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Finally, the last truck rolled in. A beleaguered man, his hair messed and his face drawn, trudged through the crowd to the redheaded woman staring at him with disbelief.

With infinite gentleness, Bill put his arms around Katarina and kissed her lightly, then said, “I need a beer. ”

Chapter 21

1. Moments

“We must remember that our loved ones have moved on to a place where there is no fear or pain. It is we, who are left behind, who feel fear and pain. We must take comfort that their suffering is over and the salvation to our fears is to love one another and live the best life we can in honor of their memory,” the Reverend’s voice intoned, comforting his former parishioners as they gathered around him for prayer.

Katie moved past him, her legs feeling heavy and leaden. Her Travis walked behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. She felt dizzy, tired, and her body was aching. Her hand pressed protectively against the swell of her stomach as she walked toward the hotel.

People from the fort flowed past her as they hurried to greet the newcomers. As one man moved aside to let her pass, Jason came into view, standing very still. Beside him, Jack pressed to his side. Shelley stood behind him, her face pale. Katie felt her heart break as she looked into the boy’s eyes and his image blurred as fresh tears filled her eyes.

Blinking the tears free from her lashes, she saw Jason duck his head down, his bangs falling over his brow. His hand lifted to his face as Jack began to whine, pawing at the boy’s knee.

“Jason,” Katie managed to say before he flung himself into her arms. His body violently shaking, he buried his face in her neck as he cried.

Clutching him tightly, she whispered, “I’m so sorry. ”

The teenager sobbed desperately, his body sinking downward. Travis wrapped his arms around both of them and pulled Jason firmly against him. “We’re here, Jason. We’re here. ”

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” Jason’s voice was a screech of pain.

Katie kissed his brow and clung to both of them.

Shelley wrapped one arm hesitantly around Katie and Katie reached out to pull the girl into a four-way embrace. Jack squeezed between their legs and began to howl.

* * * * * Nerit held out her hand to Kevin as he stopped next to her. She stood near the entrance to the hotel watching Travis and Katie trying to comfort the distraught Jason. The cries of pain said it all. Jenni was gone. She felt the sting of pain in her own heart and her eyes grew moist. As Kevin took her hand, she looked at him and gave him a tight smile.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw what was happening and sighed.

“Jenni didn’t make it, did she?”

Kevin ran a hand over his cropped hair. “Things went very wrong. ”

“That is what Greta said when she called us,” Nerit said.

“Jenni died saving people. They didn’t get her though. Katie released her before that. ”

“Good,” Nerit answered with relief. “Good. ”

Three little kids wandered up to them. The two younger children were clutching the eldest girl’s skirt so tight, the girl’s Wonder Woman underpants were visible.

“Is it Christmas here?” the oldest girl asked.

Nerit blinked, surprised.

The little girl pointed to the Christmas lights strung up along the walls.

Nerit hesitated, then said with a soft smile, “I think a piece of Christmas is still here. ”

Kevin looked down at the kids and his face was full of pain. ’Yes, I’m sure it is here. ”

“Okay, cause Santa forgot about us at the mall…”

Behind them, voices rose in soft song.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. . . ”