Never Leave Me Read Online Free PDF

town.”
    She turned towards the door and started away from me. I could feel an angry, helpless frustration choking up in me. I seized her shoulders and turned her towards me. “Why are you lying to me?” I demanded, staring into her face.
    There was a bright shining moisture in her eyes. “Brad, I’m not lying to you,” she answered in a small voice.
    I paid no attention to her denial. “What are you afraid of, Elaine?” I asked harshly.
    I could feel her slump suddenly under my hands as if all the strength had run out of her. The tears were clear in her eyes now. “Let me go, Brad,” she whispered. “Haven’t I had enough trouble?”
    Her tiny voice spilled over me like a spray of cold water, washing away my anger. I dropped my hands and walked slowly back to my desk. I slumped into my chair. After a moment I looked up at her. “Okay, Elaine,” I said. “You can go if you want.”
    She hesitated, looking back at me. “Brad, I’m sorry.” I didn’t answer.
    I watched the door close behind her and then looked blackly down at my desk. She was right.
    There was no arguing about it. I was only looking for trouble. This was no dame that you could pick up for a time and then toss away. This baby had class and the only way you could play was for keeps.
    I stuck a cigarette between my lips and lit it. It was probably the best thing that could have happened. Forty-three was too old to start getting the dreams of youth.
    Somehow the day crept by, and about five o’clock when the telephone rang there was nothing left inside me but the vague ache of a might-have-been. I picked up the phone.
    “Paul Remey on the phone, boss,” Mickey said. I switched over. “Paul, how are you?” I asked.
    “Fine, Brad,” he answered. “Free for dinner to-night?”
    Surprise crept into my voice. “Sure,” I said quickly. “Where the devil are you?”
    “I’m in town,” he laughed at my surprise. “I had to mend a fence for the Chief. Edith came in with me to do a little shopping. I just got the bright idea of calling you for dinner. It’s got to be early though. I’m getting the nine o’clock plane back.”
    “Wonderful,” I said, making my voice as cordial as I could. “Suppose we meet at twenty-one six?
    We can take our time over dinner, and then I’ll drive you out to the airport.” “Okay,” he replied. “See you there.”
    I put down the phone and looked out the window. It was almost dark, with the surprising early dark that comes after Daylight Saving Time is over. I felt very tired. All I wanted to do was to go home
    and crawl into bed and sleep away the vague unsatisfied feeling inside me. But there were some things that I had to do.
    I picked up the phone again and called home. Marge answered. “I won’t be home for dinner, baby,” I said. “Paul’s in town and I’m eating with him. Want to come down and join us?” I asked.
    “I don’t think so,” she answered. “I’ll have dinner with Jeanie and turn in early. You boys have a good time.”
    “Okay, baby,” I replied. “Bye now.”
    I turned back to my desk and finished reading the estimates on the steel job. I initialled them and sent them into Chris’s office. By that time it was almost six o’clock, so I left.
    The night had turned cool and the air was crisp. I took a deep breath and decided a few blocks’
    walk couldn’t do me any harm. I walked down Madison to Fifty-second Street, then over to the restaurant.
    The maître d’ caught me just as I checked my hat. “Mr. Rowan,” she smoothied. “Mr. Remey’s waiting for you. Right this way, please.”
    Paul got to his feet as I approached the table. Edith was sitting to his right. After I shook his hand I turned to her and smiled. “Edith, this is such a wonderful surprise,” I said. “Marge will be so disappointed you didn’t let us know you’d be in town.”
    She smiled back at me. “It was unexpected, Brad,” she answered. “But it’s good to see you.” “You