The Last Woman (All That Remains #1) (22 page)

A slight frown settles on his
face as he gazes at me. “Everything wasn’t just handed to me, you know,” he
says in a low voice.

“Oh, Air, I didn’t mean it
like that. I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. I know you worked hard, and
you still do, but you have to admit good looking people had an advantage.”

“Sure they did, but there were
down sides. Just as there were disadvantages to being rich.”

“Like?”

He hesitates, pressing his
lips together.

“You do owe me some deep dark
secrets, remember?” I smile and squeeze his hand.

“Okay,” he reluctantly agrees.
He slips his arm around me and tucks me against his side. “You think no one has
ever loved you, and I understand why. I didn’t have the unfortunate upbringing
you did, but I know how you feel when you doubt people’s motives. I started
modeling at ten years old, and acting at twelve. Everyone said I was handsome,
older girls wanted to go out with me, and I thought I had it made.

“I’d already made a lot of
money by the time I was eighteen and allowed access to it. I’d traveled through
Europe and lived in New York City. Women were throwing themselves at me, and I
admit it was wonderful for a while, but everyone wanted something from me. They
wanted to be seen with someone who was famous, or they wanted me for my money
or looks. I didn’t have any real friends. I’m not sure if either of the women I
loved really loved me. They were too happy to move on to the next big star.”

He tilts my head up until our
eyes meet, and there is sadness in those dark depths. “You aren’t the only one
who feels the plague improved your life. I have a woman who loves me and won’t
take any shit from me no matter how I look.” His soft lips meet mine before he
looks away and continues, “I have a brother in Joseph and these great kids. It
feels wrong, though, to think that way. Like you said, the whole world had to
die for me to find happiness,” he confesses.

“Well, aren’t we a pair.” I
sigh and lay my head on his shoulder. “I suppose rationally it doesn’t matter
whether we’re happier in our post-plague lives. We didn’t cause it, and we
can’t change it.” I take his face in my hands, feeling the raspy scrape of
stubble on my palm. “I love you and not because you’re stunningly attractive.
That’s just a bonus.”

His shy smile makes him look
younger, more innocent. It’s rare when he drops that arrogant, cocky facade he
likes to hide behind.

“You’re my happiness, Abigail.
All this other shit, none of it matters. If I have you, I’m happy,” he replies,
kissing my forehead. “We’d better go back.”

* * *
*

Gary asks to speak to me as
soon as we return. “Carson is an amazing child. The fact that he has continued
to train himself in karate is inspiring. I’d love to award him his black belt. Promoting
to black belt is a huge honor, so I’d like to have a little presentation
ceremony.”

I’m glowing with pride for my
son. After all he’s been through, he deserves this so much. We decide to make a
celebration of it. When I tell Carson, he’s ecstatic. Gary drives to town in
search of a black karate belt while I prepare for the impromptu celebration.

We all gather on the front
lawn late in the afternoon, and Carson has quite an audience. Gary instructs
him to run through eleven different katas. Carson demonstrates his different
kicks, blocks, and punches. I’m exhausted just watching him. After an hour and
a half he’s soaked in sweat and dead on his feet.

“Carson Bailey,” Gary’s voice
booms, “you’ve earned this promotion to black belt.” He ties the belt around
Carson’s waist and shakes his hand. “You aren’t finished, young man. Studying martial
arts is a lifestyle, not just a goal. It’s a journey and an art form to be
passed down to the next generation.”

Carson beams. “I’m teaching
Walker.”

Gary grins at him, and they
bow to each other and then to us, while everyone claps.

Airen slips his arm around me
and whispers in my ear. “You were so upset over him not having this
opportunity. You see, we never know what the future will bring for any of us.”

I lay my head on his shoulder.
“You were so sweet to me that night. I was already falling in love with you,” I
confess.

His breath is warm in my ear
as he chuckles and hugs me tight. “And I was completely clueless. I was crazy
about you, but I didn’t think you felt the same way. You were so distant.”

“I was trying like hell not to
let it happen. I was terrified you’d leave, and I didn’t think I’d survive
another loss.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know that now.”

He holds me at arms’ length,
and his eyes lock onto mine. His face is suddenly tense and solemn. Lines form
around his mouth as he presses his lips together skeptically. “Do you?”

“Yes,” I whisper, keeping my
eyes trained on his. “I know you won’t leave me.”

“But not that I love you.”

“I know you love me. The
rational part of me knows you love me, Air. Still, there’s a smaller part of
me, an inner voice that whispers how ridiculous that is. How could a man as
perfect as you love me when no one else ever could?”

“I’m far from perfect,
darlin’” He sighs and slings his arm around my neck as we walk across the yard.
“Well, we have nothing but time. I can spend the rest of my life convincing
you.”

“I feel loved, Airen, by you,
Joseph, and the kids. It’s the first time in my life I can say that. Please,
don’t sound so sad.”

He stops walking and brings
his lips softly to mine, kissing me with slow, gentle licks that make my whole
body sing out in pleasure. His lips linger against mine as he whispers, “You
are so loved.”

“So are you.” His hair is
sweaty as I weave my fingers into it and scratch his scalp the way he loves.

“Well, aren’t we a pair?” He
grins, returning my words from earlier.

The kids are asleep, and the
bonfire is slowly dying out when Joseph joins me and Airen on the steps. “Have
you talked to Julie at all?” he asks us.

“Just to say hi. I haven’t
really had a conversation with her or anything. Why?”

“She’s a doctor.”

“Really?” Airen exclaims.
“What kind of doctor?”

“A pediatrician and an
internist. She really likes it here, and I think she’d stay if we invited her.”

