Isolation , Jones, Nathan [top 20 books to read TXT] 📗

dozen yards and used the green logs to make crude dugouts, basically half-underground cabins with sod roofs. They were rough compared to even tents, but were much cooler in the summer heat.

Hopefully they'd be warmer in the winter too, although that seemed like an eternity away.

Val and Charlie looked up from the cooking area as Tallie ran up. The plan was for there to be a potluck tonight, with Nick's group and the new arrivals all preparing dishes, and the two had volunteered to whip up a big pot of chili made with chopped up jerky and canned beans and tomatoes.

Nick's own contribution was going to be digging up junk food from their stores, and mixing up powdered lemonade and fruit punch in a couple coolers. He'd volunteered to cook something as well, but after over a month of tasting his cooking when it was his turn to make meals, his friends had insisted he be in charge of picking out the dessert and drinks.

“Big day,” Val said, beaming down at Tallie as the girl came and peeked around her leg to see what she was doing. “You excited?”

“Yep!” Tallie shouted. She stood on her tiptoes to peer into the pot. “Can I help cook?”

The auburn-haired woman exchanged amused looks with Charlie. “I think we're pretty much done except for stirring,” she said.

Nick hastily spoke up before his daughter could offer to do that; he could almost imagine the potential disasters there. “How about you help me stir the lemonade and fruit punch, sweetie?”

“Okay!” Tallie ran over to where the coolers were waiting to be filled with water, with effort picking one up and bumbling her way across the yard to the pump.

Nick had shown her how to work the pump, although she wasn't quite strong enough to do it on her own. That didn't stop her from plopping the cooler down beneath the spigot, then running around to grab the handle and try to lift it up and down, grunting with effort.

Biting back a laugh, he hurried to catch up to her with the other cooler, pausing to take the lid off the one she'd carried. Then he helped her work the pump, cold clean water gushing out into the open container, until it was full.

Watching Tallie manhandle the big wooden spoon they used to stir the powdered drinks into the coolers was an endless source of amusement. Thankfully she didn't knock the coolers over, drop the spoon in or on the ground, or have any other mishaps.

Once the drinks were stirred he lugged them into the Norsons' cellar to stay cool, then hurried to wash up and change into clean clothes, helping Tallie do the same and thoroughly brushing her dark brown curls.

“Are we going to Mommy's wedding again, Daddy?” she asked as he helped her clip barrettes to hold her hair back behind her ears.

Nick couldn't help but laugh; he tried to make sure they both stayed clean and presentable, but the last time they'd gone to this much effort had been for Ellie's wedding. “Nope, but we're going to have a party with Mommy and Ricky and Gen and Billy and everyone, and we want to look nice when they get here.”

“Oh, okay.” She looked around. “Can I have your mirror to see if I look nice?”

He laughed again and dug around to find his shaving mirror. “I think you look adorable,” he said as he held it out for her to see.

She regarded herself solemnly for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction. “Yep.”

Once he was satisfied they were looking their best, he led the way into the Norsons' house to do a last inspection and deep cleaning. His group had moved out into their new dugouts days ago, and had cleaned the place up then, but even so he wanted to make sure it was looking its best for the hosts who'd done so much for them.

Nick might've gone overboard and lost track of time, because while he was in the middle of sweeping the front porch he heard voices coming from the direction of the street, and looked up to see a familiar group heading their way.

Breaking out into a grin, he waved and glanced over at Tallie, who was sitting on the lawn nearby plucking up blades of grass, making them into a nest for two round rocks she'd found that were vaguely egg-shaped. “Tallie, look!” he called, pointing at the approaching people.

His daughter looked up at the excitement in his voice, then hopped up and stood on her tiptoes to stare down the driveway. Then she gave a shriek of pure joy and rushed across the yard.

After only a few steps she suddenly paused, looking back at him with an expression like she was expecting him to call her back. Nick's grin widened and he motioned her on. “Go ahead, we're safe now,” he encouraged.

She turned away with another happy shout, just in time to see that Ellie had broken away from the group and was rushing towards her, arms outstretched. “Mommy!” the little girl yelled, little legs pumping as she bolted forward to meet her mom.

Ellie swept her up in her arms, laughing and crying at the same time. “My sweet baby,” she said, peppering Tallie's cheeks with kisses. “My sweet, sweet baby girl.”

Tallie clung to her as if she'd never let go. “I missed you so much Mommy. I thought I'd never get to hug you again.”

Nick felt tears prick his own eyes at the sight. His daughter had been through so much, but she'd come through it like a champion, and now things were finally on track to get back to normal.

The rest of the group arrived, starting with Ricky and Billy who jumped around Ellie, wanting to say hi to Tallie too. But the little girl clung to her mom's neck determinedly, although she looked down and shout-talked to her brother and friend. Hal's siblings hung back a few feet, but they had caught the excitement of the