Harvesting Ashwood Minnesota 2037 (18 page)

We sat in silence. I felt a sense of isolation.

Terrell looked at his communication wristband. “I’ve got to get back to the kitchen and I think Paul is eager to talk with you. He feels bad about letting you face Ms. Tabitha alone.”

“I’ve been monitoring your communications. You have a number of messages being held,” Lao said to me. “The one with most immediate concern is a change in Andrew’s arrival schedule to this afternoon. His aunt starts work at the Mayo Clinic tomorrow.”

Dropping my head for a second, I took a deep breath, let go of the plan to huddle through another night with my children. I straightened my back. “He couldn’t arrive at a worse time. Imagine walking into this family crisis. I wanted it to be so different.” I stopped, aware that there could be a far worse time. Denied tears thickened my words. “At least Clarissa found work.”

“We’ll move a bed and storage unit into the boys’ room this morning.” Lao checked his wristband once more. “Let’s get you out of here so you can join the kids for breakfast.”

Paul and Sarah welcomed me to the table where the kids were reenacting John’s sleep talking. I noticed Paul’s eyes take in the laborer’s jumpsuit and shrugged.

“Sorry my stubbornness put you in that she-witch’s crosshairs,” Paul said with his face turned from the kids. “Won’t happen again.” He passed berries my way. “Terrell tells me Lao’s made a few changes to where we’ll do business while the Peterson squad uses the DOE building. I’m part of your daily escort team. I think the kids used to say ‘we’ve got your back.’”

The children’s restlessness and everyone’s clean bowls gave me little time to respond to news of my informal bodyguards. I had to share news of Andrew’s arrival.

“Phoebe, Noah, John, I need your attention for a few minutes.” They looked my way and I saw a night of good sleep had restored their energy and optimism. “Because Andrew’s aunt must start her new job tomorrow, he will be joining us this afternoon.”

“Will he be in school today?” Thankfully, Phoebe’s voice was just that of a curious child. “I could be his classroom buddy until he learns his way around.”

“That’s my girl,” I said. “As long as you aren’t distracted from exam preparation.”

“Did you hear anything about Dad?” John’s question took me away from Andrew and brought silence to the table.

On the way to breakfast I thought through how to tell them the little I knew from Tabitha’s interview. “The good news is that some of the crew was found overnight. They are all right. But Dad wasn’t in that group.”

Our younger son analyzed what I said. “Is that okay or bad?”

Wishing I had the blessing of his ignorance, I told a partial truth. “It’s good to know our soldiers found some of the DOE team, but not much has changed in what we know about Dad.”

He slid from his chair, came to my side, and leaned there. “Why are you wearing those clothes?”

“I backed into something outside and messed up my shirt and pants.” I elaborated on my lie. “Just another John-like walking into a goopy piece of equipment the DOE folks moved into the office building. It was embarrassing.”

“If Andrew is really my brother, will he get into messy stuff like you and me?” he asked. “And will Dad adopt him?”

“I am his birth mother.” I put my arm around John’s sturdy body. “Remember what we talked about—how I was a surrogate and didn’t know he was my baby.” All the kids nodded although I knew their understanding was very skeletal.

“Do you love him?” Phoebe and Noah sat still as John asked a question I thought I’d answered yesterday.

“Before he was born, I loved him.” I gave a quick squeeze to one of the sons I knew I loved. “And that’s something to build on. That kind of love doesn’t disappear. We’ll all find ways to love Andrew.”

The chime for morning lessons sounded. I drew John close and kissed his cheek. Phoebe gave me a hug and Noah smiled like his father. David’s easy grin on his young son’s face brought me close to tears again, but I forced myself to return the smile. “You all have a good morning.”

“Pick up your plates and take them to the kitchen.” Sarah’s regular morning instruction started the day, offered the kids stability in the midst of uncertainty. I piled my things on the stack she gathered and watched her walk with Phoebe from the room.

