It was over.
Epilogue
Austin, Texas
The hot September air ruffled Minji’s bangs and played with the dreads she had pulled into a high ponytail. The purple was gone from her hair, and blue had taken its place. Ava had picked the color. Dressed in a summer dress with white skulls printed on a black background, Minji watched her daughters bounding around the shaded backyard with their new pet. Jake had finally capitulated to their demands for a dog and had selected one of the many orphaned pets from the Austin Animal Center. The tall pecan trees kept the worst of the bright sunlight at bay, but Minji wore her cat-eyed sunglasses. She’d been light sensitive since the night she’d peered into another world.
On the patio Jake expertly grilled fajitas while keeping an eye on the kids. He still wore a leg cast and was struggling to regain his strength.
The cellphone in her hand buzzed again and Minji checked the latest text message from her mother. It was a subtle hint for a grandson. Her mother was determined to live life to the fullest now that she’d barely escaped death. Part of that plan was to have Minji produce another grandchild, preferably a boy.
Both of Minji’s parents had survived, though they had been severely dehydrated when they awakened and spent a few days in a medical rescue center. Lily had forced her husband to pull off the road and open the windows just before the event had struck. The Nordims’ plane had performed an emergency landing and the Swedish couple had endured their time as mesmerized strapped to airport chairs. Sadly, Jake’s sister was among the missing in Sweden, while Minji’s brother had nearly lost his life when he’d fallen down a flight of stairs. He was still in the hospital. Nearly a third of Minji’s clients were either dead or on the list of the missing. Lady Bird Lake and Lake Travis had been filled with the dead and were still off-limits. Every day, boats dredged the murky waters seeking more victims.
Jesse’s family had lost half its members and his girlfriend was listed among the missing in Mexico. He was busy helping with recovery efforts in Las Vegas and it was helping him cope with his losses.
Simone’s family also survived. Her oldest son had been immune and taken care of the rest of his family. It was weeks before Simone made it home due to the massive damage to the country’s infrastructure. She’d stayed with Minji and Jake in Austin before Alec had been able to wrangle a ride for her on a military transport.
Arthur Freestone was listed as one of the missing though his wife and children survived. After seeing Arthur’s call into the network, a policewoman had located his family and helped them to a safe place before the event had reached the area. Arthur’s death weighed on Minji, but at least he had managed to save his family.
Out of all the people she’d spent those strange, horrible hours with, it was Alec that Minji felt closest to. In retrospect, she suspected he’d lied to her more than she wanted to admit at the time and he’d never told her anything about his personal life. They never had a chance to really talk about what they’d seen for Alec had been whisked away by the military within hours after the end of the event.
Later, when she’d been questioned by the authorities, she stuck to the story he’d instructed her to tell and never deviated. He called her a few times, but their conversations were always guarded. When he’d called to tell her he wanted to drop by and see her for a short visit while on his way to San Antonio, she’d been both excited and apprehensive.
“Ava, be careful with the dog!” Jake called out, waving his tongs. The hot breeze sifted through the long blond hair that she loved so much.
The doorbell pulled Minji’s attention away from her phone and she set it next to the glass of cold sweet tea on the patio table.
“That’ll be him,” she said, and pushed up onto her toes to give her husband a kiss.
“Ask him to stay,” Jake urged. “It’ll be nice to have another guy in this estrogen filled house. Even the dog is a girl!”
With a smirk, Minji pulled open the back door. “Boo hoo! But I’ll try.”
The refreshing air conditioned air dried the sweat beading her tattooed shoulders as she walked through the single story house to the front door. The Nordims lived on the east side of Austin in an older home that Jake was slowly refurbishing. Decorated with Minji’s original artwork and a mix of antique and Ikea furniture, it was a home Minji loved, but it no longer felt safe. But then again, she didn’t feel safe anywhere anymore.
Opening the bright red front door, Minji smiled at Alec.
“Long time no see, man of mystery.”
“Not so mysterious,” Alec assured her. His cane tapped against the dark wood floors as he entered. Glancing around, he grinned while aiming a finger at a Mexican Day of the Dead skull sitting on a bookshelf. “Just what I imagined.”
“I will take that as a compliment.” Minji shut the door and waved him toward the back of the house. “We’re barbecuing. Jake insists you eat.” She wanted to talk to him in private, but her stomach was in knots and she was tempted to delay their talk.
“Sounds good, but I can’t really stay long.”
“You can take a fajita taco with you then.”
“That I would love,” Alec replied with a wink.
“So why the visit if you don’t plan to stay long?” Minji escorted him to the black leather sofa decorated with brightly colored pillows with classic movie monsters on them.
Alec took a seat and leaned forward so his elbows rested on his knees. “Well, I’m a little parched, so could I have something to drink first?”
“Want some sweet tea?”
“Absolutely.”
Minji took a few minutes to grab tea for Alec and one of the first tacos off the grill. When she returned to the living room, he took both gratefully.