He Loves Me Not Read online

  Theo was peering over Jules' shoulder as she searched the standard issue tool kit that came with the car. "I'm keeping watch?" He sounded quite concerned.

  Jules liked that he was kind of straight-laced and afraid of anything adventurous. "Come on, Theodore," she said, taking his hand and leading across the road. She had found a suitable screwdriver in the kit. The garage was situated close to the fence. She could climb up there and get at the louvered window. "Give me a leg up..."

  She stepped up in Theo's hand. One louver was already broken and pulled out easily. She jimmied another one free and passed it down. That allowed enough room for her slender hips to slip through.

  "Call me if anyone comes," she said and silenced her phone. "Oh stop worrying. I'll be back in a minute..."

  Theo peered around anxiously. "Julie!" he cried, aghast, but Jules was gone.

  The old garage was full of junk, and a cloud of dust made her sneeze. The thrill of playing a criminal had her heart pounding. She crawled over boxes and amongst lamps and rickety wooden chairs. There was an antique dresser that would be amazing to restore. Behind that, on the floor in the corner, was a burnt orange colored cardboard box. She dug through it and, just as Theo had said, a small white book with gold trim lay at the bottom beneath a bunch of cook books and wedding magazines.

  Jules was quickly back out the window and fixing the louvers into place. Theo led the way back to the car. He was obviously in a hurry to escape with their stolen article.

  "That was awesome. You're crazy, Julie. I love that!" he gushed excitedly as they pulled out of the parking lot and headed back to the motor home.

  Jules started reading.

  “Try late 1982… does it have dates?” Theo asked, his voice still on edge.

  “Oh yes. Here we go… The drama boys are cute, but they’re mainly not into girls. Sad. Now the professor on the other hand... Let’s hope there’s more to these coaching sessions than just study. I’m about to go crazy wanting him. Yes, it’s all here, Theo… should have been about out of his mind with wanting me, I kissed him. That asshole pushed me away. This is perfect. He rejected her… Yes it’s all here. Okay let me read it to you:

  October 12

  Dear Diary,

  After all these months of boring studying, I finally know what I want to do. Of course, you know that math and science and English aren’t for me. But I’ve found my dream. I’m going to be an actress! Remember I did that play last semester, the one where I just had the small role? It sure was fun, so today I just decided, on a whim, to try out for this year’s... and I got the lead! Some day, of course, I’ll go into movies, but getting started on the university stage works just fine.

  I’ll tell you, diary, those bitchy chicks in the drama department sure were pissed that I walked in out of nowhere and got cast to play Lady Macbeth right under their noses. HA! Serves them right. They’re so full of themselves. I hope there are some cute boys in drama. I’m getting sick of Ricky.

  October 15

  Acting is like totally awesome! I even like rehearsals, even though they last forever. I have to spend every evening at the theater. The other kids are whining about how they never get time to study. I tell them do what I do. Don’t bother. You’ll still get through okay. Studying is a drag anyway. The part I’m playing is Lady Macbeth. She’s one cool bitch. Wants her husband to be king and makes sure he gets to. Nothing stands in her way. The words are kinda hard, they don’t always make a lot of sense, but I’m getting through them.

  I even made a new friend. Her name is Heather. She’s the stage manager. She’s a student, but working on a PhD. Ha! How cool is that? A doctorate in acting? Yes, I think so.

  The drama boys are cute, but they’re mainly not into girls. Sad. Now the professor on the other hand...

  November 21

  Dear Diary,

  It’s been a while since I had time to write. Rehearsals are kinda taking over my life. I still love it though. Especially working with Dr. Jiles. He’s so sexy, not like the boys I’ve been with before. I like his dramatic flair. He wants me too. I can see it. He likes to watch rehearsal from the balcony and call down instructions in his “projection” voice. He can make his voice loud so we can hear it without yelling. I need to practice that!

  I dropped one of my classes, biology, so I wouldn’t have to study. I wasn’t passing anyway. Maybe I’ll take it at the community college in the summer. Get it out of the way. It’s not like I’m gonna need to know the stuff or anything. Then when I’m a famous movie actress, I can go on TV and do a big public service announcement about staying in school. Ha! Not everyone can be famous. Good to have a real skill to fall back on. All that bullshit.

  November 29

  Thanksgiving break is finally over. A day without rehearsal just feels... empty somehow. I missed the stage, and I missed Dr. Jiles. He convinced me to come to his office for private “coaching” twice a week until the production December 15. Let’s hope there’s more to these coaching sessions than just study. I’m about to go crazy wanting him.

  One sad thing though. Heather made some rude, bitchy comments about how I need to stop throwing myself at Dr. Jiles. She said he’s got a wife and kid, like that matters. Marriages break up every day. I think she’s just jealous. She started with that whole, ‘I’m only telling you this because I’m your friend and I care about you’ bullshit. Well she can go to hell. I’m not stopping until I get what I want... a sexy professor of my very own.

