Blue Plague: Decisions, page 19
“Actually no, they are three miles away from us and the concussive force would ring our ears but it wouldn’t kill us,” Stephanie told her. Nancy just looked at her. “I was just saying …” Stephanie told her, trailing off at Nancy’s further glare.
“Nancy, first of all, no one is going to lob shells in. They will want to take us intact. We have security, space to roam, electricity, food, and comfort. They want that,” Bruce told her.
“Okay Bruce, how can you be so sure?” Nancy asked.
Mike answered for him, “That’s what he would do.”
Nancy gave Mike an ugly look. “With that said Bruce, how would you take us?” she asked.
“How we are set up now really limits the options. I would use a small commando team to take over one of the gates to get it open. Then bring in a larger team to hold it as my attack force rolls in since they know we have eyes in the sky,” Bruce told her.
“How do we stop that?” Angela asked.
“Let me tell you,” Bruce said and everyone grabbed a notebook. “The guard towers at each gate need to be ready soon. Each guard shift will have four people manning the tower with none leaving the tower on their shift. We need six roving patrols around the base, and Jake, I want something like a burglar alarm if someone tries to climb the fence.”
“Bruce, that fence is thirty miles long. That’s impossible,” Willie complained.
Jake and Matt looked at Willie like he was an idiot. “We’ll have something in a week, Daddy Bruce,” Matt promised.
“Next, I want cameras around the fence, guard houses and gates. Then I want a tower on each corner of the fence. These will only need two guards each. Next I want the Patriot online this week. Then I want our own radar operating, but don’t turn it on yet. When we do, we will announce that we know a UAV is overhead but we don’t know who it belongs to,” Bruce said. “We need pilots now and maintenance. Joe, you need to get us some more machinists. We need to prep another two thousand acres to plant for next year.”
“Ah Bruce, about that, we’re doing more,” Paul admitted.
“How much more?” Bruce asked.
“Oh I don’t know, I was thinking three thousand acres,” Paul said. “With another thousand for hay,” he added.
“Paul, that’s a lot of the area we have inside,” Bruce said.
“Oh, we aren’t planting inside the base unless we have to. In phase three we are building some really big green houses and will have a thousand acres of corn; we’ll also start an orchard about the same size but I want our main growing areas outside,” Paul said.
“Why outside?” Bruce asked.
“People like just walking around, Bruce. I want to plant some more trees so people can enjoy it here,” Paul told him.
“Sounds good,” Bruce replied, and then continued for another two hours on the preparations. It was 2200 when he finished. Everyone left and Bruce told Angela and Stephanie he would be up in a second, and then walked out onto the patio. They tried to follow him but Bruce shook his head no.
Outside, Bruce smiled, looking up at the night sky. “I love you baby and miss you. I just want you to know those two are driving me insane,” he said. Hearing the door open and close behind him, Bruce prepared himself to start shouting as he spun around and saw Mike.
“Whoa dude, it’s just me,” Mike said, seeing the look on Bruce’s face.
“Sorry Mike,” Bruce said and turned back around.
“Hey, if you want me to, I’ll go back inside,” Mike offered.
“No, that’s alright.”
“Bruce, you looked like you were getting ready to take my head off,” Mike said.
“I thought you were Angela and Stephanie,” Bruce told him.
“What the hell did they do?” Mike asked, trying to think of anything they could’ve done to Bruce.
“Mike, they stay up my ass. They leave me little love notes everywhere,” Bruce admitted.
Mike laughed, “Bruce, you’re newlyweds,” he said as the door opened again. They both turned and saw Nancy come out.
“I’m sorry guys,” Nancy said and started to go back inside.
“It’s okay Nancy, come on over,” Bruce said, and Mike snapped his head back to Bruce in shock. “Dude, she let me watch you attack her as she wore high heels. You’re lucky she wears the damn things at all.”
“I’m not that bad,” Mike said.
“Shit, I’ve felt safer in a firefight. I swear if you would’ve looked at me, I’d have cut ya,” Bruce admitted.
