Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2012 Isabella Olivia Ellis
ISBN: 978-1-77130-059-9
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: JC Chute
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
For Todd.
I wish you were still with us.
LOVE AFTER THE GONE
Romance on the Go
Isabella Olivia Ellis
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Jeanette Goodwyn walked through the door of Anderson Pharmacy, unzipped the duffel bag she was carrying, and proceeded to stuff it with all the vitamins, painkillers, and antibiotics it could hold. She wasn’t too discerning about what she grabbed. In went every vitamin on the alphabet spectrum, as well as different roots and herbs. Vicodin, Percocet, heavy duty Ibuprofen and any other painkiller names she recognized popped on in next. The plan she had come to the night before was simple: anything had to be better than nothing. And the pill books and nursing guides she had picked up at the community college’s bookstore would help her figure out the gist of it all. When and if she needed it. And I hope to God I don’t need it.
For a delirious moment, she pictured herself striding up to the counter and handing the pharmacist, Hal Anderson, a prescription––just as she had done dozens of times in her life. Unfortunately, she had no idea where Hal Anderson was and she doubted if she would ever see him again. Hal was what Jeanette had termed a “Gone”. It was both a title and a state of being. He, like everyone else in town and probably the world, was simply gone. One evening a few weeks ago, Jeanette had been sitting on her ratty living room sofa watching the news. The anchor was reporting that several large, metallic disks had been spotted in the skyline over various states. It had been April 1st, so Jeanette had assumed it was a prank. Real effin’ funny, she had thought, is this a remake of War of the Worlds? Are we supposed to take up our pitchforks and get together a lynchin’ mob to greet the aliens? But, when she awoke the next morning and everyone was gone, the joke was on her, after all.
After getting dressed and having a quick breakfast as usual, she walked out to her car to drive to work and didn’t see a single neighbor. While that was slightly odd, as there was usually at least one person other person on her street heading to work at the same time, she didn’t think too much of it. Then when she drove through town and didn’t see another person, she began to worry. Especially when she stopped to consider that there were cars stalled on the street, as though their owners had just popped out for a moment. What the hell is going on?
Still, as her denial refused to abate, she drove the rest of the way to work. When she got to the office, it was still locked. Never in her three years of working at Jameston and Jones Dental had the opening receptionist failed to unlock the door for the morning shift. There were also no cars in the parking lot. That was the moment when Jeanette had to accept that something was definitely and horribly wrong. When her new life, after the Gone, had begun.
In the pharmacy, Jeanette shook her head, as though she could dislodge the memory and knowledge of what had happened. It was about survival now. Survival for what, she didn’t necessarily know. However, she understood it to be the most basic human instinct, and Jeanette was not one to go against the natural order of things. So, with a sigh, she told herself not to dwell on what had been before, and continued her pillage of the pharmacy. With her duffel bag full of the medicine and various treats she had decided to snatch, she turned to exit. And that’s when she saw the man. For a moment, Jeanette thought that perhaps she had lost it. That the weeks of being alone in the world had taken its toll on her and she was now totally and completely insane. Hell, I wouldn’t blame me. At least being crazy would be some sort of escape.
Thoughts racing, but speechless, she simply stared at the man and took in his physical presence. He was tall, at least 6 feet. His build suggested that he had probably worked out frequently before the Gone, but now his body was beginning to lean down. That sort of thing happens when there is no more fast food or long nights of drinking at the local bar, Jeanette thought bitterly, reminded of her own rapid weight loss.
“Are you real?” she asked him, feeling more than slightly stupid. Jeanette would have liked to think that she had some modicum of social skills, even after weeks of not using them.
This made the man laugh out loud, his blue-green eyes lighting up with the action. It was the most pleasant thing she had heard in a while.
“Well,” he said, “I’m as real as you are. Which may not be saying much given that I thought you might have been a mirage.”
He ran a hand through his short black hair and then stuck it out in front of him for her to shake, saying, “I’m Evan. Evan Grey, though I suppose last names really don’t mean much anymore. You’re the only person I’ve met, and I doubt you’re a Grey too.”
“Jeanette Goodwyn,” she replied, taking the offered hand and pumping it a couple of times. Oy. I hope that didn’t feel weak. The world had ended, and she found herself concerned about the strength of her handshake. It was the first contact she’d had with anyone for what seemed like the longest time, and she wanted to melt into it and savor the moment.
“It’s nice to meet you. And I do mean that sincerely. It’s nice to realize you aren’t doomed to only hear the sound of your own voice forever.” He grinned.
She smirked. This guy is funny. But is he safe? And how much is that worth when the world itself has ceased to exist?
