Plum Girl (Romance) by Jill Winters Read Free Book Online Page A

emails from Terry and one from Macey Green. None from Dominick. The two from Terry had the subject heading "fwd" so Lonnie knew to disregard them immediately. What she didn't know was why he kept sending her forwards when she'd told him how annoying they were. Nine times out of ten they were stupid chain letters that promised you eternal misery if you didn't pass them on to twenty of your closest friends.
    She clicked on Macey's message. It was brief and cordial, but she still felt a rush of hero worship: Hi. Can you come see me about a research project if/when you get a free moment? Thanks so much, MG.
    "So she's not agoraphobic, she just avoids people and the outside world?" Lonnie asked. Against her better judgment, she scanned the forwarded messages from Terry. One was a chain letter, and the other a list of jokes about rabbits. She was about to delete them when she got another mail message. It was from Terry, too, but it was a sweet message telling her that he couldn't wait to see her on Saturday. She appeased her guilt about Dominick by not deleting the forwards.
    "I don't know," Peach said. "I think she's just shy. But don't worry, I'm gonna work on her."
    "Uh-huh, you want to hear a joke? Wait, you're gonna what?"
    "I'm going to work on her."
    Lonnie let out a small sigh. "Peach, maybe you should just let things be."
    "Why? Its not like Cheryl's happy this way, hiding in the house all the time. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if she's never even been on a date. I'm gonna find out."
    "Wait a minute. You're not going ask her?"
    "Please, Lonnie, I think I know how to be subtle," she scoffed mildly.
    "Look, just don't try to be some kind of miracle worker with this woman. She's obviously been living this life for thirty-five years already, and..." Lonnie grappled for an overall point. "Just don't fix it if it's not broke, as they say."
    "Oh, good. One of your ever-inspiring trite platitudes."
    "Hey, I just don't want this to blow up in your face. I know you. You'll say you just want to help her with her shyness, and suddenly she's performing at a karaoke bar wearing a shirt that says 'Coed Naked Limbo.' "
    Peach laughed. "Do you have any idea what you're talking about? Now, what's the joke?"
    Lonnie said, "Wait, seriously, do you understand what I'm trying to say? This woman could have deep psychological problems you know nothing about. Don't unleash Norman Bates and then get fired; that's all I'm saying."
    "Lon, let me worry about Cheryl Mew. Please. You're forgetting I was a psych major for almost six months. Now, what's the joke?"
    Lonnie gave up, deciding it was easier just to run with her sister's latest enterprise. She read the first joke on her screen, "Okay, what kind of jewelry do rabbits like?"
    "Oh, God. What?" Peach asked, her voice weary with dread for the impending punchline.
    "Fourteen-carrot-gold jewelry," Lonnie read, confused. Then she got it. "Oh. Carrot."
    "Good-bye."
    "Wait—"
    "From Terry?"
    "Yeah, but it was a forwa—"
    "Uh-huh. No comment."
    Lonnie giggled. "It's not like he wrote it!" she protested. "He doesn't use this in his act or anything, jeez."
    Peach laughed. "Okay, okay. Look, I gotta go anyway. But before I forget, Mom said she wants us to come over for dinner tomorrow night since she and Dad are going to be in New Hampshire this weekend."
    Lonnie had forgotten that her parents were visiting some longtime friends for the weekend. "Oh, I forgot! All right, I'll go if you're going."
    " 'Kay. Later."
    "Bye." After Lonnie hung up, she got another alert: new mail. She clicked on the icon, and felt more than a little disappointed to see a message from Twit asking if any faxes had come for him. Since Lonnie's email address was preset in the system as [email protected] it didn't help Twit when it came to addressing her correctly. His message read: Libby—any faxes? If there are, I've already asked you to bring them to me ASAP. She rolled her eyes; her boss knew how to make an employee feel