Looking for Julie by Jackie Calhoun Read Free Book Online

roommate had brought her boyfriend into their living space? “This is not a decision to make lightly or without your parents’ consent. You’re not really serious, are you?”
    “I can’t sleep or study when they’re going at it, and Sam is desolate. The girl stays overnight.”
    She was so glad she wasn’t young and helpless to control her environment. “Can’t you go to the hall advisor?”
    “And be a snitch? He’s a jerk anyway.”
    “Where are you?”
    “We’re in my room. Nate and Betsy, the bitch, aren’t here right now. Sam doesn’t want to go back to her place.”
    She glanced at her watch. It was after ten.
    “Do you want to talk to Sam? She admires you.”
    Not really. She wanted to go to sleep, and forget these problems that had been forced on her. “Well, that’s nice, but…”
    “Sam, Edie wants to talk to you.”
    “Jamie, I’m in Minocqua. There’s nothing I can do…”
    “Hi,” Sam said. The one word sounded so forlorn that Edie wished she knew what to say to make everything better. Sam took a breath that became a sob. She’d obviously been crying.
    “Have you got another place to stay, Sam?” Edie asked.
    “No.” Said just as forlornly.
    She experienced a twinge of anger at Nita’s thoughtlessness. “Sweetie, maybe Jamie could move in with you for a while?” She was thinking if Jamie were there, he could act as a buffer between Sam and Nita and her girlfriend.
    “She wouldn’t let Jamie share an apartment with us.”
    “Well, she has someone there now, so how can she say no if you have someone? It would also give Jamie a place to stay other than with his roommate and girlfriend.”
    “Okay,” Sam said, just as sadly.
    “Sam?”
    “Yes.”
    “This too will pass. Trust me. I know it hurts.” How astute, she thought dryly, but nothing more original came to her. “There should be someone you can talk to at the university. They offer counseling services.”
    “I want to talk to Julie.”
    “Julie?” She vaguely remembered Jamie talking about how Sam was looking for Julie, but she was tired. She wanted to sleep.
    “My therapist, Dr. Julie Decker. She sort of disappeared.”
    “I remember. Have you looked for her on the web?”
    “Yes. She’s not there.”
    “Keep looking. One of these days she’ll turn up, that is if she’s still working.” She didn’t know if she would turn up, of course, but it was likely.
    Sam said, “Okay,” in the same sad voice.
    Jamie came on the phone. “Can you come here, Aunt Edie, and help us out?”
    “What do you want me to do, Jamie? You don’t change schools because your roommate is sleeping with someone. Get her out of there or go stay with Sam. Sam needs someone to give her moral support. Sleep at her apartment tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow night.”
    “Thanks, Auntie. Sam says thanks, too.”
     
     
     
    She slept in the next morning. Snow was falling heavily. She packed up, wishing she’d left the night before, and checked out.
    The highway was covered with the white stuff. Traffic was moving at fifty miles per hour or less. Passing was hazardous. She got stuck behind two snowplows that crossed the southbound lanes, effectively blocking everything. Claire drifted into her thoughts as she chafed at the slow pace, but by the time she reached Point, she was thinking about the book and what changes she should make.
    She stopped at Copps to buy groceries and headed for home where she fired up the snowblower and blew the driveway. The world was white and muffled, buried under at least six inches of fresh snow. She loved it. It could snow till April as far as she was concerned.
    Inside, she listened to her messages—two from Lynn asking her to call and one from Jamie. He said, “We did what you told us to do, Auntie. There are four of us crowded into Sam’s teeny apartment. I have to sleep on the lumpy couch. Turn on your cell. I need advice.”
    She took her bag to her room, turned on her cell and flopped on the