“I didn’t believe that story about your clothes.” Paul’s calloused hands rested on the table. “Want to talk about what really happened?”

What I wanted meant nothing. I couldn’t tell Paul much with the threat of listening threads that could gather words. “It’s a long story,” I said. “I’ll tell you when this is all over. Now I have a few calls to make on behalf of David, and then I hope to spend the rest of the day with the kids, including Andrew.”

Paul’s initial offer to help Andrew adjust wasn’t repeated. I knew he was struggling with the emotions of David’s situation. “I am excited about meeting Andrew.” I managed a small smile. “I think he physically takes after my mother’s family.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Must be a woman thing, that looking for family traits in each child. Sarah’s always talking about which grandchild has somebody’s eyes or nose or mouth or whatever.” Arms folded across his chest. “I have a few calls of my own to make about David. Some time ago David gave me a couple of names to contact if we needed help. Can’t think of a better time to call in those favors.”

“Lao has set up a safe communication room you should use when you make those contacts.” David hadn’t told me the names of the emergency contacts he’d left with Paul, but I had a short list I intended to call as well. “I can’t say why Lao felt that was necessary, but I’d like you to respect his decision. Check with him.”

“Maybe I’ll take care of that now.” Paul stood. “You should get back into your own clothes before your son arrives,” he said gently. “After all, he thinks you own the place, not milk the cows.” His signature wrinkle of the nose let us both smile.

I not only took off the jumpsuit, but also showered as if I could wash away the morning. While I dressed I thought about calling Milan and realized that if he could do anything he would already be in action. With Milan, Paul, Lao, and Terrell making contacts, I called Andrew’s teachers to talk through his orientation. While they told me their plans, I jotted down two or three names I would try to call about David. After they finished, I closed my eyes and prayed.

Chapter Seventeen

The transport bringing Andrew to Ashwood arrived almost forty minutes late. I sat on a bench near the visitors’ gate with nothing on my mind but wondering about this unknown son, how he would change our lives, and what he might need. Standing just inside the gate, I watched the transport driver exchange documents with our security person before unloading Andrew plus a pack, a big suitcase, and one box.

I knew I shouldn’t crowd his entry by rushing toward him at that moment. He looked straight ahead, inserting his fingers into the security scanner, thanked the guard who helped moved his things through the gate, then stopped as it closed behind him. Andrew took his first steps up our path with determination, like he expected to travel the distance to the front door alone. I remembered that feeling, but this newest resident had a mother to meet him and a sprawling, stucco-covered building to call home.

He didn’t see me as he moved like a city kid, showing no apparent curiosity about this new place. Or maybe he looked ahead straight ahead because there was no landing place behind him. I wanted to call someone to take his things and leave him walk unburdened, but I knew that most of the kids walking through this gate were threatened by separation from what they carried in of the past.

“Andrew.” Unable to wait for my first touch, I approached him after his fourth step. “I’m Anne Hartford. I spoke with your aunt a few minutes ago and promised I’d be sure you knew that she is thinking of you.” I held out my hand. “I also told her that she is welcome to visit or stay with us any time. The bigger our family becomes, the stronger we all can be.” Auburn highlights in his dark hair captured the late morning sun, bringing painful thoughts of whether my mother ever saw my brother just like this. Would I remember this moment throughout our lives? “I want to welcome you here and hope you make Ashwood your home.”

Standing still, carrying his things, he looked not at me, but at our surroundings. “My aunt said you own all this. That can’t be right.”

His comment didn’t hit me as odd coming from a child of intellectuals who lived in comfortable settings, but seldom owned real estate. “Your aunt is right. Ashwood started as a government estate, but I have owned it for a little over seven years.” I held out a hand. “Let me carry one of your bags.”

“This one isn’t too heavy.” With a small grunt he transferred the suitcase, which weighed as much as a three-year-old child, to my hand.

“We can carry the box together. When do the rest of your belongings arrive?”