  December 10

  Boy, I’ll tell you, diary. That Dr. Jiles is a subtle one. Heather must have been kinda right. He has ‘issues’ with getting with a girl because of his family. All those ‘coaching sessions’ have been nothing but work. Bleah. Like I need that! But whatever. I just like spending time with him. But how am I going to break through? I’m making it my mission. I won’t rest until Dr. Sexy is mine all mine. Maybe after the dress rehearsal, when he’s in a good mood and relaxed from how great everything is going on stage, I can slip up into the balcony and... let nature take its course. Now what to wear...

  December 14

  Shit! Shit! Shit! I’m so pissed I can hardly see straight. All that careful work. All that time spent, and stupid Dr. Jiles turned me down. It was so perfect. The rehearsal was great! Everything went so well, some of the stupid drama majors were saying it was a bad sign. What kind of idiots think like that? Anyhoo, after the rehearsal, I did just what I said. I went up to the balcony. I know he was surprised to see me there. I didn’t hold back. I used all the cute little sexy moves I know, and then, when he should have been about out of his mind with wanting me, I kissed him.

  That asshole pushed me away. ME! Said he had a wife and wasn’t interested in a fling. Told me to go back to my room and concentrate on my performance tomorrow! As if! There’s no way I’m going to let this go. What if he tells someone? I could really get in trouble. No. I know. I’ll turn it around on him. I’ll make him pay.

  What to do?

  What if I went to the police, said he took advantage of me? I can look all sweet and innocent and hurt, and say I was scared, but I can’t stand all the ugly things he does to me anymore...

  Yeah, that’s it. If I accuse him of assault... that will really screw him over.

  Lady Macbeth has nothing on me...

  Jules looked to Theo, grinning with satisfaction. “Well?”

  “Well that’s perfect,” he agreed, though he had that contemplative frown going on again.

  “So we take this to Campus News and blow the lid off, right?” Jules went on. “Easy as…”

  “Sure, we could do that, but I’m thinking we just scan a few pages for the paper. They can do a story and cause a stir for the week until it all blows over. The police won’t be interested because it was only ever an accusation anyway. It’s not as if the professor was charged and convicted… No, the police will only treat it as campus gossip.”

  Jules was confused now. Her bubble of excitement at having cracked a big thirty year o
ld case very nearly burst. “So, what do we do, then? We’re only the ghost hunters. Surely we’re not responsible for doing publicity too!” She giggled at her own joke. “Hmm… ghost hunters… hunters! We still need that handle.”

  “You’re right, Julie. We are not responsible for publicity. I think we should leave that to the professor’s family and friends. They’re the ones who need to clear his name publically.” Theo glanced at Jules with a grin. “All we need to do is take care of the ghost. And that means clearing his name with the one who really counts!”

  “With his son?” Jules asked, although she knew as soon as she said it. “Of course. The professor needs for his son to know he was innocent. Then he can move on, right?”

  “I believe so,” Theo agreed. “I think that’s why he took me to see the guy last night. I think we scan a few pages for the news, and give that diary to the professor’s son.”

  ***Chapter 14***

  That evening Theo and Jules approached the wonky screen door of the trailer Theo had been taken to in spirit form the previous night. The man he had seen sleeping answered their knock. He was thin with sunken eyes and his hands shook noticeably.

  “Yes?” He looked from Theo to Jules, offering a light, welcoming smile.

  Theo introduced himself and his girlfriend and explained that they lived in the motor home over beneath the big oak. The man invited them in.

  “You would be the son of Dr. Henderson Jiles, then?” Theo asked.

  “I am. My name is Jack. My father passed away years ago. What’s this about?” There was suddenly a mixture of defiance, pride and embarrassment in his tone and emerald eyes.

  Theo sat, urging Jules into the plastic chair beside him. He offered the diary to their neighbor, extending it without explanation.

  “What’s this?”

  Jules had left a piece of paper as a bookmark. The confused yet obviously curious man flicked through. The small journal settled open at the marked page.

  “You need to read from there,” Jules said. Her sweet voice drew an accepting glance as the thin man sat down opposite in a mismatched plastic chair.

  “What’s it about?” he muttered, but he was reading, and Jules and Theo waited. He read steadily, without glancing up. He turned a page, his chin quivering, his eyes pooling with tears.

  Theo stood, keeping Jules’ hand and urging her to leave with him. He patted Jack Jiles’ shoulder and offered a sympathetic nod when he looked up.

  “Where did you get this?”

  “It turned up in an old box,” Jules answered quickly. “We thought you should have it.”

  The man sniffled. Tears were dripping down his face. “Thank you,” he said, looking from Jules to Theo. “You have no idea how much this means to me… how much it will mean to my mother.”

  “You’re welcome,” Theo said, offering another shoulder pat as he left and took his ghost hunting partner with him.

