The Last Man on Earth Read online

  Todd March stood before a long countertop that ran nearly the entire length of the left side of the room, a well-used blue-and-white-striped ceramic mug in hand.

  He turned his head toward Zack. “I didn’t expect to see you today. I’d heard you were off enjoying the beaches and the babes down Florida way until after Christmas.”

  Todd poured himself a coffee from the pot and added two generous spoonfuls of sugar to cover the bitter twang certain to be there.

  “I was, but I had too much work,” Zack told him. “I needed to come back early.”

  Zack lifted the lid on a box of leftover doughnuts and studied the remains. One jelly that oozed red like an open wound and half a dried-out chocolate. Not at all what he’d hoped for. Untempted, he let the lid flap shut. If he wanted anything decent, he supposed he’d have to brave the cold and run over to the deli across the street.

  “We’re definitely on skeleton staff today,” Todd said. “I wouldn’t be here either if I’d had any vacation time left, but taking a three-week honeymoon kind of tapped me out.”

  “How was the honeymoon, by the way?”

  A smug, lascivious grin curved Todd’s lips. “Fabulous. Everything a man could want and more. Vacation time’s not the only thing that got tapped out, if you know what I mean.”

  Amused, Zack returned the grin. “Glad to hear it.”

  Todd snapped his fingers. “Speaking of things I heard, congratulations on your promotion.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Guess that’s the reason you had to rush back early, to pick up the slack and then some until they can find a replacement for Madelyn. Man, did that news come out of left field. Peg’s been moping around ever since she heard. You’d think Madelyn was dying, not moving.”

  Zack’s ears perked up. “What do you mean, a replacement for Madelyn?”

  “I figured you knew. She quit. Resigned as of yesterday.”

  “She quit?” he repeated, thunderstruck.

  “Yeah, Peg told me she has plans to start up her own firm, bankrolled by that millionaire fiancé of hers. She said that’s the reason Madelyn turned down the promotion they—”

  “The promotion they what?” Zack crossed his arms over his formidable chest and waited for the younger, shorter man to respond, a grim expression on his face.

  Todd set down his mug, careful not to slop hot coffee over the edge and burn himself. “The . . . um . . . the promotion they gave to you.” He coughed. “They offered it to her first. At least that’s what she told my wife. People are wondering, though, if Madelyn said that, you know, to save face. It isn’t like her to make up stories, but on the other hand if they really did offer her the senior slot, then why’d she quit?”

  Zack knew exactly why, the only reason there could be.

  She’d quit to get away from him.

  • • •

  December twenty-seventh.

  Her wedding day.

  Madelyn awakened, a sick knot of dread twisted in the bottom of her stomach. She put her hands over her eyes as she lay against the sheets and wished she could disappear.

  Holy crap, what had she done? Why had she ever agreed to marry James? If she went through with the marriage, it would be a terrible mistake. If she didn’t . . . she couldn’t even contemplate the fallout if she didn’t.

  Three hundred and fifty friends, relatives, and business associates were readying themselves even now for the ceremony due to take place in less than five hours. How could she disappoint them all?

  Embarrass herself and her family?

  Devastate James?

  Picturing his reaction made her shudder.

  Last night at the rehearsal dinner he’d been so happy. And two days before, Christmas Day, there had been a twinkle of undisguised delight in his summer blue eyes as he’d watched his two families, the one by blood, the other by bond, come together to celebrate and rejoice as one.

  How could she even consider taking that from him? How could she consider shattering his hopes, destroying the dreams they’d made for their future?

  No, cowardice had led her to this point; bravery would see her through. She’d made a promise, and it was far too late to break it now. Her current fears probably amounted to nothing more than bridal jitters, nerves that would pass away once she forced herself out of bed, into action. Once she was up and doing, all would be well.

  But the nerves did not pass, her hands and feet chilled to the temperature of ice. Her skin paste white beneath layers of foundation and blusher, eyelids contoured with a careful blending of blue and brown shadow, her mouth stained translucent peony pink. She studied herself in the mirror, once the professional stylist finished with her hair and makeup, and thought she resembled a gaily painted doll, pretty yet lifeless underneath.

  She moved and spoke and acted as if nothing were amiss, though she couldn’t choke down a bite of breakfast. Not even a glass of juice.

  By the time she reached the anteroom of the church, where she would wait until the ceremony was ready to begin, her head was swimming as if she might faint. Her hands trembled as though palsied.

  She sat and willfully hid them within the skirt of her exquisite wedding gown.

  “Madelyn, are you all right?” Brie bent close, caught in the band of sunlight streaming through a tall casement window.

  As maid of honor, she looked a picture in a long, elegant dress of blush rose satin, her short golden hair curling around her narrow, often too serious face.

  Madelyn met her sister’s concerned eyes, then raised her chin and mustered a smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You haven’t seemed yourself this morning. Mother and I are wondering if you’re ill.”

  “No, I’m fine, just nervous. It’s perfectly normal to be nervous on your wedding day, isn’t it?” She heard the words as they tumbled from her lips and knew they’d sounded defensive.

