It took a little while, as Charlotte had suggested, for us to find our feet as a family again. On the plus side, sitter permitting, we dated again and rebuilt the bonds we once had. This time, it seemed so much more intense with the new connection we shared. Where once I had sat in envy as my men twirled their children in the air, now I sat in utter delight as I watched my own playing in the ballpark, or took them swimming.
By a roaring fire, a couple of weeks after that first meeting on the base, we told each other our stories through the national crisis. It helped us both to be able to share the experiences we had endured. It knitted us together tighter with the understanding.
As we sat by the crackling tinder of the hearth at the centre of the beautiful farmhouse, which had come as thanks from the government to Charlotte and the kids for their help in the initial outbreak, Charley stood. She walked slowly to an old, rustic-looking writing bureau, slid out the concealed drawer beneath the desk itself, and took from it a single A4 brown envelope.
I recognised the insignia as she handed me the letter. The company stamp read: Jackson Hall Solicitors. I swallowed hard, flipped the envelope, and pulled out a single sheet of paper. Instantly, I recognised the address in the top left corner as my own, and in the top right, the solicitor’s return address. It was the divorce agreement I’d signed three years ago, agreeing to the terms of our permanent separation, my signature scrawled across the final box which floated on a sea of small print. I was in shock.
“You didn’t return it. After all this time, you didn’t return it, but why?” I muttered.
“I married you, Simon. You. I married the man I loved, ‘til death do us part, remember?”
“I remember. But I thought—” I began.
“No, Simon, that was the problem, you didn’t
think
, not then. You weren’t in any frame of mind to do so clearly. You
assumed
. We never discussed divorce, you instigated it because we didn’t communicate. That sounds really weird considering I was totally deaf at that time!” Charley laughed.
Her smile was infectious. It always did have the power to lift me from whatever woes I was flailing against. I loved that smile. The way the very corners of her mouth turned up ever-so-slightly, her lips parted just enough. It was elegant, I always thought, sexy too.
“You got me.”
“You needed to go and find yourself, honey. I couldn’t do that for you. Only when you found yourself could you then find us again. Me and the kids are the candle in the window, we’ve always been the candle in the window. You were my husband, for a while I lost him, but now he has come back to me, to us.” She smiled again.
This time the smile held much more. It was as if this was our first night together, all over again.
*****
Salby Biochemical Facility, North Yorkshire
“So far, so good, Charles,” Evie began. “Last month’s success in neutralising the transfer of both strains via other bodily fluids has gone really well. Test results from subjects confirm no viral presence.”
“I think we can safely say that’s successful, wouldn’t you agree, my dear?” Charles smiled.
“We’re heading in the right direction. Viktor’s scientific team have made advances on an outright cure. The viral cells remain in the subjects that have volunteered for testing, but the virus itself becomes completely dormant. He’ll make billions on the production rights alone.”
“He’s smart. You have to give the man credit. I do believe he’s trustworthy too. If the original virus is safe anywhere, it’s with him in that stronghold. Our government won’t risk the Russian Federation knowing he still has it, nor will they divulge that we have it either. It could provoke an all-out war, and we’d be right in the middle of it. It seems Aslanov was branching out on his own, he led the Russian authorities on a goose chase in an attempt to begin a revolution of assimilation,” Charles stated.
“Yes, and by all accounts, he would have succeeded had it not been for Simon. I’m glad it all worked out for him though. He’ll have some stories to tell his grandkids when they come.” Evie smiled.
“A little bird tells me you have a date tonight, my dear.”
“And who might that little bird be, Charles?”
“Ahh, I never reveal my sources, but I’m sure Nathan will be glad of your company for a normal night out. That’ll be a nice change, won’t it?” Charles smiled.
“Gladstone is back on active duty, so they tell me. Portman wasn’t married, such a shame he didn’t make it though, I’d have liked to have thanked him for what he did for us,” Evie mused.
