The Long Road Home

Chapter Thirty-Six

'Page?' Page looked to Kidd who was walking beside her. They had been on the road for over an hour and neither had spoken. She had liked Treetop and it hurt to leave their friends behind, however it felt good to be on the road again. 'What did Uncle Mic mean when he said I told you so?' She smiled hearing the boy use the title Mic had given himself. Kidd had been elated to have an uncle. He was sure he never had one before.

'Before Mic left for his tour,' Page started 'he was trying to convince me to sign up for some classes at the local collage.' She shrugged. 'When my parents died, I kind of lost all my drive. I really didn't think I had it in me to go to college. Mic swore to me that I was a lot tougher than I thought and could do anything if I really put my mind to it.' Kidd frowned confused.

'That doesn't sound like you.' He said and Page nodded.

'Not anymore.' She told him. 'Not since Brett attacked me. When he tried to come after me again on the bridge,' she shook her head. 'I don't know. It's like something in me woke up. I was tired of people walking all over me and pushing me around.' Kidd nodded thoughtful.

'I like you like this.' He told her.

'Me too.' Page said smiling down to him. She looked back to the road.

'Sara and Jimbo's wedding was nice. I didn't like the cake though.' He said making Page chuckle.

'Yeah, I found out that Conner's mom was the one that made that super sweet fudge.' She old him. 'She made the cake too.'

Page smiled remembering the event. The whole village had gone out of their way to help decorate the common area with flowers. It had looked and smelled wonderful. Page just felt bad that the news of her and Kidd leaving had put a bit of damper on the celebrations.

Their friends had packed both her and Kidd's carts full of supplies. The sight had shocked Page a little. She had argued it was excessive, but they had shut her down saying it was a fair trade and to shut up about it. Page chuckled remembering Vivian's annoyance when she caught Kidd and Page trying to sneak some of it back.

'What?' Kidd asked

'Just remembering the twenty minute lecture we got from Vivian.' Page said amused. Kidd giggled.

She sighed thinking of the place they had left. Treetop was almost perfect. The only thing it was missing was her brother. Considering what he was putting himself through to get to NY, she had no right to ask him to travel to Treetop as well. It was only fair that she met him half way. Mouth had been a huge help the last few days. He called her every day to tell her where her brother's ship was and how he was progressing.

Page jumped when her phone chirped like a bird. She and Kidd looked to each other startled. Page unclipped it and answered.

'Hello?' She asked hoping to hear Ty's voice.

'Hi Page.' Came Theo's reply. 'Sorry we haven't checked in. We hit a real big snag when we got back into Pineview.'

'What happened?' Page asked worried. 'Is everyone alright?'

'Burk and his people have left Pineview. They left the bunker open for the rippers to move in.' Theo sighed and she heard some rustling on the other end. 'We lost Baker and Monroe trying to take the bunker back. Everyone else was torn up. The sergeant is alive, but I am keeping him sedated until he stabilizes.' Page stopped walking and closed her eyes at the news.

She had not spent a lot of time with the group, but had grown to see them all as family. Every time Ty had called her, one or most of them would steal the phone from him to talk with her. Baker, the silliest marine she had ever met by far, had her cracking up more than once with his insane jokes and catcalls to Ty in the background. She shook her head.