  “I wouldn’t know, since I haven’t had a wedding yet.” She laid a hand on Madelyn’s shoulder. “You’re trembling, a lot. Do you have a fever? What’s wrong?”

  Madelyn veered away. “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong, I told you. I know you only want to help, but please, please leave me alone.”

  She glanced up and saw two of her six bridesmaids, Peg and Ivy, hovering in the doorway, worry etched on their faces.

  “What?” she demanded, hysteria rising in her voice. “What are you both staring at? I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m tired, okay? You’d think today of all days I could have five minutes to myself, five minutes’ peace. Is that too much to ask? Get out! Go away! All of you, just go away!”

  Abruptly, she burst into a flood of tears.

  “You heard her, ladies.” Laura Grayson strolled calmly into the center of the storm. “Madelyn needs a bit of breathing space and she’ll be fine. Why don’t you all go down the hall, give your hair and makeup a final check?”

  Brie patted Madelyn’s hand through the folds of her skirt, then left with the others as she’d been directed, closing the door behind her.

  Madelyn tried to quit crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop; they only flowed faster. She wiped at her face with her fingers and pressed the heels of her hands against her cheeks.

  “Here, dear.” Laura passed her daughter several tissues.

  Grateful, Madelyn accepted them, blowing her nose, blotting her eyes.

  Laura seated herself beside her daughter. She waited until the worst of Madelyn’s tears slowed. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

  Madelyn shook her head and balled the tissues into her fist. She sniffed. “I can’t.” Another tear raced down her cheek.

  “Of course you can. I’m your mother. You should know by now you can tell me anything, anything at all.”

  “Not this.”

  “Anything.”

  “You’ll hate
me.”

  “I could never hate you.”

  “You will once I tell you, because I can’t . . . I can’t go through with the wedding,” she whispered in horror.

  She waited for the explosion.

  But her mother sat quiet and patient instead.

  Madelyn took a shaky breath. “I know it’s what you all want. It’s what I thought I wanted too. What I’d convinced myself was for the best. But I can’t, I just can’t marry him. I’m sorry, oh God, I’m so sorry. How will I ever face him again? And all the guests, the expense. Oh Lord, this is so awful.”

  She began crying again, burying her face in the tissues again as she waited for her mother to speak, expecting, almost hoping, to be told to pull herself together and quit being ridiculous.

  Laura sighed heavily. “If you feel that strongly, then you mustn’t marry him.”

  “What?” She sniffed.

  “This is my fault. I’ve sensed . . . well . . . for a while that something wasn’t right. You haven’t been happy, not like you should have been. I tried to make myself talk to you about it once or twice, but I suppose I was afraid of what I might hear. I love you and James, and I’ve always wanted to see you together. I let myself believe if I kept silent, it would turn out all right in the end. I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

  “No, this is entirely my doing.” Madelyn blew her nose again, straightening her back. “I should have had the courage to call it off long ago.” She hung her head, her voice low. “I should never have agreed to marry him in the first place.”

  “Why did you agree?”

  “Because it made him happy. It made all of you happy, and I thought eventually, if I tried hard enough, I’d feel the same. Only I didn’t, and the harder I tried, the worse it became.” She sighed. “I do love him, you know.”

  “I know. Just not that way.”

  “No. Not that way.”

  Laura hesitated. “Madelyn, is there someone you do have those feelings for?”

  Madelyn’s eyes flew to meet her mother’s.

  “Yes, I suspected,” Laura said. “I suppose I didn’t want to find out about that either.”

  “James didn’t—”

  “No. You hid your feelings very well, perhaps too well. I don’t believe anyone else had a clue. So what of this other man? Why isn’t he the one waiting out there today, ready to take vows with you?”

  “Because he doesn’t believe in vows, not the wedding sort anyway. He’s been hurt before and doesn’t want to be hurt again. I let my own fear and pride drive him away. If he’ll take me back, I’ve decided I’m going, on his terms this time.”

  “And will that be enough?”

  “Yes. He’s what I want. Being with him makes me happy.”

  “Well, if anyone can bring him around, it’ll be you.” Laura took a deep breath. “First, though, there’s a wedding to cancel. Shall I tell James for you?”

  Color burst in Madelyn’s cheeks. “No. I’m the one who’s made a mess of everything. I’m the one who should break the bad news.”

  • • •

  Zack stomped harder on the accelerator to increase his speed, checking the hour on the dashboard clock.

  Too late.

  Even if the directions he’d been given to the church were perfect and he made no mistakes following them, he was still cutting it far too close. Any minute now, Madelyn would be walking down the aisle, placing her hands into those of another man, repeating the solemn words that would legally bind her to that man.

  He should have gone to her days ago to plead his case and persuade her to have him after all. Or driven to her parents’ home to interrupt their pretty Christmas and declare himself, proclaim the love he could no longer deny.

  But he hadn’t. He’d been too stubborn. Too stupid. And most of all too afraid.

  It wasn’t as if Madelyn hadn’t given him plenty of chances already. He’d had more than sufficient time to change his mind. Instead, he’d kept silent, letting her believe she wasn’t worth the risk. What if he’d rejected her once too often? What if she told him no?