“His funeral was touching. They did him proud with full honours. I’m sure he’s looking down upon us and still just as eager to get in on the action.”
*****
Gora Lyavochorr Mountain, rebel stronghold.
The additional troops, now fully trained, made a welcome addition to Viktor’s forces. Those who wished to return to civilian life were able to do so with the successful creation of the anti-viral. As soon as the new medicine received the go-ahead from government officials, under the strict scrutiny of a representative of the People’s Resistance Army, and at a lab of Viktor’s choosing, full-scale production began. The Russian Federation began to pull troops out of occupied areas who expressed a preference for self-rule. Oddly, there was very little opposition from the various factions this time.
Viktor sat with his daughter and General Volkov in his office.
“Janishka, my sweet,” Viktor began. “I think it is time for you to head back to Britain. Corporal Simms has been gone far too long. She’ll be a lieutenant now and in much demand, what with original outbreak still fresh in people’s minds over there. It would also be good to stay in the loop with future events, wouldn’t you agree?” He smiled.
“Indeed, Papa. Indeed. I will leave tomorrow for the base at Dishforth. I asked to be posted there permanently. Lieutenant Colonel Connell pushed the paperwork through so it should all be in place for when I return.” She smiled, then stood, and kissed her father’s cheek before leaving the two men alone.
“It seems we came out of this rather well, yes, Uri?”
“We have a fully-fledged army, Viktor. These men are well trained now. With their additional abilities, they represent one of the best fighting forces in the world. Most chose to remain, I guess the pay and conditions were too good to refuse.” Volkov smiled.
“Da, good, very good. The Federation have backed off substantially. Let us hope the threat of a viral outbreak is sufficient for our country to again become strong and united—better for business that way, my friend. Salut!” Viktor smiled.
The Seuchencko estate could be seen through the apartment window, nestled high on the slopes of the hillside. Petrov had never been there, though he had met the man himself.
When the conflict finally came to an end, his father, Uri Volkov, had given them a choice: Stay, live, and work in the mountain stronghold of Gora Lyavochorr, or begin a new life together as civilians.
After much discussion, the young lovers, Petrov and Barbie had decided to build a future together, away from the military lifestyle. With the blessing of his father, they had accepted the gift of the apartment to begin their new lives.
*****
In a private medical centre somewhere in Odessa, Petrov stood beside the bed of his wife. Eagerly, they awaited the results of the tests. On the small, black screen of the machine, a tiny shape could be seen. Arms, legs, and a head were clearly visible, the features of a tiny face outlined white over hazy black.
“Good news. Petrov, Barbara—this is your twenty-eight-week scan, the baby looks perfectly healthy and there is nothing to worry about. In just a few more weeks, your daughter will be born. This is your first child, Barbara?” the nurse queried.
“Yes, a little girl. Our first child.” Barbie beamed.
“We’ll book you in for pre-natal classes here. I understand you’ve just moved to Odessa, is that correct?” The nurse asked.
“Yes, that is correct. We will attend the classes with pleasure.” Petrov confirmed.
He placed his hand gently on Barbie’s tummy, the gel of the ultrasound still present. Both smiled as the image, captured in a photo-sized picture and printed from the machine, was handed to them by the nurse.
The future looked bright for the young family to be. Petrov acquired an aptitude for carpentry, much like his great grandfather once had.
Thank you for your purchase of Salby Evolution. You, the discerning reader, have the ability to shape future novels. To find out more about me and my titles, please visit the links below. As an indie author, your feedback is priceless, so please be sure to write a review on Amazon if you have enjoyed this story. Thank you so much.
My WordPress blog is at
www.iandmoore.net
Twitter: @ianstories
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/iandcmoore
LinkedIn:.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-moore-3989b9102
Google+:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112290411090856090577
Email:
[email protected]
More books by Ian D Moore:
Salby Damned
You’re Not Alone
Being Within