“Adam!” she said with a sense of relief in her voice. “Adam! Oh my God!”
My heart began to break as his arms reached up to hold her. “Susan?” He paused while she clung to him. “How?” He seemed in shock over her arrival.
I took a small step back, and Emilie had already moved to my side. She put a hand on my back to keep me from running. She interrupted the reunion by clearing her throat. “You guys know each other?” she asked, perplexed.
I felt my stomach drop and my skin got cold and prickly feeling. I wanted the beautiful woman to get back into the step van and drive away.
“Adam and I go way back,” she answered. “I can’t believe we found each other, what are the odds?” Even her voice was beautiful.
“We met in college,” Boggs said after coughing lightly.
“It’s like fate, Adam,” she whispered. She stood to face us, and kept an arm around his waist.
Boggs stood there, looking somewhat uncomfortable. He took her arm away from his waist and held her hand in his. “Susan, these are my friends. Gus, Emilie, Zoe, this is Susan. The four of us have been together since Day One. Well, except for Emilie. She joined us several days into this mess.”
“We should all go inside and talk,” said Gus.
Susan nodded eagerly.
“Miss Louisa,” said Gus. “We’ve been climbing in and out through the kitchen window. Will you be ok with that this time? I can’t help but notice that you’re expecting. We can rearrange things so we can use the front door later.”
“Sure,” said Louisa. “Julio can help me. We’re just so glad to have found somewhere to stay. New friends are a bonus.” She spoke with a faint Mexican accent.
“Emilie?” I whispered to her. “Can you take me inside please?” I was fighting back tears.
She and I quietly slipped inside ahead of the others.
It was hard to breathe. I couldn’t keep the tears in any longer and they began to fall freely down my cheeks.
“Zoe, come on. Let’s go upstairs and talk, ok?” suggested Emilie. I was suddenly even more grateful for her being in my life.
We walked up the stairs together. I could hear our guests climbing into the kitchen behind us. Emilie escorted me to my room and lit the candle on the vanity for light, then closed the door. I walked to the bed and lay down facing the headboard, leaving my legs hanging over the edge. I wiped at my tears, trying to stop their flow. As Emilie sat behind me, I felt her weight on the bed.
“Zoe? Who is she?” asked Em.
I swallowed hard. “It’s a girl he had an affair with in college.”
“He cheated on you?” she asked, in disbelief.
I rolled over onto my back to look at her. “No, we weren’t together then. Just friends. We’ve only been more than friends since this zombie stuff happened.”
“Really?” she asked, with a confused look on her face. “I assumed you’ve always been a couple. He’s nuts about you, you know that right?”
“We’ve been friends my whole life. Since I was a baby. We used to do everything together. Then he went off to college and his fling with Susan messed him up. He got distant.” I wasn’t sure if I should mention Susan’s abortion, so left that part out. I figured that was Boggs’ private matter. “We were just seeing each other for the first time in months the weekend this all started.”
Emilie sighed. “I’m not sure what to say, Zoe. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“But did you see her? She’s gorgeous. And he introduced me as his ‘friend,’ Em.” I sniffled.
“Zoe, have you seen yourself?” she asked. “She doesn’t have anything over you. You’re beautiful. Inside and out.” She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “Trust me.”
I wiped at my tears again.
“I’m going to slip downstairs and heat up some tea. Do you want to come with me or should I bring it up to you?”
“Can you bring it back?” I asked. “I think I just need some quiet time. Time to think.”
“Sure, Zoe. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Emilie left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. I turned back toward the headboard and kicked off my shoes. I clutched at a pillow and curled into a ball. After several minutes the door opened. I felt the bed depress behind me. I knew it wasn’t Emilie because she was much lighter than whoever had just sat down.
“Zoe?” whispered Boggs. “We need to talk.”
I didn’t say anything. I closed my eyes, willing myself to disappear. It didn’t work.
