The Last Woman (All That Remains #1) (24 page)

Oh, I so rarely manage to
embarrass him, and this is just too good an opportunity to pass up. “Come on,
Airen.” I giggle and tug his hands from his face. “He’s got those thick, full
lips. Was it good?”

“I’m going to bed.” He
attempts to get up, but I pull him back to sit beside me.

“Okay, don’t tell me, but it
looked very sweet,” I whisper.

“Abby, please,” he moans,
completely humiliated.

“A smart man once assured me
it’s okay to enjoy it.” I snicker to myself as he escapes to our bedroom.

Joseph sits on his bed with
his head in his hands when I sit beside him and run my hand down his back. “I’m
really sorry. I don’t know why I did it. I mean, I drank too much, but that’s
no excuse,” he mutters.

“I’m not upset with you or
Airen.”

He glances at me in surprise.
“I kissed him.”

“And he kissed you.”

“Don’t blame him. I caught him
off guard.”

“I don’t blame either of you.
I’ll tell you the same as I told Airen. You’re two extremely attractive people
who spend a lot of time together, and I understand. I fought how I felt about
him for a long time, and it’s difficult to constantly hide your feelings. I’m
not upset, Joseph, because I know you, and I know you’d never try to take Airen
from me.” I take his hands in mine. “I also know how it feels to love him and
have to keep it to yourself.”

His eyes meet mine and tears run
down his face. I’ve rarely seen Joseph cry, and it breaks my heart to see his
pain. “I tried not to love him,” he confesses, shamefaced.

“Oh honey, I know. I know it
too well.”

He leans his head on my
shoulder when I wrap my arms around him. “He’ll hate me now,” he whispers.

“Of course he won’t.”

“Is he pissed? Does he think I
tried to break you up, like Mandy? I never want to hurt either of you, Abby.”
My heart goes out to him as he wipes his eyes and gazes at me. This sensitive,
caring, adorable man is far lonelier than I’d realized.

“He knows that. Just between
us, I think he’s more confused than anything. Maybe you caught him off guard,
like you said, but he kissed you. I saw it. He enjoyed it, and he feels guilty,
not just because of me, but...”

“Because I’m a man.” A sad
grin settles on his face.

“We both know Air
has...um...tendencies, but he doesn’t know how to deal with it.”

“Tendencies?” Joseph cocks an
eyebrow at me.

“For lack of a better word.” I
giggle. “I’m a little out of my range of knowledge here, honey. I don’t know if
he loves you the way you love him, but I know he loves you, Joseph. He told me
so. I love you too. I need to know something, though.” He gazes at me
expectantly. “Does it hurt you to see us together? Do you ever feel jealous
or…um...anything?” I can’t bear the thought he may be suffering as I would be
if I had to watch Airen with another woman.

Relaxing, he pulls me into a
warm hug. “No, honey, it’s nothing like that. If he was with another man,
maybe.”

I sit up. “It’s weird how that
works! I said the same thing to Airen. If it had been a woman, I’d be
devastated.”

“How are we going to face each
other tomorrow?” he groans.

“By being the smart asses you
always are. I’ve already promised not to let Airen live it down, since that’s
what he said he’d do if you and I had gotten drunk and kissed each other.” I
laugh and a mischievous grin appears on his face.

“So...I could get away with it
once. Good to know,” he says.

“Just pretend nothing ever happened,
and I guarantee Airen will do the same.”

“You won’t tell him how I feel
about him?”

“Of course not, but I think he
already knows. Now go to sleep and no more making out with my man.” I hear his
chuckle as I leave the room.

Airen lies stretched out in
bed, reading, and he glances up at me when I enter and begin to undress.
“Everything okay?” he asks, keeping his eyes averted.

“He’s fine. I’m not so good,
however.”

He looks up, alarmed. “What’s
wrong?”