“Brother, until Nancy told me later I never knew you were there,” Mike informed him.
“I threw away all of Debbie’s high heels the next day,” Bruce told him.
“Why?” Mike asked.
“I didn’t want you to hurt her.”
“I wouldn’t have touched Debbie,” Mike told him.
“I could have cared less about you having sex with her. I’m surprised Nancy’s pelvis hasn’t broke,” Bruce said.
“I’m sorry Bruce, but Nancy is really sexy in heels,” Mike told him.
“Thank you baby,” Nancy said. “Now what’s wrong Bruce, since Mike beat me out here?” Mike told her what Bruce had told him. Nancy smiled. “Bruce, they love you and I do have to say I feel kind of sorry for you. Without Debbie here to help them out, they are flying blind, so to speak. They are great friends and love each other as well. I’m surprised they haven’t started the ‘who loves who more,’” Nancy said, and Bruce just looked at her.
“I don’t even go there Nancy,” Bruce told her.
“Do you love them Bruce?” Nancy asked.
“Honestly? Yes I do.”
“You damn well better after the look you had on your face this afternoon,” Mike said.
“That’s different,” Bruce replied.
Mike sighed. “Bruce, I was there. You were getting ready to jump them on the table in the command bunker.”
“Mike, they’ve been studying weapons because I like them. They started spitting out stats on the Spooky and Strike Eagle. Holy shit, is that sexy,” Bruce admitted.
“Yeah, I have to agree with ya there,” Mike agreed.
“Forget it Mike, I learned football for you,” Nancy snapped.
“See, but you like it now.”
“It’s not my fault there’s no more football,” Nancy said.
“That’s what I mean. They’re learning weapons systems just for me,” Bruce said.
“Then what’s the problem?” Nancy asked.
“I don’t know which one I love more and I can’t hurt either one,” Bruce told her.
“Okay, why do you have to hurt one?” Nancy asked, smiling.
“Hello, there are two of them,” Bruce said.
“He can count,” Nancy said to Mike.
“Yeah, he just learned, I’m proud,” Mike said, putting his arm over her shoulders.
Bruce just growled at them. “What if one thinks I love the other more, who should I kiss first, did I write this note the same as the others,” he said.
“I understand,” Nancy said, smiling as Bruce sighed. “You don’t want either to think you love one more than the other. Why don’t you tell me which of your kids you love the most. I’ll shoot the others,” Nancy told him.
Bruce stepped back. “Why do you want to shoot my babies?” he asked in alarm.
“Well, since you can only love one I don’t want the others hurt,” Nancy told him.
“It’s not the same,” Bruce told her. “Sometimes I wish I could slap Debbie for those two.”
Mike balled his fist up. “Say something like that again and we go down,” Mike snapped.
“Dude, chill,” Bruce said.
“Bruce, I asked Debbie about those two and which one she thought you would choose. She said one, both, or neither. She didn’t care as long as you came back. She did what few can; prepare the one we love for our loss. That was how much love she had for you and this family,” Mike told him.
“I know Mike, but I can’t choose one or both,” Bruce said.
“Why don’t you tell them?” Mike asked.
“I don’t want to hurt them,” Bruce admitted.
“And why can’t you love both?” Nancy asked.
“One might think I love the other one more,” Bruce reminded her.
“So you still want me to kill all but one of your kids?” Nancy asked.
Mike laughed, “It’s because you had sex with them,” he blurted out.
“What’s that got to do with it?” Bruce accused.
“Bruce, Debbie told me that was when she knew she had you. This is the same thing, you’re bonded with them,” Mike said.
Bruce gritted his teeth. “You know, I’m glad Debbie felt the desire to tell everyone our life story. I have two upstairs now reading her damn journals. They know every detail of what took Debbie years to learn.”
“I’m glad she did because we would’ve lost ya,” Mike admitted.
“You don’t know that,” Bruce said.
