Looking for Julie Read Free

wearing jeans and a sweater over a turtleneck and her hips swung in rhythm with each step.
    Jamie nodded toward his aunt and lifted his brows. He grinned and mouthed, “Nice, huh?”
    Was he talking about his aunt’s behind? She flushed and mouthed back, “Shut up.” Her cell vibrated in her pocket again. She took it out. It was Nita. She text messaged, “Hey, we’re here.  Can’t talk right now. Later. Okay?” She shoved the phone in her pocket again as Edie turned toward them.
    Edie ran a hand over her short hair and it snapped back in place. It was almost a crew cut but with a little curl, and Sam thought it looked great. She would never be brave enough to get a buzz. She’d probably look like a pinhead. Her hair was pulled back into a short ponytail. “Dinner’s in the oven. We’re waiting for Lynn.” She put chips and salsa on the table. “I’ve got Diet Coke and Pepsi. Would you like either?”
    Always hungry, Sam ate every morsel set in front of her. She never put on weight. Her dad called her the lean eating machine. “Thanks.” She dipped the chips in the salsa and slugged back a Pepsi while surreptitiously studying Edie.
    “You know, we could go skiing tonight. They’re open.” She began putting plates on the table and Jamie and Sam leaped up to help. “Sit down. You can do the dishes.”
    The garage door buzzed up. A car door slammed. The garage door went down, and a woman stepped into the kitchen. She brought a wave of cold air with her. She set a briefcase down and unzipped her jacket.
    “Hey, Jamie,” she said and Jamie hugged her. She smiled at Sam, and her olive skin crinkled around her oval brown eyes.
    “Lynn, this is my friend, Sam,” Jamie said.
    Sam blushed as she got up. It was one of those uncontrollable things she hated about herself. Lynn was holding out a slender hand, and Sam, feeling awkward, walked over and took it. It was cold. “Thompson, Sam Thompson.” She ducked her head.
    “Lynn Chan.” She had a mischievous grin. Her black hair was cut just below her ears. It was and thick and straight. “You two are here to ski, right? Let’s eat, so you and Edie can hit the slopes.”
    “Hey, we can’t go without you,” Jamie said.
    “I don’t ski. Remember? Besides, I’ve got work to do.”
    Sam was standing near Jamie and Lynn. When Edie put a light hand on her shoulder, she started. Edie squeezed lightly and let go.
    “Come on. Sit down. We’re going to eat and get out of here.” Edie dished food off the stove and put it on the table.
    “Ah, Chinese pork,” Lynn said.
    “It’s a bastard concoction from a recipe that Lynn’s mother gave us,” Edie said, and Sam wondered whether to call them by their first names.
    Lynn said, “What is up with you, Jamie? We haven’t seen you for months and suddenly here you are.”
    “This guy is following me.” Jamie told his aunt and Lynn about the encounter at the mental health clinic.
    “It’s that violet hair.” Lynn leaned back in her chair.
    “Men hate it as much as they used to hate long hair on guys,” Edie said. “Now that the football players have long hair, it’s okay. But this violet color is hard on the eyes, Jamie. What do your parents say?”
    “I didn’t tell them about the guy with the truck.”
    “I mean the hair.”
    “My dad hates it. Mom says I’ll get over it. It’s better than a tattoo, she says.” He put a hand behind his head and preened. “I think it’s cool.”
    “Hate to tell you but it looks like a Halloween wig. Promise me you won’t put those dresser drawer knobs in your ear lobes.” Edie got up to clear the table, and Sam got up to help her.
    “I swear I won’t,” Jamie said, holding his right hand up.
    “I’ll take care of the dishes,” Lynn said. “You all go get ready and get out of here.”
    Sam blurted, “But we’re supposed to do them.”
    “Nonsense. You can do the breakfast dishes.”
    “Wait. I have to ask Lynn something. She teaches psychology. Maybe