Lockdown

By Rena Marin

With the entire world facing a pandemic, Diana Peterson and her daughter Brooke decide to leave the city and ride out the stay at home order at their vacation home on the lake. Life is quieter there. More secluded. Safer. Or at least they thought it was. An incoming storm system immediately sends the mother and daughter into lockdown mode.

 

While preparing for the storm, a stranger finds his way to the door. His request? A place for him and his friends to shelter from the weather rolling in. With her daughter's health and safety in mind, Diana refuses, leaving them to fend for themselves. But some people don't take no for an answer.

 

As the rain, wind, and thunder rolls outside, the strangers from across the lake think they have the advantage, but they have forgotten one important rule of nature. A mother will do anything to protect her child.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crazy Ink
• Release date: Aug 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781386699637

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International Bestselling Author

Rena Marin

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Chapter One

The more I watch the news, the more annoyed I get. Fake news, it’s all a hoax, you name it, they say it. Don’t get me wrong, I know the media is full of shit and love fear mongering, but no one can convince me Covid-19 is fake. Inflated numbers? Maybe, but being the ex-wife of an ER physician gives me a different perspective on this thing. Especially when Kyle called me up to explain he was going to New York to help with the influx of patients there. That was three days ago and our fourteen-year-old daughter, Brooke, is still on edge.

With numbers going up, I find myself wondering how best to go about all this. After Kyle and I divorced, it’s only been official for three months now, I didn’t feel the need to move out of the city. My life is here. Brooke’s life is here. Sure, Kyle and I worked hard to buy the house we owned together and the lake house we purchased just two years ago. I also didn’t feel the need to fight with him. Kyle isn’t a bad man. He’s a good father, a hard worker, and never once raised a hand to me. He just couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. Especially, when a new, young nurse was involved. The memories the two of us shared in the main house were great. They also hurt a bit, which was why I didn’t hesitate to let him take the house in the divorce. I took the lake house, and of course, enough money to snatch Brooke and myself a cute studio apartment we’re more than happy in.

The idea of Brooke and me heading to the lake has been on my mind since Kyle left for New York. More and more people are contracting the virus here in the city. Brooke’s school has already cancelled classes for the foreseeable future, and I’m now working remotely using Zoom meetings and spreadsheets. There’s really no reason why we couldn’t go, and according to Kyle, who I already ran the idea by, he says it would be smart and that we shouldn’t wait. He says eventually more cities will shut down and travel may be stopped.

I close my laptop, not wanting to read anymore news, and cross the over-sized living room to where Brooke is sitting at the kitchen bar. She’s on her phone as usual, watching a YouTube video with her air pods in. She doesn’t hear me joining her, which gives me just a minute to take in the beauty that is my daughter. She has Kyle’s eyes. They are a fascinating mix between blue and green according to what light you’re in. The sprinkling of freckles on her cheeks are from Kyle’s mom, who is a natural red head. The rest? Yeah, the rest is all me. The full lips, the long but stick straight dark brown hair, and long legs all came from her momma. If it weren’t for the slightly lighter complexion and the eyes, not to mention my wrinkles, people would think we’re twins.

I reach out and squeeze her shoulder, watching her jump slightly when I do. In an instant, she has the video paused and is looking up at me. Mom, you scared me.

Sorry, sweetheart. I smirk at the look she gives me. I have an idea to run past you.

"Oh, really? That’s a little foreboding. What’s up?

Since your dad is in New York, and we don’t know how long he’ll be there, what would you think about the two of us going up to the lake house. We can ride this thing out up there. We’d have more to do since it’s three acres with no one around. We can camp out if we want, swim, hike, whatever you want to do.

I can see the indecision on her face and already I know why. But what about my friends?

Brooke, if we are on lockdown, you can’t be hanging out with them anyway. You can just as easily talk with them up there. I just think it may be a good idea to be in a smaller place with less infection.

I can practically see the wheels turning in her mind. It’s the end of March. It’s a bit cool still, but she knows it won’t be long before it warms up. It’s the South after all. This will be our first trip to the lake house since the divorce though. I haven’t had a chance to go down there and do much. The family pictures, swimsuits, Kyle’s fishing equipment, all of it is still there. I’m not sure how much seeing all that will bother her.

I guess it sounds like a good idea. At least we’ll have more room to move around down there. What about the apartment?

Oh, Mrs. Nelson next door will keep an eye on things. With her age, she’s already decided she won’t be leaving her apartment and has weekly deliveries of her medicines and groceries already set up. The perks of living in Chattanooga.

She smiles, and it lights up the room. I can’t put my finger on why, but knowing she’s okay with going seems to make everything better. When are we leaving? I’ll need to get all my school stuff together too.

Is tomorrow too early?

She shakes her head. Nah, I can do that. I’ll start packing, she tells me as she gets to her feet. Our dog, a mutt named Jazzy, we adopted during the divorce, who absolutely adores Brooke, immediately rushes to her side. We’ll need stuff for down there.

I’ll pack up the food here that will go bad, then we’ll get the rest when we’re in Willow Creek.

Mom, places are running out of everything. You may want to think that through. Willow Creek is tiny. Who’s to say their stores aren’t wiped clean.

Good point. We’ll stop off in Fountain City for what we need then we’ll just ride it out like a vacation.

Make sure you let dad know. If something happens, and he comes home earlier than he expects I don’t want him searching for me.

I nod my head as she flutters her way through the living room then vanishes in her bedroom. Within seconds, her music comes on, and I know she’s set herself to work gathering her things. As much as I don’t want to call him, she’s right about her dad though. Kyle needs to know. Since he left for New York, I haven’t heard a peep out of him. Brooke received one text saying his flight made it, and he was fine. That was it. I know he’s swamped, but hopefully he’ll have time to take a quick call.

I pull out my cell, then dial his number. If he’s on the floor, he won’t answer. At least, he didn’t used to. It’s been a bit since I’ve randomly called him, so I’m not sure about things like that anymore. When I hear his voice, I’m somewhat shocked.

Diana? Is everything alright?

Yeah, I’m sorry to bother you.

You aren’t bothering me. You know that.

He’s being nice. I should’ve figured that. It’s not like things got crazy during the divorce. On the contrary, he bowed his head in shame, begged me to forgive him, and gave up when he saw I couldn’t do it. I tried though. It’s not like I threw away fifteen years of marriage on a whim. I couldn’t get the idea of