“Well, first this incredibly
sexy man, all covered in sweat, was parading around wearing only a little pair
of shorts. Then, he held me down while he and another handsome man kissed me
over and over. Next, I walked in on a hot, forbidden moment between two
friends. Now, look at you,” I murmur lustfully. “Stretched out in that bed like
you have no idea how worked up I am or how much I want you.”

Before I can take a breath, he
grabs me and pins me against the wall, kissing me hard. Oh, I know it’s going
to be so good. My moan fills the room as I surrender to him.

* * *
*

The kids have eaten breakfast
and left to help Julie haul some water and still there is no sign of Airen or
Joseph. It appears they’re both trying to set a record to see who can isolate
himself the longest. I roll my eyes as I drag Airen out of bed.

“Get up. I know you’re awake.
Aren’t you and Joseph supposed to go fishing today?” He glares at me. “You
don’t scare me with that look. I know why you’re hiding, and if you don’t want
me to bring Joseph in here and make you shake hands, then you better get your
ass up.” I smack him hard on his butt and quickly dodge him when he tries to
grab me.

Now it’s Joseph’s turn. I’m
not letting them avoid one another all day over a little kiss. When I knock on
Joseph’s door, he answers with a sheepish smile. “Good morning,” he mumbles.

“Come on. I’ll heat you up
some breakfast.” I take his hand and pull him to the table where Airen glances
up warily from his bowl of cereal. They both keep their eyes averted as I place
two warm plates of ham and eggs in front of them. “So, what are you hoping to
catch today?”

“That was the last of the
catfish,” Joseph replies. “I wouldn’t mind catching a few more.”

“I know a good spot,” Airen
assures him. They continue talking about bait and the best locations while I
clean the kitchen. By the time they’re ready to leave, they’re joking and
laughing with each other. Everything is back to normal. Hmm, what would they do
without me? Considering the events of the night before, that may be a question
I don’t want answered.

I’m working in the garden when
they head toward the lake. “Be careful,” I call, and they wave at me. “Hey!”
They both turn to face me, and I point at them. “Behave yourselves.” I just
couldn’t help myself.

The next morning Airen and
Julie take supplies to Mandy at the jail. Julie wants to give her a medical
checkup because she’s been locked up in this heat. The kids and I hike to the
little picnic spot where we found Uno. He’s big now, whatever breed he’s mixed
with must have been bigger than a Labrador. He’s friendly, like a big puppy. Walker
giggles as he gallops alongside us, chasing squirrels.

The kids play in the water
while I lounge in the sun, daydreaming and reminiscing about the day Airen
introduced me to this place. Remembering the sweet little kiss on the cheek still
makes me smile. I’m pulled from my reverie when the kids return.

“Mom! Someone is yelling!
Listen!” Carson exclaims.

“Shh!” I listen hard and
faintly hear my name. Oh God, it’s Joseph. What’s wrong now?

“Come on, we have to go home.”
I grab Walker’s hand and the other three follow. We stick close together on our
trip back up the trail.

“Abby! Jayla! Carson!” I hear
Julie call.

“What the fuck is going on?” I
mutter under my breath, terrified. The bright forest suddenly seems dark and
creepy.

“Sara! Abby!” It’s Airen this
time. He steps out of the woods a few feet in front of us, his face softening
with relief. “Abby! Thank God! We’ve been looking everywhere for y’all!”

“What’s going on? Is someone
hurt?” I ask, grabbing his arm in a panic.

“No, everyone is fine.” He
gets on the radio. “I’ve got them, Joseph. They’re all okay. We’re on our way.”

“Airen, what is going on? You
scared the shit out of me!”

“It’s Mandy. She got out.” He’s
calm, but his eyes reveal his fear and agitation.

“What? When? Where is she?”

“That’s exactly what I want to
know. It’s been two days since Joseph checked on her, so it could have been any
time since then. I want you all home and in the house.”

“Julie should stay with us.
Mandy might go to that house since she considered it hers,” I warn, following
his example and trying to stay calm. She could be anywhere, and she wants me,
Jayla, and Sara dead.

