Read Online The Girl Next Door by Patricia MacDonald - Free Book Online Page A

meet him there. Nina indicated a slatted park bench in front of the church,
     and she and Duncan sat down. There was a gaslight beside the bench that was beginning
     to illuminate as the light of day faded. “This way we can see him come out when the
     meeting’s over,” she said.
    Nina shivered and jammed her hands into the pocket of her fleece-lined jacket. She
     glanced at her father, who was only wearing a gray windbreaker. He did not seem to
     notice the falling temperatures as afternoon turned to evening.
    “Aren’t you cold?” she said.
    Duncan started as if she had awakened him. “What? No. No, not really. I mean I’m used
     to it. It was always cold in … there. They always claimed there was nothing they could
     do about the lack of heat. Except in summer, of course, when we’d swelter. You’d get
     so you barely noticed it.”
    “I guess so,” she said.
    “So, Jimmy’s sticking with the sobriety,” Duncan said.
    Nina nodded. “It’s been almost … ten years now.”
    “And he’s got a job,” said Duncan.
    “Yeah. He works at Hoffman Flooring. He’s been there for a while.”
    “He turned his life around,” said Duncan. “It’s hard to believe.”
    “I know,” said Nina. “Considering the way he was.”
    “What happened to that Mears kid he hung around with?” Duncan asked.
    “I don’t know.” Nina said. “I asked Jimmy and he said that Mears had to leave town.
     Something about a kid dying of a drug overdose. Mears was involved somehow.”
    “Was he charged?”
    “I really don’t know, Dad. I don’t think so. I don’t think there was any real proof.”
    Duncan shook his head. “There was something evil about that kid.”
    “Yeah,” Nina agreed. “Things started to turn around for Jimmy once he got away from
     him and got into rehab.”
    “I’m so glad,” said Duncan.
    Nina saw the door of the Fellowship Hall open. “I think it’s over.”
    They got up from the bench and crossed the street as people began to stream out, passing
     them as they approached the building. They exuded the smell of cigarette smoke and
     coffee in the crisp autumn evening.
    Nina edged past several people and walked into the Fellowship Hall. A broad-shouldered
     man with a wide neck was emptying ashtrays and collecting used Styrofoam coffee cups.
    “Jimmy,” she said. “Come on. Dad’s waiting.”
    Jimmy looked up at her sheepishly. His once unruly black hair was now cut close to
     the scalp in military fashion. His muscles bulged beneath a faded short-sleeved golf
     shirt. “Just cleaning up,” he said.
    “Couldn’t somebody else clean up tonight?” she demanded.
    “Just give me a minute,” Jimmy said, and Nina had the overwhelming impression that
     he was stalling for some reason.
    “Hey. Is this a private party?” said a voice from the doorway.
    Nina turned around and saw her father leaning into the room.
    Jimmy piled the empty ashtrays on the table and wiped his hands on a dish towel. “Hi,
     Dad,” he said faintly.
    Duncan came into the room and walked up to Jimmy, lifting his arms as if to clasp
     him in an embrace. Jimmy stuck out his hand and Duncan took it, reluctantly. Jimmy
     shook hands and nodded, meeting Duncan’s gaze only briefly.
    “How are you, son?” Duncan asked.
    “I’m doing okay. How about you?”
    Nina could see her father’s eyes glistening. “Okay,” he said.
    Jimmy sighed and then pursed his lips and blew out a breath. “So. Nina says you came
     back here to look for a place.”
    “Yeah, I wanted to be near you and your brother. I’ve missed you kids so much. I want
     to try and make up for some lost time.”
    “Yeah,” said Jimmy with forced enthusiasm. “Maybe we could do that.”
    “How about we start with dinner tonight? I can afford to take you out somewhere fancy
     like the Bun and Burger. As long as you don’t order dessert,” Duncan said, smiling.
    Jimmy grimaced. “Actually, Rose told me to … invite you to the