Erupting Trouble (EMP Catastrophe Book 1) by Grace Hamilton

Author:Grace Hamilton [Hamilton, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

20

The interstate expanded before them like a black ribbon heading into the horizon. Matthew couldn’t remember how long it had been since he, David, and Jade had left the clinic behind and gotten back on the open road. Everything was more of the same. Same angry people. Same dead cars. Same endless sun.

Fatigue had begun to set into Matthew’s legs, his calves burning whenever they stopped for David to catch his breath. They shared food and water, each being careful to only take what was needed. To Matthew’s surprise, David still seemed taken with Jade despite the diversion to the pharmacy, telling her stories of the River Rock Hotel. Hearing the laughter bouncing between them made Matthew glad Jade had joined them. The fringe on her jacket swayed back and forth hypnotically, casting metronome-like shadows on the ground as the two walked ahead of him.

Thoughts of Kathleen and Allison filled his mind. He wondered where they could be. Were they stuck at the prison? Had they managed to leave? He knew Kathleen would try to get home to Galena, but he worried that they might run into people like Chris and Cheese. Matthew smiled to himself, imagining what Kathleen would do if ever confronted with a jerk like that, knowing the jerk would tuck tail and flee after one look from his wife.

In front of Matthew, David slowed, his shoulders hunching. Jade paused and put her hand on his father’s shoulder. Matthew slung his backpack off his shoulder and searched the first aid kit they’d bought at the sporting goods store for medicine. Nothing but Tylenol. Since they left the clinic, David had finally admitted the chest pain had upgraded from sporadic uncomfortable irritation to a low drone of pain. For the millionth time, Matthew wished his father had brought his actual prescription medicine. He also wished they’d found some at the pharmacy. If only they had something that could help, to just relieve the pain.

People took aspirin to help alleviate heart pain, Matthew remembered from those hazy stress days as David recovered from the initial heart attack. Low-level dosage to help prevent another. Anything else was too dangerous to take. Jade shot a concerned look over David’s head, and Matthew uttered a sigh of resignation. They had to address this.

“Dad, we need to make another stop,” Matthew said, his resolve strengthened by Jade’s encouraging nod.

“What for?” David gasped, one hand propped on his hip while the other clenched at his heart. “Just stopped not too long ago.”

Matthew gave her a look that said See what I’m working with here? Jade’s smile widened in understanding. “We need to get you something to stop your pain, or we’ll be taking a permanent stop. I remember your doctor saying you could take a low dosage of aspirin. You remember that, too, right?” Matthew asked.

David went quiet, straightening up as much as he could. Matthew hoped his father would admit to his limitations, acknowledge his pain, like he had back at Wilson’s Antiques. When he’d owned up to the fact he’d left his life-saving medicine at home.

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