Winds of Ares: An Apocalypse Thriller by Druga, Jacqueline (most recommended books TXT) 📕

storms can lower temperatures, clear skies.”

“Yep. But this is a weapon. They were testing it last night.”

“Why will it take so long?” Martin asked.

“I don’t know. There’s no set time, just signs.”

“Like?”

Was Martin actually taking me seriously? It didn’t seem like his facetious talking. I was hesitant to reply, and almost did, had I not heard the beeping truck horn.

Sure enough, pulling up was Lane.

“Did you …” I hurriedly looked at Martin. “Did you tell him I was here?”

“Nope. Carlie did.”

I gasped out. “That girl.”

“I merely confirmed when he asked.”

I grunted and nearly stomped my foot.

Martin laughed. “I’ll see how he’s doing.” He walked away.

When I saw Lane get out of the truck and wave, I turned my back. It was not what I wanted to deal with. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss his infidelity. Not with so much coming our way.

Elbows on the fence, bringing the coffee to my lips, I watched Reese. I did however peek over my shoulder to see how close Lane was, how much time I had before he cornered me.

He wasn’t there. He probably went inside the house.

Lane avoided me. Maybe he was glad I left him. Surely, he didn’t drive three hundred miles not to talk to me.

He would eventually make his approach and open up that box of worms.

Until then, I would think about my responses, drink my coffee and watch Reese.

✽✽✽

We had breakfast; Rosie was getting ready to leave but hung out for a little more since Lane had shown up. They chatted away in the kitchen and still my husband had not said a word to me about anything.

Maybe he was glad I left him, and he felt relieved. Perhaps Betty Jane or Peggy Sue person was ‘the one’, he was in love and I did him a huge favor.

Whatever the case, I was a bit unnerved and couldn’t understand why he’d trek hundreds of miles and not say a word.

After twenty years, did he care so little about me it didn’t even faze him?

I found myself irritated enough to step outside and out of the kitchen where Lane was joking with Martin and the kids as if it were a normal visit.

It wasn’t.

I paced little circles in the backyard. When I heard someone step out on to the porch, I didn’t look. If it wasn’t Lane, I would get even more pissed.

“Jana,” Lane called my name.

Arms folded tight to my body, I turned around.

“I heard you left me.” Lane stepped off the porch and walked to me. “You could have told me.”

“I could have. I didn’t. I knew you’d figure it out.”

“Well, I didn’t figure it out. Carlie texted me.”

I shook my head. “Her mouth.”

“Wanna tell me why?”

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t, really. Tell me why you up and left me.”

“Two words. Betty Lynn or Mary Sue.”

“You mean Sally Ann.”

I snapped my finger. “Yep. That’s it.”

“You left me over Sally Ann?” he asked.

“You didn’t think I would?”

“No. And I still don’t think you should” Lane said.

“Are you giving her up?”

“No.”

“Then I’m still leaving you.”

“You’re being silly.”

“Silly …” I huffed the words, nearly choking on them. “Figures you would say that. Is she?” I curled my lip. “Good for you?”

“Oh, yeah. A little older than I like.”

“Older isn’t bad.”

“True, because if you get them too young, you have to do all the work.”

I cringed in disgust. “Oh, save your perversions for someone else.”

“What?” Lane nearly laughed.

“It’s not a joke.” I shook my head. “Is she pretty?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s beautiful.”

“Gloat, why don’t you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t ask if she were prettier than you, I’d have to hurt your feelings.”

I gasped and turned.

“Jana, I’m joking.” He reached out for my arm. “Stop. You are way more upset than I thought. I mean, I knew you’d be mad, but I figured once she was in the picture, you’d calm down.”

“Oh my God, Lane, like I’d be fine with this?”

Lane nodded. “I thought you might.”

“You, me and the kids. You’ll just keep her at the house.’

Lane laughed. “No, right now she’s at Jim’s.”

“He’s in on it, too?”

“Why wouldn’t he be? This is just not good enough to leave me over,” he said. “If it’s any consolation, she was cheap.”

“No. No it’s not a consolation. You should never have done it.”

“Why?” he lifted his hands. “Why? You were all busy buying anything and everything for your end of the world infatuation. I didn’t think you’d mind if I spent a little money and bought something that would make me happy.”

“How … how can you compare my preparing for our survival to you getting a prostitute and falling in love?”

“What? I didn’t buy a prostitute; I bought a horse. Sally Ann is a mare I got from Jim.”

I absolutely froze at his announcement. “A horse? You’re talking about a horse?”

“Yeah, what … oh my God. You were talking about Sally Ann being a woman?”

“Yes.”

Lane laughed loudly. “That’s so funny. And I said if she were young, I’d have to do all the work. No wonder you called me a pervert.”

I lowered my head and chuckled. “That was pretty funny.”

He placed his hands on my arms. “Then we’re good?”

“We’re good.”

“We can make this a little vacation and then head home.”

“No, Lane, we can’t.” I shook my head. “It’s gonna happen and happen soon.”

“What are you …” He closed his eyes and cringed. “Come on, Jana, not the end of the world weather bomb stuff, again.”

“It’s true.”

“Jana, I didn’t say anything to you when you went and bought all your stuff. I said nothing because it was a good hobby.”

“Hobby?”

“You needed one, Twitter was stressing you out,” he said. “And you know, hey, who knew? I mean, I thought, we might need it one day. An EMP or zombie outbreak.”

“Wait. Stop. You believe there could possibly be a zombie outbreak before this weather anomaly?”

“I do.” Lance nodded. “Because it is not as farfetched as shooting specialized rockets into the sky to change the weather specifically. And what? Testing is going to backfire?”

I couldn’t believe he