The Last One

THE LAST ONE-Chapter Nineteen-Sam

I STAYED OUT IN the fielduntil it was nearly dark, just to make sure I didn't run into heragain. I didn't know how long she'd slept after I'd left her thatmorning, and it was possible Ali had talked her into staying later.I couldn't say good-bye again. I'd end up breaking down and beggingher to stay.

But when I finallypulled back into the yard, the little blue Honda was gone. I satfor a minute, absorbing it, before I jumped out and went on with myregular routine.

Ali was sitting at thekitchen table when I walked in. I stopped in the laundry room totoss my dirty tee in the basket, but I didn't bother with a cleanone.

"I kept some dinner foryou." My sister pointed to the foil-covered plate on the counter."Figured you might be hungry after not eating all day."

I shook my head. "Nope.But thanks. I'm just going to get a shower and go to sleep. It wasa long day."

I expected her to fightme on the eating, but she only nodded. "Okay, I'll put it in thefridge in case you want it tomorrow. Sleep well." I turned and wasnearly through the doorway when she added, "Meghan just texted me,right before you came in. She made it home safely."

I fisted my hand againstthe wave of pain. "Good. Thanks for telling me." I climbed thesteps and walked down the hallway, passing Bridget's room. She wason her stomach on the floor, drawing with the special pencil andpad Meghan had given her.

"Hi." She waved to me,her small face serious.

"Hi." As tired as I was,I couldn't help stepping into her room to tousle her hair. I lookeddown at her paper. "Wow, Bridge. That's really good. It's yourmama's herb garden, isn't it?"

She grinned. "Yup.Meghan taught me about drawing plants." She glanced back down atthe pad. "She's gone. I'm going to miss her so much, Uncle Sammy.It was like having a big sister or something. Like another mom,maybe, but one who didn't make me do stuff."

I reached down to mussher hair. "I know, peanut. But it's okay. School will be startingsoon, and then you won't miss her so much." I turned to head for myown bedroom and was two steps down the hall when she called to meagain.

"Do you miss her,too?"

I paused but didn't lookback. "Yeah, squirt. I do."

Inside my room, the bedlooked so inviting that I decided to skip the shower. I'd get onein the morning, and it wasn't like I had to be sweet-smelling foranyone tonight. I took off my pants, leaving them on the floorwhere they dropped, and crawled between the sheets. Within minutes,I'd fallen into a heavy sleep.

ALI DIDN'T FUSS AT me foranything in the first week after Meghan left. I was so preoccupiedthat it didn't sink in right away, but then one night I got up fromdinner and left my plate on the table. She picked it up and carriedit to the sink without a word. I watched her, frowning.

"I left my plate on thetable."

She glanced at me overher shoulder, but there was no irritation on her face. "Yeah, youdid. It's okay, I got it."

"Why didn't you yell atme? You always yell when I forget to clear my place."

She lifted hershoulders. "It's not a big deal."

"You've been letting alot of stuff slide the last few days. What's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're lettingme get away with shit. I want to know why. Am I dying orsomething?"

She rolled her eyes."And how would I know that, Sam? You haven't been to a doctor inyears, and I'm no fortune teller."

"Then what's up?"