Read Online Close to You by Mary Jane Clark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Jane Clark
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cancer? Well, she died.â The tears began to flow again.
As she held on to Eliza, Doris, ever professional, glanced up at the wall clock. There was a lot of work to do in a relatively short time if Eliza was going to look decent on television tonight.
âHere, sweetie, sit down.â Doris calmly guided the anchorwoman to the chair. As she listened to Elizaâs story about Sarah Mortonâs fatherâs call canceling the meeting, Doris went to the mini-refrigerator under the counter and pulled out an ice pack. It was imperative they get that eye swelling down.
Eliza leaned her skull back against the headrest and Doris squeezed drops of Visine into the anchorwomanâs troubled eyes. Closing her heavy lids, Eliza felt the soothing cold of the frozen blue ice mask. She sat quietly for afew moments while Doris clucked over her and massaged her neck and shoulders, wondering why she was taking this so hard. Eliza hadnât even met Sarah Morton.
âYouâve got a lot on your plate right now, Eliza,â said Doris gently. âEverything will work out. Youâll see.â
Eliza reached back to pat Dorisâs arm, knowing full well that Sarahâs death wasnât the only thing that had put her into such a state. Hearing about the tragedy had just pushed her over the top. It brought up all the old memories of Johnâs death and struck the most terror-filled chord of all. The fear of losing her own Janie. With everything going on in Elizaâs life right now, she was vulnerable and she knew it.
Tonight they wouldnât be able to get away with merely airbrushing Elizaâs beautiful skin. More corrective measures would be necessary. Doris expertly dabbed at each dark pink blotch that scattered across Elizaâs face and then smoothed a creamy foundation to even things out. Blush and powder followed. With the eyes she took even more special care. The ice pack and Visine had only been able to do so much.
Doris brushed taupey eyeshadow over Elizaâs lids and outlined them with a fine aubergine eyeliner. The plum color made the blue of Elizaâs eyes pop out, taking attention away from the bloodshot white parts. She applied a darker brown powder along the orbs, to give the eyes depth and drama. On the middle of the eyelids, Doris defied the general rule among makeup artists not to use sparkle on television, ever so lightly brushing on a bit of shiny light peach glitter and thereby adding warmth and life to Elizaâs tired eyes.
âGod, Doris, you deserve an Emmy for the job you did tonight,â Eliza said in wonderment as she looked at the final result of Dorisâs labors in the brightly lit mirror that covered the wall in front of them.
Eliza rose tiredly from the chair and air-kissed Doris on the cheek, careful not to smudge the lipstick Doris had sopainstakingly painted. Eliza squared back her shoulders and stood erect
In a half hour, she could go home and gather Janie in her arms.
Â
As she walked across the studio, Eliza wore a marine-blue dress that covered her knees. Good. Finally she was listening to him.
But the dress was sleeveless. He didnât like that.
âHey, Meat! How âbout another beer here?â
He grudgingly turned away from the television set and grabbed the empty mug from the gleaming bar top. He pulled the lever to fill the glass from the Budweiser tap and he tried to block out the loud conversation that filled the crowded bar. Yeah, he cared about how the Giants were doing in preseason, but from six-thirty to seven, all he wanted to hear was Elizaâs voice.
Now an annoying newcomer to the bar was asking him how he had come to be called Meat.
âItâs a nickname I got in junior high,â he grumbled.
âBecause of your size, I guess,â the unknowing customer supposed, eyeing the beefy arms protruding from the striped polo shirt.
âYeah, that, and because my last nameâs Bacon.â Meat
As she held on to Eliza, Doris, ever professional, glanced up at the wall clock. There was a lot of work to do in a relatively short time if Eliza was going to look decent on television tonight.
âHere, sweetie, sit down.â Doris calmly guided the anchorwoman to the chair. As she listened to Elizaâs story about Sarah Mortonâs fatherâs call canceling the meeting, Doris went to the mini-refrigerator under the counter and pulled out an ice pack. It was imperative they get that eye swelling down.
Eliza leaned her skull back against the headrest and Doris squeezed drops of Visine into the anchorwomanâs troubled eyes. Closing her heavy lids, Eliza felt the soothing cold of the frozen blue ice mask. She sat quietly for afew moments while Doris clucked over her and massaged her neck and shoulders, wondering why she was taking this so hard. Eliza hadnât even met Sarah Morton.
âYouâve got a lot on your plate right now, Eliza,â said Doris gently. âEverything will work out. Youâll see.â
Eliza reached back to pat Dorisâs arm, knowing full well that Sarahâs death wasnât the only thing that had put her into such a state. Hearing about the tragedy had just pushed her over the top. It brought up all the old memories of Johnâs death and struck the most terror-filled chord of all. The fear of losing her own Janie. With everything going on in Elizaâs life right now, she was vulnerable and she knew it.
Tonight they wouldnât be able to get away with merely airbrushing Elizaâs beautiful skin. More corrective measures would be necessary. Doris expertly dabbed at each dark pink blotch that scattered across Elizaâs face and then smoothed a creamy foundation to even things out. Blush and powder followed. With the eyes she took even more special care. The ice pack and Visine had only been able to do so much.
Doris brushed taupey eyeshadow over Elizaâs lids and outlined them with a fine aubergine eyeliner. The plum color made the blue of Elizaâs eyes pop out, taking attention away from the bloodshot white parts. She applied a darker brown powder along the orbs, to give the eyes depth and drama. On the middle of the eyelids, Doris defied the general rule among makeup artists not to use sparkle on television, ever so lightly brushing on a bit of shiny light peach glitter and thereby adding warmth and life to Elizaâs tired eyes.
âGod, Doris, you deserve an Emmy for the job you did tonight,â Eliza said in wonderment as she looked at the final result of Dorisâs labors in the brightly lit mirror that covered the wall in front of them.
Eliza rose tiredly from the chair and air-kissed Doris on the cheek, careful not to smudge the lipstick Doris had sopainstakingly painted. Eliza squared back her shoulders and stood erect
In a half hour, she could go home and gather Janie in her arms.
Â
As she walked across the studio, Eliza wore a marine-blue dress that covered her knees. Good. Finally she was listening to him.
But the dress was sleeveless. He didnât like that.
âHey, Meat! How âbout another beer here?â
He grudgingly turned away from the television set and grabbed the empty mug from the gleaming bar top. He pulled the lever to fill the glass from the Budweiser tap and he tried to block out the loud conversation that filled the crowded bar. Yeah, he cared about how the Giants were doing in preseason, but from six-thirty to seven, all he wanted to hear was Elizaâs voice.
Now an annoying newcomer to the bar was asking him how he had come to be called Meat.
âItâs a nickname I got in junior high,â he grumbled.
âBecause of your size, I guess,â the unknowing customer supposed, eyeing the beefy arms protruding from the striped polo shirt.
âYeah, that, and because my last nameâs Bacon.â Meat