Chapter Two
As Evan had walked down Main Street
, in what felt like the millionth small town he had passed through, he’d assumed the girl he spotted was some sort of twisted joke on the part of his imagination. Surely one’s mind was capable of simply giving up and giving in to the loneliness, creating someone out of thin air after weeks spent wandering and never seeing another soul. But when he followed her at a distance, she didn’t disappear. In fact, she appeared more real and more solid with every glance of her he stole. The girl moved with purpose, not going into any stores until she reached the mom-and-pop style pharmacy near the end of the street. Stealthily, he made his way towards the building and peeped at her through the window. Before the world apparently died, Evan would have found his actions to be terribly creepy and stalker-esque. But in this new world of unknowns, one had to be cautious. The girl could turn out to be a total nut. What was the purpose in being one of humanity’s last survivors if only to meet your death at the hands of some crazed chick?
As he watched her, he dimly realized that she was beautiful. It’s hardly important, he told himself, the sheer fact that she exists should be enough. But still. There was no denying it. She wore no visible make-up and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, for what was the point in dolling yourself up when you were the only person in existence? But she had that girl-next-door, natural kind of prettiness. Wide brown eyes, wavy brown hair that reached past the top of her back. She was a little on the thin side, but Evan would be willing to bet that that was due to eating canned vegetables and soups for weeks. If she was anything like him, at least. No gourmet cooks running around here, and nothing to cook even if they were. The girl looked as though she naturally tended toward the curvier si
de of the human form.
After he approached her and introduced himself, he closely watched her reaction. Once the formalities were out of the way, she went back to gathering the supplies she wanted.
“Can I help you with something?” he asked, standing there awkwardly.
She turned back to him and laughed. “You sound like you’re an employee here. In that case, please go get me a couple first aid kits.”
He did as he was told and headed to the bandage aisle. There, he examined each kit for its different properties and offerings.
Her bemused voice came from a couple aisles over. “What on Earth are you going over there? If you’re planning on attacking me with gauze, I have to warn you, I will put up a fight. I used to be a boxer.”
Grabbing the first two kits he could reach, he strolled over to her and asked, “A boxer? Is that true?”
“No, but if you were a psycho, I was hoping that it would at least give you pause. I’m better at evading than anything else.”
Holding up his arms in surrender, a kit in each hand, he said, “Nothing to fear from me. Although, I suppose that’s the first thing some axe murderer would say. I guess I need to go with something more neutral. Hello, I’m a slightly normal person.”
“Good catch,” she said, taking the kits from him and shoving them into the duffel that was fit to bursting. Straightening up, she took another long glance at him, and then asked, “So, Evan Grey, what’s your plan?”
There’s nothing to lose from being honest, he told himself before replying. With what he hoped was a completely readable expression, he said, “I really don’t know, Jeanette Goodwyn. What is there to do when you’re all alone in a place that was never empty?”
This drew a smile from her, a small but beautiful one that he wanted to remember and treasure, in case he never saw another human being smile again.
“I guess we’re in the same boat, then.” She turned to go out the door, then stopped to look over her shoulder at him. “You coming?”
Chapter Three
Jeanette loaded her goods into the trailer hooked to her bike, while he retrieved his own from a few storefronts down. As she led him out of town and towards the home she was now living in, Jeanette pondered the safety of the situation. This could be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, which is sort of saying something. Before everyone was gone, she would never have taken a strange man to her house. On the other hand, she had for weeks thought she was the only living person left on Earth. Could anything be much worse than that? Besides, Jeanette was one to go with her gut, and her gut was telling her she could trust Evan Grey. The two leisurely biked the five miles from town and it gave them a chance to learn more about each other. Evan told her that he was from Millstown, Missouri. That was about sixty miles north of where they were, the small city of Crestone, Oklahoma. He had set out to find out if he could come across another person, but hadn’t until he had run into Jeanette.
“Where on Earth were you planning to go?” she asked, as she signaled for him to follow her as she turned left.
Shrugging, he said, “Anywhere where I could find anyone else. Man was not made to be a solitary creature, and all that jazz.”
Curiously, she asked, “But what if you never found anyone else?”
Evan took a moment to reply. “Then I suppose I would have headed west until I hit the ocean and couldn’t go any further. After that, I don’t really know. I’m glad that wasn’t the case.”
After they had continued their lazy ride in silence for a few more minutes, Jeanette tentatively asked, “Not be rude, but how old are you?”
Evan turned to look at her and laughed. “I don’t know if the social norms of before really count in this world. That seems like a natural question now. I mean, which one of us is the youngest person on Earth? And I’m thirty-one. I will be thirty-two in December––if the world is still in existence at that point, that is.”
She found herself blushing. Jeez, pull it together, Jenny. Apparently, Evan didn’t notice, for he continued, “What about you? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?”