  This morning he’d awakened twisted inside sheets drenched damp and cold with his own sweat, shivering as panic weighed upon his chest, anvil heavy. He’d known in that moment he had to try, one last time, before she was gone from his life forever. And she would be gone. She’d seen to that when she’d resigned her position at F and S.

  Until she’d made that final break, there’d still been the chance of contact between them. Even if it amounted to nothing more substantial than a glimpse of her at the end of a hallway. Or the hint of her sweet scent lingering in the air where she’d passed.

  She’d told him to stay away and he’d abided by her wishes. By resigning, she’d told him good-bye in the most permanent way she could. There was a very real chance he might never set eyes on her again.

  This morning he’d realized he couldn’t let that happen. He could not let her go.

  The traffic signal at the intersection ahead turned yellow.

  Zack floored the gas pedal and flashed through, figuring if he picked up an unwanted police escort it might help him reach the church that much sooner. He’d deal with any fines and tickets later.

  But he arrived without any difficulty and brought his car to an abrupt halt not far behind the long black limousine that waited at the base of the church’s front steps.

  Wedding guests were milling around the grounds, gathered into groups of two or more, some with coats, some without, as they ignored the chill breeze that refused to warm despite the clear, bright sunshine in the sky.

  Was the ceremony over? Were they all waiting to shower the newlywed couple with rice and best wishes? Or had the wedding yet to start? Did he still have time? Zack sprinted from his car, not even bothering to lock the doors as he took the stone church steps two at a time, the tails of his unbuttoned coat flying behind him.

  He spotted Peg and Todd standing together near the wide double-door entrance.

  “Is she married?” he demanded. “Is it over?”

  Astonished, Peg blinked. “Zack? Where’d you come from?”

  “New York.”

  “This morning?”

  “Yes, this morning. Now, tell me, is she married? Is Madelyn married?”

  “No, but—”

  “Where is she?”

  “Still in the church, I think, but—”

  “Where?” He darted a look inside but couldn’t see much beyond the vestibule.

  “Down the rear hall, to the right, in one of the anterooms. But I don’t understand why you’re here. What do you want with Madelyn?”

  “I want to make her my wife, if she’ll still have me.”

  Unwilling to waste another second, he raced into the church, forgetting all about the stunned couple he’d left behind.

  He tried four different rooms, entering each after a brief rap that barely announced him. In the first two rooms he found nothing; in the third he startled a trio of bridesmaids who sat gossiping together in a circle. The last room was cluttered with brooms, mops, and buckets. The janitor’s closet.

  Where is Madelyn?

  Frustrated, desperate, he raced ahead, rounding one final corner that led down a short hallway and ended with a thick, carved cherrywood door. Sprinting toward it, he knocked twice then turned the knob.

  “Madelyn?”

  He saw her immediately, a vision swathed in yard upon yard of soft, billowy white. Her hair was a mass of coppery curls that cascaded down her shoulders, along her back, its color more luminous than the ribbon of sunlight shining through a narrow casement window at her back.

  In all his life, he’d never seen anything or anyone as beautiful and knew he never would. He came fully into the room and closed the door so they could be alone. He walked closer, noticing a faint puffiness around her eyes; her l
ids were swollen as if she’d been crying. He said her name a second time.

  She turned her head. “Zack? What are you doing here?”

  For a moment he couldn’t speak, his throat tight with emotion. “I couldn’t stay away. I couldn’t let you go, not without telling you first.” In a rush, he crossed the space that separated them and grasped her hands, pressed them to his chest.

  “Without telling me what?” she repeated in amazement.

  “That I’ve been a fool, a stupid fool who almost let the best thing that’s ever happened to me slip away. I know I’ve done this badly, waited until the last possible second to speak. But you haven’t married him yet, so it’s not too late. Say it’s not too late, Madelyn. Say you’ll marry me instead. I love you. I can’t bear the thought of spending the rest of my life without you.” He took her into his arms. “Please, sweetheart, please say you’ll be my wife.”

  Madelyn blinked. It was like a dream, a wonderful, dazzling dream, the kind from which she never wished to wake. How many times in the past had she ached to hear him say such wonderful, lovely things to her? And how she’d despaired she never would. Yet here he was, saying the words. Her lips parted, “yes” trembling upon them, ready to be given voice. But fairness prevented her from uttering it. First she had to tell him the truth, had to let him know what he obviously still did not realize.

  She placed her hands against the firm warmth of his chest and gazed into his eyes. “I am yours. I always have been. But you don’t have to marry me, Zack. I’ve already called off the wedding. I told James a few minutes ago that I couldn’t marry him. I think I broke his heart.”

  Zack hugged her tighter. “He’s a big boy. He’ll recover.”

  “I pray you’re right.”

  She thought of James’s face. The pasty white shock. The shine of unshed tears in his eyes. The look of stunned, anguished betrayal. She’d begged his forgiveness. He’d given her silence as his reply before he’d turned and walked away.

  “You’re really not going to marry him?” Zack asked.

  “No, I’m really not. I couldn’t, not feeling the way I do about you. I’ve tried so hard not to love you, but it seems you’re stuck in my heart.”