Dan set down his hammer and peered out through the half-finished window of the California house. The sun glinted through the trees, reflecting off the rooftops of the neighboring buildings. In the distance, he heard the sounds of hammers and saws, people chatting it up as they worked on the new constructions. Their voices were hopeful and excited.
He glanced next to him. Quinn was wearing a tool belt several sizes too large for her. She smiled as she met his gaze.
“Need something, Daddy?”
“Nope. Just taking a breather,” Dan said.
He patted her head and took a breath of fresh air. He glanced at the cars and trucks that lined the street outside. A few people milled about, waving their hands and talking. All of them were calm, composed.
It was a scene he was still getting used to.
“You know what, Daddy? I think I’m going to like it here,” Quinn said.
“Me too, honey,” Dan said.
He turned and surveyed the newly constructed house. At the moment, it was little more than a frame, but it’d be finished soon enough. The rooms were about the size of their house in St. Matthews. Unlike their old home, this one had two floors.
Another change, but a good one.
Downstairs, he heard the clink of hammers, the scrape of tools. A few seconds later, footsteps ascended the stairs. Meredith entered the room, carrying several bottles of water. She offered one each to Dan and Quinn.
“Are you thirsty?” she asked.
“I sure am!” Dan reached out for a drink. “Thanks!”
Quinn took one as well.
Dan uncapped the bottle and took a slow drink as Meredith glanced around the room.
“The house is coming along great, Dan.”
“I know. I can’t believe it.”
“I met a few more neighbors from the end of the road. They came from Arizona.”
“Really? No kidding.”
Over the past week, Dan had met a slew of neighbors and volunteers, and he was still attaching names to faces. He took another sip of his drink and set it on the windowsill. A few seconds later, another pair of footsteps charged up the stairs. Grant darted into the room, his face lit with a smile.
“Another car pulled up outside. I think we’re getting more help!”
“Great!” Dan said. “We could use it.”
“I’ve been helping out downstairs.”
“That’s excellent, Grant. You’re doing a great job.”
He watched the boy disappear down the stairs. Meredith had been granted temporary custody of the boy. If all went well, she’d provide him with a permanent home. Dan glanced out the window, catching sight of a new vehicle parked on the road. The occupants were still inside.
“Why don’t we go downstairs and introduce ourselves?” Meredith suggested.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Dan said. “Let’s go.”
The three of them walked downstairs, admiring the wood walls and beams that would soon comprise their home. As Dan stepped through the living room, a few volunteers took a break from their work to nod hello. He returned the greeting, casting them a genuine smile.
Dan stepped out into the yard, fighting the glare of the sun. He shielded his eyes with his hand, catching a glimpse of the people emerging from the car.
He was surprised to find they weren’t volunteers, but people he knew. People he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Oh, my God…” he called out. “Sam? Delta? Noah? Is that you?”
His former companions rushed over to greet him, bags of tools under their arms. Dan’s eyes welled up.
“We figured we’d lend a hand,” Sam said.
Dan embraced Sam, then the others. His eyes roamed from one to the other. Their faces were wet with emotion. Sam’s face was tanner than he remembered, Delta’s eyes were wide and vibrant, and Noah wore a genuine smile. Although Dan had spoken with them recently, he’d had no idea they were coming.
He hadn’t seen them since the salvage yard.
“How’d you know we were here?”
“I called and set it up,” Meredith said, her face beaming. “I gave them directions.”
“When we heard about the new house, we offered to pitch in,” Delta explained. “It’s nice to meet you in person, Meredith.”
“You too!” Meredith said.
Dan shook his head in disbelief, still shocked to see his companions together and in one place. Quinn and Grant greeted the newcomers. Quinn couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
“I’m not sure what to say,” Dan said.
“Well, I hope you have room for a few more sets of hands.” Noah laughed. “Otherwise, I’ll have a long trip back to Portland.”
“Of course! Come on inside,” Dan said.
He led them into the house, unable to contain his emotion. When he’d last seen his companions, the world was uncertain, plagued with danger and death. The infection had robbed each of them of friends, family, and each other. But somehow they’d found their way back.
Somehow they’d survived.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Dan said.
“Me neither.” Sam laughed.
“Are you still in San Francisco?” Dan asked Sam and Delta.
“Yep, we’re in the Bay Area,” Delta answered.
“How do you like it?”
“We love it. Noah’s been staying with us for the last few days. He came out to visit.”
Delta looked over at Noah, who smiled and took her hand.
“What about Caddy?” Dan asked Noah. “Did she come, too?” Dan had never met the girl, but Noah had told him a lot about her.
“She stayed in Portland. She wanted to meet you, but she’s back in school. She couldn’t slip away. She’s trying to finish her degree.”
“That’s great news. I’m sure I’ll meet her sometime. Would anyone like a drink of water?” Dan asked. “I don’t have much else, as you can tell.” He gestured to the empty house, and his companions laughed.
“Don’t worry about it,” Sam joked. “We didn’t come here to relax. We came here to work.”
“I won’t argue with you, then.”
Dan laughed and led them upstairs. He reviewed the tasks that needed completing while his companions listened. When he was through, he gazed at all of them. “Anyone have questions?” he asked.
“Not now. But I’m sure I’ll have a ton as we go,” Delta admitted. “I’ve never built a house before.”
“I’ll guide you through it,” Sam said. “Enough talk. Let’s get to work!”
The group scattered, helping each other with their tasks. Dan surveyed their faces, unable to suppress his smile. He couldn’t wait to catch up, to hear more from his companions. But that’d come later.
Right now, it was time to enjoy the moment.