Tainted Read Free Page A

“Listen to this.”
    Holly took it, placed it in her left ear. It took her only a second to identify the song: Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
    â€œBrilliant, isn’t it?” he said when the song ended, holding his palm out. “It’s possible, you know.”
    â€œWhat’s possible?”
    â€œTo get fixed. Hang on, don’t look so frightened. I didn’t mean drugs. I meant, it’s possible to feel better. You looked sad staring out the window, that’s all.”
    She put the earphone into his outstretched hand, smiled.
    â€œThanks.”
    He rearranged the earphones in his ears, closed his eyes again. Was he going to sleep for real this time? Holly wondered. Or would he be watching her as she stared out the window?
    She wasn’t wearing nice clothes; instead she had on her usual worn jeans and black T-shirt. No make-up. No jewelry. No perfume. Dirty white sneakers. Who dressed up for a bus trip? Holly wished fervently she had. She wished even more fervently that she had figured out somewhere along the way how to flirt, but most of all, she wished she knew what was supposed to happen next. Would he ask for her phone number? If he didn’t, could she ask for his? No. Definitely not. It would be way too embarrassing. The odds were he was already going out with someone anyway. “Spoken for” as Henry, her grandfather, would say. He’d been making conversation, he’d been having a little fun. He’d probably call his girlfriend in Boston straight after the interview and she’d meet him at the bus station when he got back.
    Closing her eyes too, Holly tried to recapture the smell and texture of his breath when he’d whispered to her. She wanted to put herself back into that moment of intimacy and stay there for a while, savoring it. Instead, images of him walking hand in hand with a tall willowy blonde appeared. Her eyes flew open and she turned to look out the window again.
    Way too quickly, the Mill Pond Diner was in sight. The bus driver signaled, braked and pulled into the car park.
    Holly touched him on the arm; his eyes opened, he disengaged the iPod.
    â€œWe’re here?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œExcellent.”
    The pneumatic door swung open with a swishing sound of air and Holly and Jack both stood. They appeared to be the only two on the bus getting out at this first stop. Jack Dane stepped into the aisle, motioned for Holly to precede him. She did, conscious of her sloppy clothes. Neither spoke as they climbed down the bus stairs then grabbed their bags from its underbelly.
    â€œNice meeting you, Holly Barrett.” He extended his right hand. No “Can you give me your cell number?,” no other words followed. Once again, they exchanged a brief, strong shake.
    I can take a risk, Anna. I have to take a risk.
    â€œIf you need a lift into town, my car’s here. I can drive you to Figs.”
    â€œThanks, but the manager said he’d meet me.” He put his hand over his eyes to shield them from the summer sun. “There’s a man over there, by that blue car. Looks like he could be waiting for me.”
    â€œCharlie Thurlow. Yes, I heard he’s the manager.” Wanting to say more, but knowing he was anxious to leave her, Holly said, “Good luck, Jack Dane. I hope you get the job. It was nice meeting you too.”
    By the time she had reached the “It was nice” part of the farewell, Charlie Thurlow had waved to Jack, Jack had started off toward him and her final words ended up directed to his back.
    I don’t mind , she said to herself, hoisting her bag on her shoulder and walking to the other side of the car park where her car sat baking in the heat of the sun. I was crazy and deluded to hope for anything more. I don’t mind at all.

Chapter 2
    After the ten-minute drive from town, Holly arrived back home in Birch Point and found a note on the kitchen table: We’ve gone down