“Zoe, I never would have guessed she’d show up. You know it was a short relationship. It didn’t mean anything. I love you, Zoe. Her being here doesn’t change that.” I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Please, Zoe, I’m begging you. Don’t shut me out. I promise I’ll talk to her, lay down some rules. I’ll make sure she understands.”
He leaned down and laid his head against mine. His hand moved to mine and he squeezed it lightly. “Come downstairs, Zo? Please?”
“I don’t want to see her, Boggs. She was all over you and you told her I’m your ‘friend.’”
“I’m sorry about that. I was shocked. I just didn’t know what to say. Forgive me?”
I rolled into him. “I just can’t bear the thought of losing you now, Boggs.”
“You won’t lose me, Zoe. No chance of it.” He kissed my forehead. “C’mon, let’s go get to know everyone.”
“Ya, just what I want. My new best girlfriend Susan,” I mumbled sarcastically.
He stood and held a hand out for me. Reluctantly, I took it and stood. I left my shoes behind and walked downstairs with him. Once at the bottom of the steps, he took my hand in his and walked with me into the living room. Wanda and Louisa had taken seats on one of the loveseats. Susan was sitting on the other and smiled when she saw Boggs. Her smile faded a bit when she saw that our hands were joined. Emilie and Gus had brought the four chairs in from the kitchen table, and the two of them and Julio had settled onto three of them. Boggs unexpectedly lifted me off of my feet and sat in the last open chair, setting me on his lap. It left Susan sitting on the sofa by herself.
“Susan, this is Zoe. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. She knows about what happened with us at the university. We both know it was a mistake, all of it. Zoe and I are together, and I’d like to ask that you respect that.”
I was shocked by his frankness. Shocked, but pleased. I looked over and saw Emilie hiding a smile. I dared to look at Susan, who was flushed and looked appalled.
“Uh, well, Zoe wasn’t there when you were screwing my brains out,” said Susan nastily. “Was she?”
I couldn’t believe Boggs had been with such a nasty woman. I already despised her.
“Cool it,” Boggs said. “No need to be rude, Susan.”
The woman pretended to inspect her fingernails. “Whatever.”
No one else spoke.
I looked at Boggs, who winked at me. I forced a small insincere smile at him. I still wanted to disappear. I looked over and saw that Wanda, the older woman, had fallen asleep. Or maybe she was smart and just pretending to be.
“Ok, kids,” said Gus. “Let’s move on to the important stuff.”
Julio looked up and spoke. “Great. I guess our biggest question is will you all be ok with us staying here? It’s all of us though,” he added. “Louisa, Wanda, Susan, and I have been together now for awhile. Looks like there’s some tension here, but the four of us have to stay together. He looked at Louisa, who had a hand resting on her swollen belly, and smiled at her. He took Louisa’s other hand is his. “I’ll see to it that Susan behaves,” he added.
Susan glared at Julio.
Gus sighed heavily. “We don’t have much room, and not many supplies, but I think I can speak for my friends when we say we won’t turn friendly survivors away. What you see is what you get. Three bedrooms upstairs, a small attic, one bathroom, and then the kitchen and living room down here. We have solar power and propane for the
fireplace, oven, stove, and refrigerator.”
“We’d be grateful for a corner, if you feel you can spare it,” said Julio.
I took notice that Julio seemed mature beyond his age. His exterior looked rough, but he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
“We can empty out the third bedroom upstairs,” said Gus. He looked over at Emilie. “Em, you okay with me officially moving in with you?”
She took his hand in hers and smiled warmly. “Of course.”
Julio spoke up. “That’s very kind. We appreciate it. Wanda might do best down here, to avoid the stairs. We have a bed in the step van we can bring in if that’s ok?”
“Absolutely,” said Boggs. I had nestled in against him and was rather comfortable.
Susan looked up. “You said there’s an attic?”
Gus nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Can I use it then?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Gus again. I got the impression he wasn’t taking a liking to her either.
“We have things in the van we should bring in,” said Julio. “Food, blankets, water, Wanda’s bed.”
