Read Online She's Not There by Marla Madison - Free Book Online Page B

and said, “What’s your address, Jeff?”
     After he gave her his Brookfield address, she was somewhat relieved. At least it was close to the interstate. If she had to drive in this crappy weather, at least it would be on a salted highway. “Tell you what. I’ll be at your place in thirty minutes. We can get things set up for Saturday.”
    The relief in his voice when he said he’d put on coffee and have the outside light on should have made TJ feel good about her offer. Instead, she felt a twinge of guilt. She understood how important it was for him to be able to participate, but she still felt like she’d set herself up for a caretaking gig. Grudgingly, she put her coat back on and left her apartment before she changed her mind.

    Jeff’s townhouse was half of a large brick duplex that sat on the edge of a cul-de-sac lined with stately homes. When she arrived at his door, he appeared to have pulled himself together, but she was sure he’d been crying.
    She followed him into a pleasantly decorated living room furnished with soft, warm-brown leather furniture, beige shag carpeting, and bright red accents strategically placed throughout the room. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace flanked with bookcases and a large entertainment center, covered one wall. The bright fire crackling in the fireplace made the room warm and inviting.
    They made calls, drank coffee, got some appointments set up for Saturday, and made a separate list with names of anyone who refused to make an appointment. Those were the people they would just drop in on if time permitted. Their calls ended on a high note when one of the ‘missing’ women answered her sister’s phone. TJ crossed her off their list.
    Jeff offered, “Would you like a glass of wine?”
    Probably a stalling technique.
He wasn’t ready to be alone. Well she’d known what she was in for. “Sure.”
    Jeff was the first to break the silence as they drank their wine sitting in front of the fire. “You know, I was pretty upset when you called.”
    TJ gulped a mouthful of wine. “Yeah, thought so.”
    “Today at work someone started playing songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s. I like all kinds of music, and I was into it for a while.” He paused, looking down into his glass.
    “One of them got to you.”
    “I’d heard the song before, but it didn’t have any meaning for me until now. It’s from the ‘70s I think. It’s called ‘She’s Not There.’ Have you heard it?”
    Recalling the lyrics, a tingle spread over her skin as she realized how well—or how creepy really—the song described Jeff’s situation. She said, “Yeah, by the Zombies.”
    “The music was so haunting; the words sounded like they’d been written for me. By the time the song ended, I had to leave my desk and walk around for a few minutes. You know how a song keeps running through your mind when you don’t want it to.”
    He put down his wine and took off his glasses. Staring into the fire, he rubbed his eyes. “Tonight the song came back to me again and sent me into what Jamie used to call a pity party. I had a good start on it when you called.” He looked over at her, “Thank you for coming over; it really helped.”
    TJ, who didn’t do well with things like gratitude and compliments, said nothing. They finished their wine in a comfortable silence. She stood up to leave, and wondered why she hadn’t noticed his boyish good looks. His deep-set, gray eyes behind the wire-rimmed glasses were fringed with thick lashes and his light-brown hair, curly and neatly styled. He seemed to bring out what little maternal instinct she had—even though they were probably about the same age.
    Jeff walked her to her car and helped her scrape off the layer of sleet that had accumulated on the windows.
    Impulsively, she hugged him when he opened the door for her and said, “I’m sorry about your wife.”
    He clung to her for a moment as she’d known he would, then pulled away and walked back toward the