The Survivors (Book 2): Autumn Read Online Free PDF Page A

heard him protesting, he made no attempt to actually stop me from digging through his belongings.  It was only fair, after all – he’d gone through mine on several occasions, looking for something.  We were close enough that he knew I was no threat to his possessions, just like I understood that he was no threat to mine.
    Socks and shorts went flying as I turned his bag upside down, until I finally found what I was looking for, right at the very bottom.
    “Victory is mine!” I yanked out one slightly crushed, navy blue police officer’s cap.  I dusted it off, popped it back into shape and plonked it on my head.  There was a muffled snort behind me.  I turned and gave him a look of wide-eyed mock innocence.  “What?”
    “What on earth has gotten into you, Sandy McDermott?” he asked .  I bounced back over to join him in bed.
    “Me? Oh, I’m just feeling a bit playful, is all.” I gave him a grin, to which he responded by snatching the hat off my head and placing it upon his own.
    “You’re just trying to cheer me up, aren’t you?” He peered at me from beneath the brim of his cap, his smile fading away.
    I heaved a sigh and flopped back down with my head on his chest .  “Pretty much, yes.  Trying to cheer myself up, too.  It’s been such a miserable week.”
    “I know.” He ran his fingers through my hair, stroking a few golden-blonde strands back away from my face.  One finger hooked under my chin and tilted my face up towards his so that he could look me in the eye.  “It’s been a rough couple of months for everyone.”
    “It’s been a rough decade.” I broke eye contact and looked away.  “I need a vacation from being miserable before I go crazy.”
    “You and me both.” He nodded his agreement and wrapped an arm around my waist to draw me closer against him.  Then he kissed me, softly and tenderly; suddenly, it seemed like everything was going to be fine after all.  The kiss lingered for long minutes as we both tried to lose our worries in one another.  It was a moment of warmth and comfort, the kind of moment shared between two people who had suffered so much and only had one another to fall back on.
    We were so wrapped up in one another that we didn’t hear the footfalls of someone approaching, nor did we notice the presence in the doorway until Anahera cleared her throat pointedly and knocked on the door frame .  Startled, we jerked away from one another and stared at her.
    “Sorry to interrupt.” She was obviously trying very hard not to laugh at the expressions on our faces.  We looked at one another, half-naked with hands in all kinds of interesting places, then promptly started frantically disentangling ourselves.  By the time we were straightened up, both of us were blushing furiously, and Anahera could barely keep a straight face.
    “Um, sorry.” I felt the need to apologise as I straightened my t-shirt, but she just shook her head.
    “Don’t be, dear .  I was your age not that long ago; I remember what it’s like to be in love.” Her smile faded, and I felt a stab of guilt when I remembered how she had lost her husband to the plague.  “Just make the most of him while you can.  And you–” She pointed at Michael.  “–take good care of her as well.  Or else.”
    Michael flashed his cheeky smile and saluted her, which looked a little ridiculous considering he was still dressed in his policeman’s cap.
    “Don’t just stand out there in the wind, you’ll get hit by something.” He gestured towards the chair in the corner of room with a flourish, inviting her inside.  Somehow, he even managed to sound nonchalant about it.  “Come in, sit down.  How’s Hemi?”
    Anahera accepted the invitation and stepped inside, closing the door behind her to keep out the wind .  It was getting loud outside, so I thought nothing of the gesture; with the door open we could hardly hear ourselves think.
    “He’s fine, thank you,” she answered as she