“This is it.” He increased the space between us. “We didn’t pack my winter stuff because nothing fit. My aunt sold my coat and stuff to the consignment store.” We walked another three steps in silence. “The suitcase is heavy because of my books.”

“You’re right about it being heavy,” I acknowledged but wondered where all the furnishings of his parents’ home might be stored. “Are you hungry?”

Andrew turned intense dark eyes to me. I recognized the look of food deprivation, almost as if the body rations energy and sends an alarm to all the senses to use only what is necessary.

“Terrell held lunch for you. Remember, on estates we don’t worry as much about food.” I offered information to comfort this boy who wouldn’t have known real hunger before his father’s death. “We might eat things you don’t care for like fish or oatmeal or lots of vegetables, but Terrell has a way with food.”

“We only need to eat to feed our bodies,” Andrew said with a note of disapproval. “My father ate too much and was flabby. My mother thought he’d fail his physical requirements.”

“You won’t find overweight people here unless they are inexperienced day laborers. We’re very physically active. Do you like sports?” He nodded, turned his head my way in a first genuine connection. “There are soccer games late every afternoon until we have too much snow to keep the field clear. Thanks to my husband, David, we have softball competition from April through September. Some people cross-country ski and snowshoe in the fields in the winter. Any of those fit you?”

“Yes ma’am.” He shifted his back pack. “I’d like to get on a soccer team.”

“Great, I’ll let Lao know. He runs our soccer schedule.” We moved in silence until I opened another subject. “After you eat, our first priority is introducing you to Teacher Jason.” I looked for some reaction to my mentioning school. Andrew walked forward, now watching his feet. “He may be the best estate head of school in the nation.” Still no response. “Your tests and records show you are a bright student.” Andrew’s head came up, and he looked toward the residence. “The school building is just southwest of the residence.” His eyes followed my pointing finger.

“I’ll do my best, ma’am.”

“I trust your word.” We walked the final yards to Ashwood’s kitchen entrance. “I thought we’d go in this way because this is how we all tend to go in and out of the residence. The kitchen is a pretty informal area except during meal prep. You can stop in any time for fruit or something to drink.”

“You don’t have to be so nice.” He sounded like the survivor kid he had become. “I’m not a soft intellectual kid anymore. I learned to be self-sufficient. I’ll just pack myself some food in the morning.”

“No, Andrew, you’ll join everyone for three meals a day. That’s what our family does.”

“What am I supposed to call you, ma’am?”

“How about if you start with Anne?” I saw his head nod. “I have a lot of titles. Most of the workers call me Manager Anne. Some of the adult laborers call me Ms. Anne. Phoebe and Noah have always called me Mom because they were infants when their biological mother passed away.” We were almost to the house. “What did you call your parents?”

“Father and Mother.”

His shoulders were so close; I put my right hand on the one closest to me. “I’m glad you’re here, Andrew.” Emotion thickened my voice. “We’re in the middle of a difficult time and you know about those.” He didn’t move away. “Your arrival fills in a hole in my heart.”

We walked a few steps together. I stored the feel of him and the sweetness of this moment for when the getting to know each other process became rough. I opened the residence’s back door and gestured for him to go in first. “Welcome to your new home, Andrew Smithson.”

“Come on in, son, and let me help you with that box.” Paul extended a hand and smiled. “I’m Paul Regan, Anne’s father-in-law and grandpa to the Regan clan. If you’d like to call me Paul, but treat me like a grandfather, I would be honored.” He hefted Andrew’s box, then relieved me of the suitcase. “Cook Terrell has the makings for a good sandwich on the counter. Introduce yourself to him, grab some food, and I’ll see that these things get to your room.”

Andrew followed Paul’s directions with visible respect and a humble attitude. I felt Terrell assess our similarities, saw surprise in the way his eyebrows raised, and knew the boy would be recognized as mine. My friend looked my way, let his droopy eye close into a wink. “Well, Andrew, I first heard about you when Phoebe was days old. She was born a few weeks before your birthday and your mother felt sad remembering the little time she had with you.”