“Good idea.” We all pile in
the house, and I glance around me apprehensively.

Joseph hugs me with a
reassuring smile, realizing my concern. “I searched the house, honey, and it’s
safe.”

“How did she get out?”

“I have no idea. The cell door
was unlocked. If someone came along and let her out, then she may not be
alone,” he warns me.

“She might just leave,” I say
hopefully. “That’s what I’d do.”

“No, she’ll come, Abby. When
we were alone all she ever talked about was taking your place. She hates you,”
Sara whispers.

“I’ll be ready for her,” Airen
promises. He’s loading every gun in the house. “If she shows up here I’ll end
that bitch.” He looks at me, gauging my reaction, daring me to argue.

“Just be careful. She could be
armed as well.” I’m not trying to spare her any longer. I hate that Airen may
have to kill her, but I just don’t see a reasonable alternative anymore.

The next few days are
extremely tense. Airen is torn between the urge to, as he so eloquently puts
it, “hunt the bitch down” and his fear of leaving us alone to do so. Sara is a
bag of nerves. She has a small revolver Airen gave her tucked into her
waistband, and she jumps at every noise.

“How long until we assume she
isn’t coming? That maybe she left?” Jayla asks.

“I don’t know,” Airen replies.

“Well, how long do we have to
stay locked up in here?”

“Until I say you can leave!”
Airen snaps.

Jayla gives him a look that could
melt a glacier, and retreats to her room.

“Airen,” Joseph rebukes
softly, “we’re all scared and on edge. She just wants to know everything will
be all right.” He eyes him with disapproval and follows Jayla.

“Come with me, Walker, and
I’ll read you a story,” Carson volunteers, regarding Airen with caution as they
walk away.

Airen drops onto the couch and
runs his hands through his hair. I sit beside him, slipping my arm around his
waist, and he sighs, the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. “I
don’t know what to do if she doesn’t show up,” he admits. “We can’t hide
forever, and I can’t protect you all every second.” Fear shines in his eyes. He
appears so young and vulnerable, a hopeless, lost look on his face.

“I know,” I whisper, leaning
my head against his chest.

“I can’t lose you…any of you.”

“You won’t, Air. We’ll figure
out something. I’m sorry I didn’t let you kill her in the beginning. I won’t argue
with you again.”

“Oh, Abby,” he kisses my
forehead and sighs, “of course you will.” We both chuckle and his mood lightens
a little.

“You aren’t getting enough
sleep.” I push a strand of hair out of his eyes. “You stayed up all night. Go
to bed. I won’t let anyone out of the house,” I promise. “We’ll get through it,
baby. We always do.”

He nods dejectedly and walks
toward the bedroom. I hate to see him look so exhausted, so defeated.

* * *
*

It’s been a week since they
found the jail empty and there’s still no sign of Mandy anywhere. We’re
starting to relax a little, daring to hope she left town. Airen reluctantly
capitulates and allows the kids back outside. Joseph, Julie, Sara, and I all
keep a gun on us at all times, and one of us is always with the kids.

The weather is so hot and
humid, we’re all grateful for the air conditioning. We try to get our outdoor
chores finished early in the morning or just before dark so we can spend the
hottest part of the day indoors. I’m picking tomatoes and trying to decide
whether to make a sauce or cut them up in a salad, when I glance up and notice her.

Mandy stands in front of me,
and she’s a wreck. It looks like she hasn’t bathed in months. Her hair is
matted together in clumps and stuck against her head. She’s skin and bones,
covered in bug bites, and her clothes are filthy. She smiles, and there isn’t
an ounce of sanity in it. Something in her has broken, and my first emotion is
pity until I see the pistol in her hand. We regard each other as time grinds to
a halt.

“It’s Queen Abby,” she
announces.

She’s going to shoot me. The
thought occurs to me that this is the second time I’ve had a gun pointed at me.

“Mandy.” I regard her, calmly.

“Her majesty remembers my
name!”