“What about a bathroom for Wanda?” I asked. “The only one is all the way up the stairs.”
Louisa spoke. “We have a commode in the van. I’ll help her with using it.” She had a very soft, sweet voice.
“Louisa, you take such good care of her,” said Julio.
Louisa looked over at Wanda and covered her hand in her own as she slept. “She looks so tired. Every day she looks a little older. A little more frail. She reminds me of my Mama in some ways.” Louisa smiled at Julio. “How could I not take care of her, J?” I saw tears welling in Louisa’s brown eyes.
“You’ll be such a good mom, Isa,” he said sweetly.
I saw Susan roll her eyes.
“I do hope so,” said Louisa with a sigh.
Chapter 11
It had taken the rest of the day to rework the front door to allow for carrying in Wanda’s twin bed and other supplies from the step van. Once the door was finished, Emilie and I had volunteered to do Wanda and Louisa’s share of the work for the day, allowing them to rest in the living room. Susan, to my relief, made herself busy with organizing the attic. I had a fleeting desire to lock her up there.
Julio and Boggs carried the frame to the twin bed inside. It was just the simple metal type, but by using both men it kept them from the hassle of disassembling the whole thing. Gus carried the mattress and Emilie and I helped each other with the box springs. It was decided the bed would be placed next to the fire to help keep Wanda warm. Louisa and Julio would be using the third bedroom upstairs. Since the bed and frame in that room had been stripped down and used for boarding windows and making weapons, leaving just a full sized mattress on the floor, Emilie had suggested that she and Gus swap out their queen sized bed and frame. Gus was all for it, agreeing that he and Emilie would be fine sleeping on the mattress on the floor of their room. Susan would stay in the attic on a camp cot they had brought with them in the van.
Once Wanda’s bed was set up, we made quick trips outside to bring the rest of the supplies in. We discovered that the newcomers had come across the Explorer on their way in and scavenged it. All of our supplies had been brought to us in an odd twist of fate, saving us the work. Julio and Gus had discussed emergency plans, and decided it would be wise to leave a box of dried goods and bottled water in the step van, as well as blankets. By the time we were finished bringing in the rest of the provisions, the bodies in the yard had burned down to blackened bone. The plan was to bury what remained the next day out of respect for who the creatures had once been when they were human. We went inside together, and secured the front door for the night. Louisa had put fresh sheets on Wanda’s bed and had it ready for the woman to sleep for the night. Susan was sitting on one of the loveseats with her feet up, lazily reading a magazine she said she had found in the attic. Wanda was sitting at the kitchen table. She looked so tired. Louisa was busy in the kitchen making dinner. She had set the counter with paper plates and plastic forks and told us it would be buffet style since the table was too small to accommodate everyone. She had made spaghetti using noodles they had brought with them and jarred sauce that was in the cabin’s kitchen. The smell made my mouth water and my stomach growl.
“I thought it’d be nice to have a hot dinner to celebrate new friends,” said the Latina with a smile. “I hope no one minds?”
Julio answered. “Louisa, you’re too sweet. You sit though and let me finish, chica.” He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek. “Please, let me help. Go, sit next to Wanda.”
She nodded. “Ok.” The pregnant girl walked to the table and sat down beside the frail older woman. Wanda took her hand and smiled at her. They had a very noticeable bond.
I walked over to Julio to see if I could help. “Need a hand?” I asked.
He smiled brightly at me. “Sure. You can look for a colander to drain the noodles.”
I smiled back. “I know just where to find one.” I walked to a cabinet and pulled the strainer out, and then set it in the sink.
“It’ll be nice to not have to climb in and out over the sink anymore,” Emilie said as she walked up behind me.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “It was so much fun.” I rolled my eyes, and then smiled and giggled.
“Finally, she has a sense of humor,” said Boggs as he walked into the room.
“Ha ha,” I said in reply.
The kitchen was growing crowded, but it felt good to be around other people.