“Just because she’s a doctor
doesn’t mean she isn’t crazy. We still have one psycho bitch to deal with,”
Airen complains.

“I’ve spent most of the day
with her, and she seems really sweet, but after Mandy I don’t trust my
instincts.”

My eyebrows climb my forehead
at the word “sweet”, and Joseph rolls his eyes.

“Not like that. She’s old
enough to be my mother. I just think you two should get to know her. They plan
to leave tomorrow afternoon.”

“It can’t hurt to talk to her.”

“Mmm.” Airen shrugs
noncommittally. That’s as close to an agreement as we’re going to get for now.

The next day we discover Julie
is a really nice lady. Even Airen has to admit it. She and Joseph have hit it
off, and I know he wants her to stay.

“Where do you have in mind?”
Airen asks Joseph.

“The other house, after we
finish the electric. I was there this morning, and it would only take us a day
or two.”

“What do you think?” Airen
turns to me with a sigh.

“I think we should invite her
to stay, mainly for Jayla. You know how badly she wants to be a doctor, and she
could learn so much from her.”

Airen finally acquiesces. “If
this one goes crazy and starts poisoning people, I’m not imprisoning her. I’m
shooting her. Just to be clear.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s a
doctor. She wouldn’t poison us,” I assure him. I almost laugh at the skeptical
look on his face. “She has a plethora of drugs at her disposal,” I quip,
smiling.

The corners of his mouth turn
up slightly before he forces a scowl. “You aren’t funny, Abby.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Joseph
volunteers and rushes off to find her. It’s good to see him excited and happy
about something.

“You can bet her friends
aren’t going to be happy if she agrees to stay,” Airen remarks.

“Always the optimist.”

“Pot, kettle, sweetheart.” He
grins.

Later that afternoon, we all
gather to say goodbye as the group prepares to leave, minus one doctor.

“Come back and visit,” I
insist.

“You stole our doctor. We’ll
be back,” Gary replies. “Take care of each other!” he cries as the RV pulls
away.

A letdown follows their
departure for a few days. It reminds me of how I used to feel after the
holidays were over, and things went back to normal. Everyone is somewhat
subdued. Having all those people around again felt so good, and now it seems
too quiet. I’m working in the garden, pulling weeds and planting the pot seeds
Danny left me, when Julie sits down beside me.

“Hi, how are you?” I greet.

“Good and I love this weather.”

“Do you like the new house?”

“It’s amazing. I never dreamed
I’d be able to flip a switch and have light again,” she replies.

“I’m looking forward to it,” I
admit. “It shouldn’t take them as long to do our house now that they know what
they’re doing.”

“Look, Abby,” she hesitates,
and I realize she’s approaching the subject she really wants to talk about.
“Joseph told me about Mandy and what she tried to do to you. I know she’s
locked away where she belongs, and I just want you to know I’m fine with
whatever you decide to do with her.”

I sit down beside her and
brush the dirt from my hands. “Even if I said Airen wants to kill her?” I blurt,
watching her closely.

“Perhaps that’s your best
option.” She stares back at me. “I’m a realist, Abby, and things have changed.”

“I was a heathen liberal.” I
snort. “I just don’t want this tragedy to change me. I was against the death
penalty before the plague, and my values haven’t changed.”

“I understand, but we had
numerous alternatives before, and we have to have a way of dealing with the
worst of the worst. However, if you want to keep her locked up indefinitely,
I’ll be glad to help.”

“I suppose we have to figure
out something by winter or she’ll freeze to death in there.”

She pats my hand. “You have
plenty of time.”

I decide I like her. Julie
fits in well, and the kids are growing fond of her. Even Airen has to admit
asking her to stay was a good decision. I’m glad to have another woman to talk
to. I’ve been outnumbered by men for too long.

“How long have you and Airen
been together?” she asks nonchalantly while we pick green peppers and fertilize
the garden.

A smile blooms on my face as I
answer. “We met almost a year ago, but we didn’t get together until April.
Joseph and Walker have been with us for about five months, and Sara close to
three.”

“I spent the first two months
alone before Danny and Hope found me,” she remarks.

“That must have been hard. I
had Carson with me the whole time, and I don’t know if I’d have survived it
alone.”

“You’d be surprised what you
can do when you have to. Look what you, Joseph, and Airen have built here. You
grow your own food, purify your own water, and now you have electricity. You
have all adapted amazingly well,” she praises.

“Thank you, it doesn’t seem
that way sometimes. It’s a day to day struggle.”

“But we’re alive.” She beams
at me, and I smile back at her.

“We’re alive.”

Joseph has an announcement to
make at dinner. “If I have everything installed correctly, the power will be on
tomorrow.” The kids cheer, and Airen slaps Joseph on the back.

“We should celebrate,” I
suggest with a smile. “Any suggestions?”

“I say we celebrate by turning
on the central air,” Jayla remarks, making everyone laugh.

“Aren’t you from Atlanta?”
Julie asks. “You should be used to the heat.”

“I wasn’t crazy about it
there, either. Seriously, I’m sweating like a whore in church.”

“Jayla!” Joseph snorts, and
Airen hides a small smile behind his hand.

“We’ll turn the air on, don’t
worry,” I assure her with a grin.

Tomorrow is the first day of
August, and the temperature has been over a hundred degrees for a week. The
humidity is unbearable. You can practically wring the water from the air.

“I want to play video games
all day,” Carson speaks up.

“Me too!” Walker cries.

Sara and Jayla announce they want
to hang out together and listen to music.

Joseph shrugs. “We could have
a few drinks, and I wouldn’t say no to some of that delicious fried catfish
Abby makes,” he says, throwing me a charming smile, complete with adorable
dimples. He knows how to get to me.