They took the trip in early September, a month after the move, after adjusting to their new town, their new lives. The change was made easier because the kids in New Independents had been through so much already that they knew how to survive. That was the easy part now, an unfortunate product to living through the apocalypse. Hard workers, most of them even enjoyed it.
“This sucks with a capital ‘S.’” Hunter shifted the weight of his new backpack, one that carried more gear than he ever needed when he rode his KTM. It didn’t help that he also had Catherine’s share inside the many different pockets and compartments that consisted mostly of her food. “I’m never going to get used to all this walking.”
Molly bounced her large backpack up higher and tightened her waist belt to its smallest potential. “It’s not so bad once you get used to this belt rubbing on your hips.”
Hunter wiped sweat from his eyes. He glanced sideways at her. Her new haircut from Emma had gone to the extreme, cut short like a blond washcloth sat on her head. It was starting to grow on him. He had short hair once, and didn’t like it. Molly was beautiful no matter what she did.
He said, “I can rub your hips later if they need attention.”
“Yucky!” Catherine walked up ahead where Hunter thought she’d be out of earshot. He should have known better by now. “Let’s keep the talk age-appropriate please.”
Hunter exchanged smiles with Molly. “And what age would that be Saint Catherine? BC or AD?”
Catherine turned around and continued walking backwards. “We have to come up with something new. What about AA for After the Apocalypse?”
“I think that acronym is already taken, but I could be wrong.”
“Are you ever right?” She smiled. “Acronym is kind of a big word for you.”
Hunter pointed at her and then twirled his finger in the “turn back around” sign.
She skipped farther ahead, her knees shooting up high and her hands swaying back and forth. The bottoms of her bare feet were as green as her toes.
Hunter was sure she was out of earshot now. “I hope she runs into a sticker patch.”
Catherine stopped, turned and stuck her tongue out at him. “Meany!”
Hunter shook his head. “Only two more miles and then we can walk back.”
“You mean after we spend the night, right?” Molly said. “I’m counting on that hip rubbing after the child is asleep.”
Hunter felt a warm spot in his chest rise to his cheeks, lifting into a giant smile at the prospect.
Molly said, “Don’t look so eager. It’s kind of creepy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He said with the smile, cheeks and chest deflating.
She punched him in the shoulder and knocked him off balance from the heavy load on his back. He fell over in a twist and landed on his back in the middle of the trail like a capsized tortoise. Molly followed, lying down on top of him. Hunter groaned from the added weight of her backpack.
“Don’t ever call me ma’am.” She kissed him hard on the lips.
He groaned again of a different sort.
Catherine said, “Stop with the hanky-panky! I want to see my tree!”
Two tortuous miles later, Hunter sweating even more than he thought possible, especially where the pack sat against his back, and they finally arrived at their destination. The large cottonwood on the hill waited for them with the promise of cool shade underneath its many boughs. Catherine was already at the top, having run the last half-mile when she spotted her favorite place in the whole world. “Hurry up, slowpokes! She’s tired of waiting!”
Hunter released Molly’s hand as they made it to the shade, unbuckled his pack and shrugged it off with whomp as it landed on the ground. He walked right up and wrapped his arms around Catherine’s tree, his cheek pressed into the big knobby bark. “Hello, tree. I’ve missed you.”
A motherly voice answered him.
Hello, Hunter. Thank you for bringing my daughter back to me.
“You’re welcome. I always keep my promises.”
That you do. It’s time I brought her home. Are you prepared to watch over little Cat?
Hunter bowed his head with the new knowledge, feeling the loss before it was gone.
“I am. I will.”
Let me speak with Molly.
Hunter released the tree and backed away. He couldn’t meet Molly’s eyes as she passed. He stood watching her at the tree, and Catherine’s little hand slipped into his.
“You were always my favorite,” she told him. “My constant work in progress.”
The tears fell.
She hugged him, squeezing tight until he thought his spine would break. He didn’t care.
After communing with the tree, Molly knelt in front of the little girl and received a gentler embrace. “Are you ready?”
Catherine placed her hand over the cross on Molly’s chest. “Are you?”
“Not even remotely, but with Hunter by my side, we will manage.”
Catherine kissed her on the forehead and walked to her tree, wrapping her arms around and staring up into the boughs. “I’m ready to come home, Mother.”
Golden light glistened in the leaves. It was more radiant than the sunshine above, lighting the tips of the branches and slowly cascading along the many limbs to the trunk with brighter spots of white flowing throughout, reaching down and enveloping the little girl. The light continued outward beneath the ground, illuminating the roots, making the whole hilltop glow.
“Looks like we’re going to have a little girl,” Hunter said, the responsibility already a welcome idea that he would have never rejected. “What did the tree tell you?”
“We’re going to have two,” Molly said, holding her hand against her belly. “And this one will change the world.”