Plain Jane Read Online Free PDF Page A

honey,” she said. “Fred,” Trixie McGuire called to her husband, “Janie’s on the phone. Pick up.” Jane smiled as she carried the phone over to the fish tank and checked on her newest additions, a pair of very large angel fish she’d named Gracie and Slick.
    Fred came on the phone. “Janie, girl, it’s nice to hear your voice. You stoppin’ by for a visit?”
    â€œNot today. I might make it out tomorrow, though. Of course that depends on what you’re having for supper.”
    â€œWhatever Fred picks up,” Trixie answered, predictably. What that meant to Jane was, Fred would go to the nearest takeout, probably Roy’s, and bring something home. “Spareribs would be real tasty, Fred. Janie likes spareribs, doncha, girl?”
    â€œI sure do. Seven o’clock okay? Tomorrow, not today.”
    â€œOkay with me,” Fred said.
    â€œTrixie, I know you keep tabs on the comings and goings here in town. What do you know about the Sorensons? I had lunch with Mike today in Lafayette. He didn’t say anything about his family. By the same token, I didn’t ask.”
    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. “Hmm,” Trixie finally said. “As a matter of fact, I do know a thing or two. His parents moved to N’awlins a year or so ago. Rayne was just too quiet for them, and they didn’t want to move to Lafayette for fear Michael would think they were trying to keep tabs on him.”
    â€œDo you happen to know if he’s married or if he’s seeing anyone?” Jane ventured, knowing she was probably opening a can of worms.
    There was a smile in Trixie’s voice when she answered. “No, he isn’t married. He was seeing a woman, a young lawyer. Coletta was her name. Vivian, his mother, told me she was cuter than a basketful of puppies but that she was jealous of all the hours Mike put into his practice. So they broke up a couple of months back. Does that help?”
    Jane grimaced. Cuter than a basketful of puppies had to mean she was spectacular. “Yes, that helps. Is there anything about anybody you don’t know?”
    â€œUmm, let me see,” Trixie said as if she was actually considering the question. “No, I don’t think so. Why do you want to know about Mike?”
    â€œHe’s coming over for supper tonight.”
    â€œI see,” Trixie said, the two words full of innuendo.
    â€œNo, you don’t see. We met today because I invited him to lunch to discuss a patient I’m having some difficulty with. We got to talking, I mentioned my ghosts, and he said he was interested in the paranormal. There you have it. As much as I’d like to think he could be interested in me, it isn’t possible. In high school, he was the kind of guy who always went for the cheerleader type.”
    â€œThat was then and this is now,” Trixie said. “He’s a man now, a professional. Trust me, he doesn’t want some hoochie mama, he wants a real woman. Like you, sweetie.” Jane heard the TV in the background. “By the way, what’s going on with your station manager? I thought you had a thing going with him, though for the life of me, I can’t see what you see in him. The man is uglier than homemade soap.”
    â€œShame on you, Trixie,” Fred piped up. “That’s not nice. He can’t help that he fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Now, I’m not saying he isn’t a nice man, it’s just that . . . Janie, you need to think about how your children will look.”
    Jane shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Not to worry, Fred. I don’t plan on marrying him. I’m just using him for sex.” She put her hand over her mouth and giggled as she imagined the shocked look on his face. “Besides, the whole thing is winding down. All the surprises are gone. He doesn’t have any