Mother, Novella 6: Habitual Humanity, #6

By J. M. Tompkins

In the sixth installment in the Habitual Humanity series, Miles is organizing his army and is finalizing his plans for an attack with the help of Warren, Abel, Jake, and Ocean. Gia and Darius are stuck within Fort Campbell and within their own hells.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. M. Tompkins
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201843519

Book preview

Mother

Novella 5

Habitual Humanity Series

––––––––

J. M. Tompkins

Copyright ©2021 by Creativity Untamed, LLC

ISBN: B09M8TDHLZ

Cover Illustration by Rebecacovers

Typography & formatting by Typographer Creativity Untamed, LLC

Editing services provided by Darcy Werkman (AKA The Bearded Book Editor)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

For my grandmother,

Who never stopped believing in me.

We’ll always have Elvis.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MONDAY | AUGUST 21, 2073

WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 23, 2073

SUNDAY | AUGUST 26, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

TUESDAY | AUGUST 29, 2073

FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 1, 2073

TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2073

TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2073

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TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2073

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TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 5, 2073

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6, 2072

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6, 2072

WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6, 2073

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WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6, 2073

COMING SOON:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to every single person who has helped me in my uphill journey to make becoming an author a dream come true.

I am forever in debt of love and respect to Brad Tompkins, Meg M. Robinson, Elaine Tompkins, Justin Joseph, Toni Bellon, Chris Negron, Kitty Wyn Gravel, Jennifer Drummond, and Darcy Werkman.

Thank you to the Next Level Writing Group, The Indie Group, SPF Community, 20to50K, and the Forsyth County Public Library (my home away from home).

And a special thank you to Sam Stokes and Pamela Ann. I greatly appreciate your support more than you know. And to every single reader. Without you, this dream wouldn’t ever become true.

MONDAY | AUGUST 21, 2073

Gia Moreno

The house wouldn’t be a home for much longer. Today would be the first day where no savory or spicy smells would fill the kitchen and venture through the house. There would be no soft, musky aftershave whispering that it was time to wake up. The bed would be cold and large. Gia hated whenever Joel was deployed.

He packed his duffel bag in silence while she sat cross-legged on the bed. They only had minutes left.

She’d tried to make the most of it. She’d made a point of being sure he only made his favorite food. He’d wanted to make her favorites, but she’d been adamant. When would he get to eat whatever he wanted again? But now, watching the white shirts disappear inside his bag, she realized he’d been thinking it might be the last time he cooked for her. She’d approached him last night, after the boys were in bed, and took Joel by the hand to their room. No matter how much she did before he left, it never seemed like enough. And now time had run out.

He threw his bag over his shoulder. I love you, he said. His eyes were as bright as always, a stark contrast to the sadness she couldn’t hide within her own.

She tried to smile but could feel how thin it actually was. I love you, too.

Joel reached out and touched her face. I’ll be back. He leaned over and kissed her.

We can still find a way out. Truthfully, she had no ideas left for how to make that happen. Since the hack on the government, all citizen scores were frozen.

If I don’t go, things will be worse for us here. He placed his forehead against hers.

But it’s more than that . . . She trailed off. She couldn’t say the words her children, the ten dupes she’d created for the sole purpose of starting this war. She didn’t want him fighting against them and, just as important, their purpose. She couldn’t bear it if he was on the wrong side of a war that she’d started. The weight of her reckless actions now slammed down on her shoulders. If she lost him, if their sons lost him, it would all be her fault.

I know, I do know. But I have no choice. He kissed her once again and then headed across the hall where Barry was playing in his room.

He ruffled Barry’s hair and picked him up. Are you going to be good for Mommy?

Yeah, Barry said. He clutched onto the car he’d been playing with and then began running it over his dad’s shoulder.

Good! You’re my big man and I love you. Joel kissed Barry on the forehead, who seemed ready to get back to his racetrack, but Joel couldn’t put him down. He kept him in his arms and turned to face Gia.

No offense, but this is what I’m going to miss the most. He’s going to grow so fast.

Gia smiled as her vision blurred with tears. She looked down at her feet, not wanting to cry in front of him. She’d wait until he drove the car away before falling apart. When she looked up again, it was Joel who had the tears.

It’s funny, now I can smell that baby smell women talk about, he said.

Gia laughed, unable to control her own tears now. It’s intoxicating.

Joel kissed Barry one last time and then handed him to Gia. He put his hands on her stomach and said, I’ll be back in plenty of time for this one to be born.

Before she knew it, he was squeezing her hand and they were walking down the hall to the front door. Before opening it, Joel turned to kiss her passionately. Then he smiled, as though he’d not let a single tear free, and said, See you soon.

Before you know it! Gia replied.

It seemed like a blink later and he was out the front door and getting into the car. She stood on the tiny concrete porch with Barry in her arms and already felt the strength in her giving way.

The car backed up as the driver-side window rolled down. Joel’s long muscular arm shot out and waved as he drove away.

Gia turned into the empty house. Before she could even think about this war she’d caused and Joel being gone, Barry said, ‘nack!

You’re hungry? Sure, big guy. She made her way into the kitchen and filled a small train-covered bowl with cut strawberries. She lifted Barry, placed him into his chair, and sat beside him as he smashed the fruit between his hands. As she looked at him, she realized she was the same strong-willed woman she’d always been, and she was not about to break down.

WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 23, 2073

Darius Jones

The lab was eerily quiet save for the swish, swish, swish of