Gus joined us. He walked up behind Emilie and wrapped his arms around her. They were growing very close, and I was glad they were happy.
“If y’all don’t mind, I’d like to sit at the table with Louisa, Wanda, and Julio,” said Gus. “We have some things to talk about.”
Susan had walked to the threshold between the living room and the kitchen. She cleared her throat then interrupted. “Shouldn’t we all be involved in conversations?”
Gus turned to her. “Not this one,” he said.
“Why not?” she asked. I found her to be far too bold.
Gus crossed his arms over his chest. “It involves Wanda and Louisa, and their conditions,” he answered simply.
“Fine. Is dinner ready?” she asked.
Julio turned away from the stove. “Yes, Susan, dinner is ready. Let me serve the ladies at the table then you can come in and dish up your own plate.”
Susan walked back into the living room without saying anything else.
Gus sat at the table with the two women. He began talking to them about his background as a nurse in the Army. I relieved Julio at the stove, and whispered to him to go ahead and join the others at the table and I’d serve everyone. He kissed the back of my hand in thanks, and then situated himself in the fourth seat at the table. I turned off the stove and walked the boiling noodles to the sink, where I poured them into the strainer to drain. Emilie brought paper plates over one at a time while I scooped servings of noodles and sauce, and then she quietly took them to the table where she served Wanda first, and Louisa next. Boggs had left the kitchen, making me nervous that he was with Susan. Em served Julio next, I assumed because he was new to us, and then Gus. I listened half heartedly as Gus talked about planning a scavenging trip to secure medication and medical supplies. Wanda was very matter of fact about her terminal condition. I admired her emotional strength, and wished she could stay with us for the long haul. Emilie and I dished up our own dinner and took it into the living room, where Susan still lazily took up an entire loveseat. Emilie and I sat on the other couch together, using our laps as table substitutes.
“You can go get some food, Susan,” suggested Emilie.
“That’s ok, I’ll wait for Adam. He’s taking a shower.”
“Suit yourself,” said my red headed friend. She added a noodle to her mouth and sucked it up between her lips.
Susan put her magazine down. “So, Zoe, Adam never mentioned you to me.
”
I looked up, finished chewing a bit of food, and swallowed. “No? He mentioned you to me,” I said. I tried to keep my face void of emotion. I took another bite of my dinner to avoid talking.
I heard Boggs come down the stairs, and was glad he’d be interrupting. When he entered the room with a plate of steaming food, Susan swung her legs off the couch.
“You can sit here, Adam,” she said with a smile.
Emilie stood up. “Here Boggs, you can sit next to Zoe. She’s been waiting for you.”
“Thanks Em,” he said.
Boggs sat next to me, and I was glad. Susan got up and walked to the kitchen. Emilie was watching the woman walk away, and I could tell my friend was peeved.
“Rude,” whispered Emilie.
“Emilie, after dinner I’ll help Gus switch the beds around upstairs. That’s sweet of you to give the better one to Louisa,” said Boggs with his mouth full.
“It’s the least we could do,” she said. “Scoot over, Boggs? I don’t want to sit next to her either.”
“Sure Em, you and Zoe can share me.” Boggs winked at her and scooted closer to me, so that he was centered on the small couch. Em sat down next to him, careful to not jostle our plates.
“Thanks,” she mumbled after she put another bite into her mouth. “Man that was sweet of Louisa to make dinner.”
“She seems really nice,” I added. “Do you think Julio’s the father?”
“Zoe!” Boggs nudged me. “It’s none of our business.”
“Sorry,” I muttered.
Susan came back in with a plate of spaghetti and walked back to her seat. “So, Adam, how have you been?” she asked as if all was well with them.
“Well, let’s see,” he said before pausing. “I’m alive. Disturbed that the world is fucked. You?”
“Oh, the same I suppose,” she said nonchalantly. “I’ve really missed you.”
Grace Lost (The Grace Series) Page 14
