Читать книгу Respect the Dead - Shawn McLain - Страница 12

“Hey, how’s your Stepdad?”

“Not so good. Man he is really sick.”

“I just heard that school is canceled Monday. Can you believe it? The news was saying this is a pandemic or something. People are sick all over the place.” There was a hint of fear in Beth’s voice.

“Yeah Mom said the stores were running out of cold medicine and water and all kinds of stuff. You’d think there was a snow storm coming. People fighting over eggs, bread and milk. I guess French toast will get you through anything. How did Steve’s meeting go?” Wes asked trying to change the subject.

Beth sighed, “Not too good I think. Steve was really down when he got home. He and Dad had another fight about it.”

There was a long silence on the phone then Beth spoke again. “Wes, I…I’m sorry…”

Wes stomach dropped she was going to dump him already. He knew it.

“Wes?”

“Yeah I’m here.” He morosely replied.

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re gonna end it aren’t you? You realized you just want to be friends but I don’t know if I can be just friends now.” Wes huffed.

“Wait what?” Beth asked confused,

“Um so…you’re not dumping me?”

“OK listen!” Wes cringed at the annoyance in her voice, “Let’s get something straight right now. Your self-doubt has never been one of your endearing qualities. I am not going to spend our relationship validating you.’

“Um right, sorry…you were saying?” Wes cringed He had been dating Beth for almost fourteen hours. In that time he had blown off a date and made her angry.

“What I was saying…Well I hadn’t been much of a friend to you since I started dating Corey and I wanted to apologize for that.”

Wes interrupted again, “Beth you don’t have to…”

“Wes, I have to explain things OK.” She took a deep breath. “I made a mistake to go for popularity over substance. I’m sorry.”

Wes smiled, “Cool I have substance." He joked. "OK, you're right. I’ll work on the self esteem thing.”

“You better."

Several seconds ticked by. Finally Beth broke through the awkwardness. "We’ve been watching the news. Dad is getting really worried. ” Beth explained.

"Yeah, I get that." Wes tried to sound casual, "I keep trying not worry about the coughing and hacking coming from the living room." Even as he said this he kept watching the pictures on the TV. Hospitals overrun, stores picked clean, pharmacies looted and burned, people protesting outside of pharmaceutical companies demanding drugs.

“Listen," Beth paused to collect her thoughts. "Dad thinks it might be a good idea to get out of town. He says to tell you that if things don’t get better soon we are going to come get you guys.”

“I don’t know, Reg is really sick. I don’t think we can move him.” Wes frowned as a fresh wave of coughing erupted.

“I think Dad…um meant…" She took a breath, "only you and your Mom.” Beth hesitated. Wes didn’t answer. She hurried on as if it would be easier faster. “Wes, the stuff on the news. The sick people have been doing stuff…They've hurt people.” Her voice trailed off.

Silence stretched again. When Wes spoke it was calm. “No Beth, no. Not Reg. he would never hurt us. Never." Beth tried to interrupt. Wes spoke over her. "He promised!" It was her turn to cringe. When Wes spoke again it was with finality. "Let me know where you are. We’ll meet you if things get bad and Reg is better.” Wes shook his head. She couldn’t be serious. The silence on the phone only accentuated the coughing from the living room. “Beth…I gotta go.”