Now Jeanette was the one laughing out loud. Shaking her head, she said, “I look younger without make-up. I’m twenty-six. I used to be a dental hygienist. You know, before. When there were teeth to take care of and all.”
“Ah,” he said, “a noble profession. Dental hygiene is very closely tied to one’s overall health.”
“Uh-huh, that’s a nice spiel. Were you a dentist or something?”
“Close,” Evan replied, as he swerved around a large rock on the road. “I am, or was I guess, a doctor. A resident at St. Mary’s Hospital in Millstown.”
“Oooh. Dr. Fancy Pants, eh?” she asked, gesturing for him to make yet another left turn and pointing towards the farm house she had moved into shortly after the Gone. After scoping out several homes that were more equipped than her own, she had decided to take advantage of its already sprouting garden and natural working well.
“Nope, not really.” he said. “I was hoping to do Doctors without Borders someday. Care for sick people who really needed me. But I guess life doesn’t get any more borderless than this.”
Jeanette kicked off her bike and gestured for him to help her carry the provisions. He did. And that is how their life together in an empty world began.
Chapter Four
Over the following weeks, Evan and Jeanette settled into a relatively normal routine. Or as normal as a routine could be, when they were the only people they knew of left on the entire planet. Each morning, Jeanette would go out and pick ripe vegetables from the farm’s side garden while Evan hauled water from the well to boil and use throughout the day. They ate each meal together and occasionally, she accompanied him on a jog. The rest of the day was spent doing whatever they were involved in at the moment. Usually Jeanette read books she took from the library and Evan built model planes they picked up from a toy store downtown. In the evening, they played board games that Evan typically won.
They were bored of chess for the evening. Well, mostly Jeanette was bored. Evan guessed that one person could only lose or concede so many times before getting tired of something. And he had to hand it to her, she certainly tried, but it just wasn’t her game. So they relaxed on the sofa, Evan sitting with his feet propped up on the coffee table and Jeanette stretched out with her head in his lap. Almost absentmindedly, his fingers twirled through the long, soft waves of her hair.
“Tell me a story,” Jeanette demanded playfully, looking up at him with a peaceful smile on her face.
These were the kinds of things life naturally reverted back to when you were without electricity, and thus television, movies, and other forms of entertainment. But it didn’t bother him, as Evan loved the spoken word.
With a shrug, Evan began a tale about when he was a little boy and his parents accidentally left him at a rest stop on a family vacation to see the St. Louis Arch.
“They thought I was sleeping in the back, but while they were using the restroom, I climbed out of the car to take a look at the vending machine. I had fifty-five cents in one pocket of my jeans, and found another quarter on the sidewalk by the soda machine. Naturally, I felt rich beyond all measure, at least for a six-year-old. After making my purchase of fruit snacks and an orange soda, I walked back to the parking lot. Our car was gone. My parents were gone. All you can do when left behind at that age is burst into tears, I suppose, which is exactly what I did. I had a set of lungs on me, too. Another traveler, a woman with this silly fluffy poodle, rushed over at the sound of my wailing. The woman helped me open my snack and drink and waited with me until my parents realized their mistake and came back. It felt like hours, but according to my parents, it was only fifteen minutes. The dog sniffed suspiciously at me the entire wait, too, like I was trying to steal his owner.”
“It’s hard to picture you as a little boy,” Jeanette said with a grin. “All scared and alone.”
“Why?” he asked, dramatically flexing a bicep, “because I�
�m such a fine, burly specimen of man now? Can’t say I blame you.”
Jeanette peered up at him, smirking. “Whoa. Don’t flatter yourself there, Grey.”
“All right, Hot Stuff. It’s your turn to tell me a story, then.”
“Oh, God. I don’t know what I would tell you.” She scrunched up her forehead as she thought.
He continued to slide his fingers through her hair. Softly, he said, “It really doesn’t matter. Just the first thing that comes to your mind.”
Looking up at the ceiling and pondering, she shifted her body a little in his lap and then said, “Okay. I have one. It’s not as good as yours, though.”
“Just tell it already!”
“Okay. So, when I was little, I would spend every summer with my Aunt Lynn and my three cousins. I was the oldest. Cade, the only boy, was two years younger than me. And then Cindy was a year younger than him. And Lydia was the baby. I was ten years older than her.”
Nodding, Evan said, “Continue.”
“Well, my Uncle Bob said that my aunt slept so lightly that she could hear a flea sneeze. And she was the kind of person who needed a ton of sleep, so she took naps in the afternoon every single day. So, when I was about thirteen, even though they lived in this big three-story house with a finished basement, she’d make us go outside while she napped. And I mean, she wasn’t kidding. She’d totally lock the doors and everything.”
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