Plain Jane Read Free

minutes. I have to find someone before all hell breaks loose.”
    â€œGo ahead, honey. Fred and I will go to our seats and wait. Take all the time you need.”
    Jane fought her way through happy, laughing students and their equally happy parents until she spotted someone she recognized who might know where Connie Bryan or Todd Prentice were. She nudged a perky redhead, and asked, “Have you seen Connie Bryan or Todd Prentice?”
    The perky redhead stared at Jane for a long minute. “Didn’t you hear?”
    Jane looked up at the fluffy white clouds and the patches of deep blue sky overhead. Her instincts told her that whatever the redhead was going to tell her, she wasn’t going to like it.
    â€œHear what?” she whispered fearfully.
    â€œConnie killed herself two days ago. Todd didn’t come to graduation. He’s having a real hard time of it. Were you friends with Connie?”
    â€œYes. Yes, I was,” Jane stammered as she made her way through the crowd, tears streaming down her cheeks. She thought about the brown bag with Connie’s clothes, shoes, and pictures that she’d taken home with her and were now in Trixie’s garage. Just in case. Next week she’d come back and file a report with the authorities. If it stirred up a can of worms with Connie’s family and Todd, then so be it. They deserved to know the why of her death. No death should be in vain. She wiped at her tears with the sleeve of the long, flowing gown as she took her place near the end of the graduation line.

1
    Rayne, Louisiana, 2000
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    Shivers of excitement raced down her spine as she watched him walk across the crowded restaurant toward her table. He was right on time, but then she knew he would be. Like herself, he was a professional with a full schedule of patients, so he knew the importance of being prompt.
    Tall, dark, and classically handsome, Dr. Michael Sorenson was a hunk in every sense of the word. He was also a man who was comfortable in his own skin, a not-too-often-seen trait that made her heart flutter—the same way it had the first time she’d seen him all those years ago when he and his family moved to Rayne.
    Dr. Jane Lewis felt her eyes squint behind her wire-rimmed granny glasses as she tried to imagine how her godmother, Trixie McGuire, would describe the good doctor. Knowing Trixie, she would say something embarrassing like “he’s probably hung like a Moscow mule.” In spite of being seventy-four, Trixie loved to stare at men’s belt buckles. And when it came right down to it, Jane did, too.
    Suddenly, he was standing in front of her. “Jane, it’s good to see you again. It must be . . .”
    â€œIt’s been a long time,” Jane said, motioning for him to sit down opposite her. Muscular. Works out regularly. Great tailor. Really fits that suit. He was so put-together she felt like a dowdy spinster in comparison. She watched, fascinated, as he reached for his water glass. Fabulous hands. Big, strong hands. Trixie would probably say, “all the better to explore a body with.” Jane felt herself blushing. “So, how’s it going, Mike?” Brilliant, absolutely brilliant dialogue here.
    â€œCouldn’t be better. The practice is thriving. I even took on an associate so I could get away and play tennis once in a while. And I finally got around to buying a house last spring. Believe it or not I mow my own lawn and even cook a meal from time to time. Oh, and, I almost forgot, I adopted a stray cat. She’s an inside cat now and a great companion. I call her Noodle. How about you, Jane? By the way, congratulations on your radio show. What a coup! I’m jealous.”
    So he knew about her show. Good. She hated blowing her own horn. “Thanks,” she said modestly. What should she tell him about herself? She mentally ticked off the things he’d told her and compared them to her own life. Her