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

his smile. She lowered her voice, glancing at the children. “Are you going to be okay with this?”

He sobered as well. “It doesn't seem like I have much choice. But yeah, in a way I think so. Gen deciding to come with me makes all the difference.”

She could see that. “Gorstrom tried to guilt me into bringing the kids and coming too. Although since I kind of just burned my bridges with her, I doubt the generous offer she gave me still stands. Even so . . .”

Nick must've heard the reluctance in her voice, because even though hope briefly flashed through his eyes at the prospect of not being separated from their kids, he immediately shook his head. “It's not fair for me to ask you to uproot your lives because of my mistakes.” He grimaced. “Besides, if they're willing to pull something this to get workers, that's all the more reason to thumb your nose at them.”

Ellie had to snort derisively at that. “I wish everyone else who volunteered felt the same.”

He blinked. “Really? Everyone who volunteered is still going? I would've figured watching their mayor and leaders get yoked into forced labor as a reward for what they did to help the town would've made some people have second thoughts.”

“You'd think so.” She shook her head. “A few changed their minds, but that loss was more than made up for by all the friends and family of the people who were arrested who decided to volunteer in order to stay with their loved ones.”

The door to the house abruptly flew open and Billy charged out to join the kids, who momentarily forgot about helping their dad pack and ran to meet him. Gen followed behind at a more sedate pace, giving Ellie a strained smile without much hope in it. “Any luck finding a way to stop Gorstrom?”

“I'm afraid not,” Ellie said heavily.

“Yeah, she doesn't seem like the type to let something as small as mass outrage stop her.” Gen looped an arm through Nick's and leaned against him, the gesture comfortable. “Bruce and Winn were thinking we should have a farewell dinner for everyone who has to go. A proper sendoff, at least.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” Ellie said. “Can I help you cook something?” She'd been so busy these last few days that she hadn't helped out with the group's chores nearly as much as she should've. If nothing else, she could at least help give Nick and Gen and Billy and the others a proper sendoff.

She wasn't the best cook, especially with what they had to work with these days, but Gen seemed to understand her thinking and nodded warmly. “That would be great. We were thinking of doing a casserole.”

Ellie nodded and followed her friend inside. “How are you holding up with all this?” she asked as they got to work in the kitchen. “You going to be okay with leaving?”

“I really think I will be,” Gen said, with more optimism than Ellie could muster. “I want to stay with him, and I don't want him to have to be alone out there.”

Ellie felt another surge of guilt. “Thank you,” she said. “For being there for him.”

Her friend patted her arm. “I'm glad you'll be here with Winn and Bruce. Please look after them for me.”

“I will.”

The conversation shifted to other things at that point, thankfully. Ellie had a feeling neither of them wanted to dwell on the current situation any more than they already had. Soon enough they were carrying their dishes outside, where everyone was gathering for the farewell dinner.

As parties went, this was one of the glummest Ellie had been to. While most of those Gorstrom was strong arming into going had been allowed to spend their remaining time before leaving with their loved ones, the group was were keenly missing Chet and Ben. As well as Chase, who as it turned out had been arrested for looting.

They'd only found out about his fate a little while ago, when Nick had gone with Aimee and Brant to visit the brothers. Their main purpose had been to arrange with the relief workers for Aimee and Brant to volunteer for whatever work could keep them near Chet and Ben, as well as stopping by to let the brothers know they hadn't been forgotten.

But during the visit they also spotted Chase in another cage, and the man had morosely explained his situation. Which apparently wasn't great, although not as dire as Chet and Ben's.

Ellie had a hard time sympathizing with him. Whether the man was a member of the group or not, as far as she was concerned he was one of the few legitimate arrests Gorstrom had made. Chase had never made any secret of how he'd hoped to get rich from scavenging valuables from houses, so he could live comfortably for the rest of his life once things got back to normal.

He was probably regretting being so frank about his activities right about now.

But whatever she might've felt about the man, his absence along with Chet's and Ben's was keenly felt, casting a pall over the dinner.

Because of the somber mood, Tallie seemed to have figured out that something was wrong, and her daddy wasn't just leaving for a while to do a job like mommy had used to before the virus. She became inconsolable, clinging to Nick and begging him not to go.

It had to be heartbreaking for him; Ellie certainly felt tears stinging her eyes at her daughter's sadness. She tried to intervene and smooth things over, but eventually just gave up and let Tallie spend those few hours being held by her daddy before he had to leave.

It wouldn't make their parting any less painful tomorrow, but at least they had this time together.

As for Ricky, he withdrew into himself more than she'd seen since he'd been forced to go into quarantine all by himself when first arriving in Stanberry. He didn't put up a fuss when