“Yes, sort of. She tags along. She…. she is… was my wife.”
Seemingly unfazed, the woman nodded, shut the gate and led us to her home.
She introduced herself as Mama Mavis Martin, but we could call her Mama, or Mavis. Everyone always did. For as long as she could remember she was the town mother. Everyone ran to her. That made sense.
It was a mad mixture of things all wrapped up in a surreal package. A picture-perfect small farm, booby trapped perimeters, a body double for Hannah’s grandmother, a kitchen that smelled of cinnamon, complete with a Vee husband named George whom she kept in the fenced in turnaround area by the stable. All of which was present by a woman rocking a house dress serving up apple pie as if we were the new neighbors coming to visit.
The pie was amazing.
Hannah loved it and dumped those apples she picked right on the table. “Take them if you can use them,” she said. “I won’t eat them all before they spoil.”
“You sure?” she asked. “How about I make you something before you leave? Something you can take with you that won’t spoil too fast.”
“Okay,” Hannah said excitedly.
Mavis’ attention was drawn to me when Edward stated to fuss.
“Have you been traveling with the baby long?” she asked.
“Since he was born. That’s only been a couple days.”
“I have a basinet upstairs in the small bedroom. You can put him down. Maybe that’s what he needs. Babies tend to get sore when handled too much. I bet his skin is especially tender. Why don’t you lay him down?”
“That might be a good idea. Thank you.”
“I can show you…”
“No. I’ll go. I’ll find it. Be right back.”
I left the kitchen. I think I needed to see the house, learn the woman. Who was she? Why was she being so nice? I wondered if it was all a set up for something bad, or she was insane?
The bedroom with the bassinet was easy to find. It was at the top of the stairs to the right. I placed Edward in the basinet. He didn’t seem to like it much. He fussed and screamed, his little arms flailing about. His perfect little face, with tiny features, just looked so angry. Like he was pissed at the world. I wanted him to calm down. I needed a break and I was sure Hannah did too.
Thinking maybe if I let him be, he’d go to sleep, I turned to leave the room and Hannah was there. I jumped.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry. You left his binky downstairs. That’ll calm him.” She rushed by me to the bassinette and leaned over. “Hey there little guy. Here you go.”
He let out a few short screams, fighting any satisfaction he may get from the pacifier. Then he finally gave in. He was quiet except for the sucking noise.
“There. All better,” Hannah said with a smile.
“Hannah, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Have a really loud and fussy baby all the time, that’s for sure. Come on, Calvin. Mama Mavis is making tea.”
I stepped out of her way as she dashed by me. “Okay then.” After taking another peek at Edward, I went downstairs.
In my pass through the living room, I paused at the sofa table and looked at all the photographs that were set out. The photos spanned her entire life. From a young hot wife to the loveable looking woman she had become. She had children, lots of them. Five from what I counted. Many grandchildren too. It made me sad to think of her losses.
Hearing the clanking of cups and the chattering between her and Hannah, I realized the way to get to know her wasn’t just by the photographs, but by talking to her as well.
Tea sounded good and I joined them in the kitchen.
Mama Mavis was a wonderful woman, at least to us. She missed her family dearly and was definitely a ‘Pleasantville’ version of an apocalypse survivor.
She cooked a wonderful stew of fresh applesauce and biscuits. I was happy with the pie; we arrived so late, the dinner was a welcome surprise.
I had washed up and she gave me a clean shirt and jeans and I thanked her for them. “Best I felt in days.”
“You don’t look it,” Mavis said. “Here.” She rattled a brown pill bottle and placed it in front of me. “Antibiotics. Take them. The whole bottle. They’ll help. You don’t have far to go to Sanctuary City, they won’t let you in if you’re sick. Right now, you just took a beating, couple days you’ll look better.”
“Thank you again.” I clutched the bottle.
“Supper’s on the table, Hannah. Come eat,’ Mavis said.
Hannah stared out the backdoor. “George is chasing something out there.”
“Probably a mouse. We have many back there. He’ll get one,” Mavis said. “Then he’ll calm down. It doesn’t take much to calm them down. Few bites. They really don’t ingest it. They just chew. I guess it seems kinda sadistic to keep them. Because he was my husband I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill him”
“Calvin is gonna shoot his wife in the head first chance he feels ready for it.”
“Oh stop. I did not say that,” I said.
“What happened to him?” Hannah asked. “How did George get like that?”
“He got bit,” Mavis responded. “Was helping a neighbor down the road. Trying to pack them up and get them going. Their boy was sick. He bit him. George turned within a couple days. I guess I’m just waiting for the good Lord to take him.”
“I see you have a stable. Did you have horses?” I asked.
“At one time. I don’t anymore.”
“Did George eat them?” Hannah asked.
“Hannah!” I scolded.
Mavis smiled and shook her head. “No. That would be way too much for George to eat, now wouldn’t it. No. I bartered them. A man named Jason came up with the idea to start a transportation service from different places in the area to Sanctuary Sixteen and Thirteen. They pay him with stuff and he takes them. I bartered for goods in our deal, I gave him the horses and cart and made a nice deal with him for what people paid him. He’s a good man. Stays true to his word. Drops off supplies on his way there every single trip. Usually him and his traveling folks spend the night. Then they go on their way. He’s been doing it for several weeks now. He’s about due. Takes a different road back up north and this one down.”
Hannah gushed with excitement. “Oh, Mama Mavis, we would’ve met anyhow. I was waiting on the next transport. He was taking a while.”
“Sometimes he hangs out at the sanctuary to rest up. Plus it’s been raining a lot.”
Hannah asked, “What’s it like? Do you know? Did Jason tell you? What’s Sanctuary City like?”
“Well, little one, they’re safe there. He said they’re like tent cities. He said sometimes they get kind of rough. They clean the rift raff out of there. Get rid of the rowsers pretty fast, I hear.
“Did you ever think to go with him?” I inquired.
“No, heavens no.” Mavis shook her head. “Have you looked around my place? I have it made. My own water, garden, food supply, and even if the bartering doesn’t last, I have enough. It’s safe from those things. Very few come up this way. That hill is a trudge.”
“Then why the explosives?” I asked.
“Amongst other things I spent seventeen years in the service back in my heyday. I’m pretty good.” She winked. “The traps aren’t for the infected, they’re for the people that try to get my stuff. I know when they’re coming. I have battery operated sensors out on the road. Been hit enough. Jason taught me those lessons. Gotta love that man.”
Hannah paused in eating, then a dreamy look came over her. “You’re so pretty and smart. Just like my grandma.”
Mavis sighed out with an ‘ah,’ laying her hand on Hannah’s face. “You are welcome to stay here. You know that?” Then she looked at me. “You as well. I can use the help with the wood during the winter.”