“Yes I do. When we attacked Warren’s camp, it felt so good I was ready to roll with you across the land but I made a promise. I promised Debbie I wouldn’t follow you,” Mike told him.
“Alright, I’ll give you that,” Bruce admitted.
“So what’s the problem?” Nancy asked. Bruce just looked at her. “Bruce, can’t you count past two?”
Taking a deep breath, Bruce looked down. “I’m an old fart and they’re hot young mamas,” he tried to explain.
“Oh, now that you turned forty-one you’re ready for the retirement home,” Nancy noted with a nod.
Bruce’s head snapped up. “You can go inside now,” he said.
“I’m just trying to help. If you’re that old and decrepit, the girls need to learn how to change you,” Nancy told him.
“You’re supposed to be helping me.”
“I am,” Nancy replied. “Do you love them?” she asked again.
“I answered that question.”
“Okay Bruce, I will tell you something then. If you love something, set it free. If it comes back it was yours to begin with,” Nancy told him.
“And if it doesn’t come back, hunt it down and kill it right?” Bruce asked.
“No, that’s the demented boy version,” Nancy said. “Tell them how you feel, that you don’t want to hurt them and they need to be free.” She leaned in close to him. “Then you will know if they are there for you and not the promise,” she whispered.
Bruce staggered back, looking at Nancy like she was possessed. “H-How—” he tried to say.
Nancy put her hand on his mouth. “No matter what they choose, Bruce, Mike and I will stay by your side. You won’t be alone,” she promised him.
“Thank you Nancy,” Bruce said and hugged her. Then he hugged Mike. “See ya tomorrow, brother.”
“Love ya brother,” Mike said as Bruce walked inside. Then he looked at Nancy. “That sounded an awful lot like Debbie. How did you know that being alone is Bruce’s fear?” Mike asked.
“Debbie told me.”
“That’s what all that was about?” Mike asked.
“No, that’s what Debbie asked me to do. She said Bruce would believe the only reason those two would stay with him was because of their promise to Debbie. He doesn’t want them to feel obligated because of the promise they gave her.”
“I can understand that,” Mike said.
Nancy glared at him. “Boys give me such a headache,” she confessed.
“Nancy, they gave their word, that’s their bond,” Mike told her.
“Mike, I know Debbie told you that she told both Angela and Stephanie if they were unhappy they should leave Bruce.”
“Yes, she said that,” Mike said.
“Mike, they were willing to follow him into hell a few months ago. Not for an oath but because they love him. Bruce needs to see that. I’ve been trying to get him to talk about it for months and you finally fit him in your schedule for five minutes and he opens up,” Nancy snapped at him.
“You could’ve told me,” Mike accused.
“I wanted to do it by myself,” Nancy said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Well you did. There’s no way in hell I could’ve got him to do that,” Mike said.
“Really?” Nancy asked with a shocked smile.
“Really baby, only you could’ve done that,” Mike assured her.
“Come on baby, let’s go for a walk,” Nancy said, leading Mike by the hand.
Thinking about what had been said, Bruce walked upstairs and stopped at the door. He took several deep breaths and walked in. Angela and Stephanie were sitting on the end of the bed holding hands, both with tears on their faces. Bruce looked on the bed and didn’t see the kids. “Where are the babies?” he asked.
“We asked Danny and Buffy to watch them. We know you’re mad at us and we didn’t want them here,” Stephanie said.
“Whatever we did, we’re sorry Bruce. It’s because we flew out to the field, isn’t it? That was all me, you can’t be mad at Stephanie for that,” Angela said, tears running down her face.
“No Bruce, I agreed with her, you were doing stupid stuff and we didn’t want you to get hurt,” Stephanie cried out, tears pouring out of her eyes.
“What?” Bruce was confused.
Seeing Bruce’s face, Angela asked, “It’s not that? Then it must be because I told Stephanie we needed to check on you in the shop,” she said.
“No Bruce, I told her it wasn’t good for you to be by yourself,” Stephanie sobbed.
“Huh,” Bruce said, not understanding what the hell they were talking about.
