Page 33 of Moon Tamed

“Probably not,” my father conceded. “Your mother and I called in and took some time off work to help with the evacuation. We’ll return after the quarantine period is over. We opted to use our vacation time, so our spots will be in the queue for a long-term temp.”

My co-workers would appreciate the extra opportunities. “You’re eligible even with unpaid time off, but it’s more paperwork and less reliable for the temps. If you get ill, even with the paid time off, make sure you tell your bosses. You’ll get into the best queues that way.” I winced at the thought of so many in Moonriver taking time off at the same time. “The prioritization queues will be important in the next few weeks.”

“We’ll manage. We shut down for the holidays and the city doesn’t fall apart. The next few weeks may be hard, but we’ll get through this.”

My parents had somehow moved the entirety of my apartment into the townhouse while I’d been at work. “Explain yourself, Dad.”

“Peter helped, as did several of his friends. Your landlord is preparing your place for a refugee family. On the drive here, it looked like a lot of households were doing the same. It’s like everyone decided to up and move all at once.”

“Really?” I wondered how that would work out for everyone, especially when we needed to update our addresses in the government’s systems.

Change wasn’t supposed to come easily. I worried change would prove difficult once the majority worked their way through the shock of Earth’s final days.

My father patted my shoulder. “We’re all human, Coraline, and I prefer to believe that other worlds would do the same for us if needed. These people need our help. We can, so we do.”

He left me inside of my new home, alone with Calden, who closed the door behind him. “Before you worry, they had plenty of help getting your things moved. The whole city is scrambling, and people are volunteering whenever they spot someone needing some help. I expect Dad will lift the base occupancy rules for the next six months to accommodate the unexpected influx of people. It’ll be better once the quarantine lifts and we can send refugees to other city-states. Not everyone will stay here. Anyway, I think we’ll both feel better after we eat. Thank you for inviting me. I do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. I like change, but this is a lot to handle all at once. I just wish I could help more.”

“We’re all there right now. Tomorrow will be easier. The night shift will make sure everything is organized, and all the factions are doing the same. Those who can work through their vaccination responses will. Those who can’t are expected to rest and work when able. The next two weeks will be the worst. Most of the illnesses they’re bringing in incubate between twenty-four to seventy-two hours. The vaccinations should help limit how long people get sick for—if they get sick. After three weeks, the vaccinations are fully effective, and things will go back to normal.”

We went into the kitchen, and in the fridge, I discovered a stockpile of ingredients along with plastic tubs filled with soup. Two rabbits, already marinating in some form of herb blend, waited for my immediate attention. I grabbed both, as I would appreciate leftovers later. “I’ll cut enough up to do some roasted vegetables. I’ll make a pot of something with whatever we don’t eat.”

“Good plan. Even if you don’t get sick, leftovers are easy, and the next few weeks are going to be hard. I won’t be ordering anything in until the worst of this is over, so I’ll be doing the same thing at home. In other news, I think Dad regrets his offer to sell himself for charity.”

Judging from Calden’s grin, he had no problems with his father’s charity efforts. “Why does he regret it?”

“The speech was broadcasted planet wide. As a result, we’ve received significant funding. He’s going to have to travel the world for months to pay out on all those dates.” Calden snickered, and he grabbed vegetables out of the fridge before checking the root box to plunder the sweetroots, onions, and other goodies hiding within. “We have all the money we need to settle everyone and care for the displaced animals. It’s just a matter of getting through the quarantine period. We’ll be okay.”

I plunked the rabbits onto my cutting board before going on a hunt for my roasting pans, which kept three new ones company in a lower cabinet. With a grin, I retrieved the entire lot of them. “This will simplify things. We shall roast everything.”

“I like it. Flavorful and easy.”

“How was the supply in the root box?”

“Good,” Calden reported. “I barely touched what’s in there.”

Knowing my father, he’d rampaged at every open store he could get to make sure I had a full root box before any sicknesses took hold. “It’s probably a good idea to make enough meals for a few days. I can freeze it in single portion servings.”

“Good idea. I have some rabbit in my fridge. I’ll go grab them along with my pans and pots. That should speed things up. I have a freezer full of rabbits, so I’ll move a few to the fridge to thaw in the meantime.”

“That sounds good.”

Calden left, and while I waited for his return, I located where my father had hidden my food storage containers, rinsed them, and set them on the dining room table. Once done, I began preparing the first of the rabbits to go into the oven.

While I expected Calden, our fathers accompanying him startled me. “Didn’t you just leave, Dad?”

He shrugged. “I ran into Allasandro outside, and then we realized we had left our children unattended with sharp objects.”

“Dad, go home,” Calden and I chorused.

Both men sulked.

I pointed at the door. “Tell Mom I love her, please. Take Mr. Stephans home with you and feed him along with your other guests, assuming they’ve arrived.”

“Your mom’s meeting them now.”

“Tell them I said hello, please.” Aware they would chatter for an hour if given a chance, I herded them to the door, tapping my foot and waiting until they left. Once I got them outside, I engaged the deadbolt to keep them at bay before returning to the kitchen. “I swear.”

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