutral ground.

Grace said, "I think it's a great idea. Do we have a map?"

John said, "No. But I hear tell they're everywhere. Can't be too hard to find."

From the back. "Pull over. Now, John, pull over."

"George? Why?" He slowed and moved to the side.

"Just do it."

John pulled the SUV to a stop on the side of the highway. He put his flashers on so no one would run into their rear following their lights in the fog. George asked Reggie for the map and she passed it back.

"What's the last point we passed that might be on here?"

"Just left Santa Rosa."

"Good. Let's get going. Take the next exit, whatever it is, and let's have lunch."

Joy started to say something. "I think…"

Whatever new sarcasm she had prepared for George was interrupted by George's phone. She answered it - no speaker.

"Yeah, Rube. Everyone is alive and well who is supposed to be alive and well. It was nice visiting with your old buddy, Taylor, but I'm sure he's relieved we're gone. Yeah. Yeah. San Francisco will be needing a few new reapers. OK. I plan to meet them at a restaurant just up ahead of our current position, which…is just past Santa Rosa." She waited listening to Rube. "How do I know? I was asleep. Thank you, Rube. That would not have occurred to me all on my own. Yeah, bye." She hung up. "John, let's go. Time's a bit tight." She looked the map over again. "John. Why are we on 101 and not 505?"

"Ahh, a little detour. We're planning to stop in at a winery or two."

"Rube was worried. He assumed we were on 505, which would have placed us too far away from what's coming."

He decided not to ask about that 'what's coming' and started taking the next exit.

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George was up and alert, and from that look in her eye she was zeroing in on her reap targets. Once she got the reap keys she could sense them from some distance. He didn't think either his sister or Reggie were picking up on that reaper aspect of her nature and decided to leave it unsaid, particularly in front of Joy.

George said, "Keep going. The one we want is down this road." He usually would gas up first and then choose a place to eat, but he could tell she had a higher priority. And he was right. She said, "That one. There. Let's eat there."

He pulled into the parking lot. He saw Reggie and Grace exchange glances. Joy frowned but was silent. Outside the SUV he let the others go inside the restaurant while he and George hung back. He noticed that Grace only glanced back once and didn't seem to mind being left out. Reggie understood and walked with her mother.

He waited. The air was heavy with moisture and the fog was so thick he was sure if he stood too long out here his coat would feel like he'd walk through a light rain. George turned to him and they started walking together, slowly, and said, "I'll pick them up inside here."

"What? They're not here now?" Another thought crossed his mind that worried him more. "Why are we going inside then?" If something was going down in this boring looking little establishment he hardly wanted to walk into the middle of it, even if they didn't have postits issued.

"No John. It's OK. They will die down the road no more than a mile or two. I'm going to tag them in here. It's probably going to be a big pile up and we will stay here till my part is done and then backtrack and find a way to head towards the 505."

"Backtrack?"

"Yes. Several deaths. The 101 heading north will likely be closed for hours after it happens. I'm picking several up here. The others are heading this way in cars and trucks as we speak. They will make their appointments and I will reap them on the freeway as they pass. Trust me. All will work out just fine."

"No other reapers?"

"None are needed."

He shrugged. "Ok then. Let's get something to eat." There were, or would be soon, several people inside this restaurant who would soon die. And he would see them, up close, knowing they were about to die. He didn't want to know more. An extended minivan pulled up next to their SUV.

Inside he and George sat down at a table already occupied by their three companions. Grace and Reggie had chosen seats on either side of Joy. George sat next to Grace and he next to Reggie. A large family walked in behind them and were being seated at a table next to theirs. Despite himself he watched for George to make a move on someone, anyone, but she focused on their table and their lunch.

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Grace could feel an acid eating at her. Well, it wasn't really an acid it was that deadly toxin called curiosity. She waited patiently through the main course. George insisted on desert and John backed her up. It was obvious they had to wait for something. She gave in and followed George's lead and after the deserts were delivered she asked, "George. What exactly is coming?" George had apple pie buried in extra cinnamon topped with vanilla ice cream. Grace couldn't follow her there so she just ordered the pie. Joy refused anything but watched George discreetly. John and Reggie split one order of George's pie a la mode cinnamon supreme.

John answered, "Please. Let's not go there."

Joy though helped change the topic. "So are we going to visit a few wineries?"

John again answered, "Absolutely. Soon, after we finish, we'll head back down the highway and then cross country towards 505. On the way we'll check out a few wineries. Joy, when you were in the restroom, we voted you as the designated driver."

She smiled. "Well thank you John. That's very thoughtful of you." He chuckled. "But I'm afraid I left my drivers license at home. And I've never driven a huge SUV like that one. We don't want to cross over do we? I mean the four of us."

Why couldn't she let this go? Reggie's Mom could be such a bitch. Just then George got up, all smiles, and started some bantering with the family at the next table. Grace froze. She glanced at John. His face looked pale. He got up and headed the restroom way.

George said, "He is so cute. How old is he?"

The older woman, probably the grandmother, said, "Little Jerry is three."

Little Jerry was an incredibly well behaved small boy. Grace hadn't been paying close attention but she did notice that none of the kids at the table misbehaved. There were three. Little Jerry had two older sisters, five and seven she guessed.

Grace got up and followed after John. Outside the restrooms, clearly marked his and hers, she stopped. She needed to talk to John now, and entered the mens. Inside he was leaning over a sink head down. Without looking up he said, "It's the next one."

"John." She had no idea what she wanted to say. "John. That whole family is going to die."

He closed his eyes. When he opened them he straightened up. "Stay in here. They were just about to leave."

"This is terrible."

"Grace." He closed his eyes again. She waited. "Grace. I want you to leave."

"Well, OK. I just wanted to talk."

"No, Grace. I want you to leave us."

She hadn't expected that. "John. It's a long walk back to Seattle."

"No. No. I mean. When we get back you need to leave. I'll give you whatever money you need, but I want you to leave Seattle."

"And why would you want that?"

"I want you to leave while you still can." She didn't know what to say and wasn't sure what he was intending. He continued, "Grace. It's too late for me, and Reggie, but you still have a chance. I want you to leave. Cut all ties with us and…" He was thinking out loud. That was obvious. "Move somewhere on the other side of the country. Maybe go to school. Whatever. It doesn't matter. But I want you to leave while there's still time."

"Do you think I'm in danger?"

"You still have a chance to live something close to a normal life. You need to get away from Seattle and what's happening, and…ignore all this…shit…pretend you know nothing. And live something like a normal life."

"What if I don't want a normal life? What if I like being close to…all this shit?"

He sighed and said, "Well, Grace, then it's already too late."

She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll consider it. But I can't decide today."

He smiled and they left together…to face Death at work. At least they didn't have to go down the road and see the actual pile up…the mangled bodies…the gore…the screams. As they got back to their seats they heard George say goodbye to the happy family. Fortunately Death was done with the first part and they wouldn't have to bear witness to the collecting on site. George waved again and sat back down to her desert. The ice cream had melted into the still warm pie. Grace took her seat across from John.

Joy, to Grace's surprise, said nothing.

George said, "You can take your time."

Joy frowned and asked, "I know I'm going to regret this, but were we in a hurry?"

George smiled and answered, "Not at all. There's no hurry."

Grace watched as George put the rest of her apple pie away, and then excused herself. "I need to get some fresh air." She leaned over closer to John. "I'll be back after business. Why don't you all wait here and relax?" She headed towards the door. "I won't be long."

Joy said after her, just loud enough for the table, "Don't hurry back."