“You’re mad because we won’t leave you alone!” Stephanie cried out.
“No, well, sometimes,” Bruce admitted.
They both wailed out. “Bruce, we’re sorry, we’ll leave you alone,” Angela said.
“Wait!” Bruce snapped, causing both of them to jump. “I’m sorry but I have to tell you two something,” he said. Angela and Stephanie held each other’s hands tight. “I love you both so much—” Bruce started talking and pacing in front of them. At the speed he was talking it sounded like loud yammering. The girls stopped crying to watch him. For ten minutes he continued blabbering and pacing back and forth, then Bruce looked at them. “I mean look at you two. You’re both beautiful and I’m an old fart. You understand?” he asked them.
Since he’d been talking a hundred miles an hour till he asked them that question, they both shook their head no. “Come on, I mean sometimes I think, who do I kiss first so one is not mad? Or did I hurt her feelings because I didn’t pick on her today—” and Bruce started talking real fast again and continued pacing.
Stephanie leaned into Angela. “What’s he saying?” she asked.
“I don’t know but it’s important,” Angela told her as Bruce kept pacing and speaking gibberish.
As he paced back and forth, they turned their heads to follow him, trying to understand what he was saying. Finally after fifteen minutes he stopped and looked at them again. “So that’s what I mean. I can’t choose either of you, I love you both. I don’t want you to stay because you gave your word,” Bruce finally got it out, feeling like the world had lifted off his shoulders.
Angela and Stephanie just stared at him in shock. Stephanie stood up. “You mean you can’t choose either of us because you love both of us and you think we’re here just because we gave our word to Debbie to watch over you and the kids? Then you think because you’re older, that should play a part in this?” she asked for clarification.
“Well yeah, in a condensed version,” Bruce said, thinking he had just taken forever to explain the same thing.
“Wha— How-n-sh—” Stephanie tried to say, throwing her hands in the air.
“What she’s trying to say is we’re here because we love you, not because of our promise. We could keep our promise being a part of your life and not in it. As far as choosing, you can choose both of us or neither. We have been through too much for that!” Angela finished in a shout.
Bruce stepped back as Stephanie found her words. “I’ve never truly been happy until Debbie brought me into this marriage. I’ve loved you since I met you and you think the promise is the only reason I would stay!” Stephanie screamed.
“So you’re staying for me?” Bruce asked, shocked.
“I’m going to hit you so hard you’re going to spit teeth out!” Stephanie shouted, balling up her fist and watching Bruce jump back. If the dresser wasn’t blocking him Bruce would’ve moved further back.
“I’m sorry but I didn’t want y’all stuck with an old fart because you gave your word. I mean you two are beautiful, smart, and totally cool to be around. You know I’m just Bruce,” he told them as his eyes misted over.
“What?!” they both shouted.
“Well yeah, look at y’all,” Bruce told them.
Angela jumped off the bed and walked up to Bruce. “Would you be happy without us? I want to know the truth,” she demanded.
“I’ll survive,” Bruce said honestly.
“I want the truth. Would you be happy?” she shouted.
“No,” Bruce told her.
“So we could leave here tonight and you could survive?” Angela asked.
“Yes,” Bruce replied, feeling really sad.
“If we left here tonight we could survive too,” Angela said as Stephanie stepped up beside her. “But surviving is not living,” she finished.
“So both of you want to stay with this old fart?” Bruce asked.
“Say that again and I swear I’ll pick up something and hit you,” Angela threatened.
“We will stay with you Bruce no matter what, but only if you want us to. If you would be happy without us we’ll leave,” Stephanie said.
Bruce smiled, “Surviving ain’t living.”
“I want to hear you say you want both of us through thick or thin,” Angela told him.
“I want both of you to stay with me through thick or thin,” Bruce said and they lunged at him, wrapping their arms around him.
“Just to let you know if you would’ve left, I would’ve hit you over the head with a bat, tied you up and put you in the closet,” Stephanie told him, crying.