  He pulled Jules to a halt as they walked home. It was a dark night, moonless. The stars gleamed brightly in the clear sky.

  Suddenly Theo froze. “Did you feel that, Julie?”

  Jules turned to face him, slipping her arms around his neck and lifting for a kiss. “Did I feel what?”

  Theo looked up at the sky, wondering about the souls that were up there, about the super-highway of souls, as he imagined it. “I think the professor was just here with us. I think he might have been back there at the trailer and just swept by us right now.”

  “He would want to say goodbye to Dr. Morales, wouldn’t he?” Jules asked wistfully. “He wouldn’t leave without seeing her.”

  “Well yes. I suppose he would. But I’m not sure it is so easy as to fly around paying social visits. From what I understand, they have a lot of trouble staying in the present and going where they want. It’s more about being pulled and drawn, I think… or I believe, I should say. I don’t think the professor will have any choice about staying or moving on now that the reason he was here is no longer valid.”

  Theo looked up at the night sky again. “I don’t believe he will be able to resist what’s up there now.” He looked back down and kissed Jules’ pursed lips. “I think we just accomplished our very first ghost hunting…”

  ***

  Jules looked upwards. She had always loved looking at the sky. The stars fascinated her and there was a sense of peace, of rightness she had always felt looking up. She’d never known why she felt that way. Her explanations about the sciences and how they studied the atmosphere and space didn’t hold water, because she’d never cared about looking through a telescope or watching films about the universe. No. There was something deeper.

  “Theo,” she said, “what’s up there? I can feel it but I can’t see it.”

  “It’s like an expressway, a superhighway. All the people who die zoom along it to their next destination. It’s beautiful. All white light and a sense of utter peace.”

  “Yes, I can feel the peace. So they’re all happy up there?”

  “Yeah. When they die, they receive all the memories of all the lives they’ve lived so they can become better, wiser souls the next time around.”

  Jules nodded. “So ghosts are truly sad and not scary,” she replied. “They’re stuck and can’t move on?”

  “Yes,” Theo replied. “Although people do fear them, there’s really no reason. I pity the stuck ones. That’s why I want to help.”

  “You’re amazing,” she said. Her heart swelled with love for him, and she drew him down for another long kiss.

  “Come on, ghost hunter,” she urged, taking his hand and leading him back through the trailer park to the pretty spot where Theo’s... no, their portable home and ghost hunting laboratory waited. As they walked she offered a quick prayer that Dr. Henderson Jiles’ son would be able to move on in peace the way his father had.

  “I’m glad,” she said a little dreamily, “that we were able to play a role in helping that family. I never would have guessed that the incorporation of our talents would make such an effective ghost hunting team.”

  Jules realized what she’d said and stopped dead. “Theo! Hunters Inc.! Isn’t that perfect?”

  “What? What are you talking about, Julie?” he asked.

  “Our handle, silly,” she teased. “Theo, get your head out of the clouds. Those ghosts are fine. It’s the ones here on earth that need our help. And this is what we’re going to call ourselves... if you like it that is.”

  Theo blinked. “Hunters, Inc... Yes. I like that. It’s simple and unpretentious but it describes what we do perfectly. Good one, Julie.”

  “Okay, I’ll make up a web site and a Facebook page, and you can...”

  “Stop, hold on, babe. Don’t forget we still have to finish school. We can’t go hunting again until after the semester ends next month. Thank goodness we’re both set to graduate in December”

  “Rats,” Julie said. “Well, you’re right. After investing all this in my degree, I had better finish it. And me being a skeptic and a mechanical engineer will make us seem more believable.”

  “Julie, how can you still call yourself a skeptic after everything you’ve...”

  She interrupted his question with a deep kiss. “We’re home, Theo. Let’s talk about this later.”

  He nodded. He unlocked the door and led her into the compact little space. Home. Their home. They reached for each other as one and indulged in many long deep kisses. Theo’s mouth on hers felt so good, better every time they kissed. Jules broke away to pull the sweater over his head.

  He returned the favor, unhooking her bra and tossing it aside so they could cuddle skin to skin.

  “I love you, Julie,” he told her solemnly.

  “I love you too,” she replied. She tugged him over to the bed. He controlled her descent, laying her gently on the mattress, following her down. His lips covered hers again as she stroked his back.

  “Your hands are cold,” he murmured.

  “Sorry.”

  “Let me warm
them.” He took her icy fingers in his hands and blew on them and then kissed each one, nipping lightly and making her giggle. Then he placed her newly warmed fingers back on his skin and lowered his mouth again.

  He raised up on his knees and one elbow, creating space between their bodies so he could touch her. He started with her cheek and trailed down, stroking her shoulder, her collarbone, and eventually finding his way to her breast. Everywhere his fingers touched, his lips followed, pressing soft kisses to her skin. Now no part of Jules felt cold. Heated desire was rising. Theo plucked and caressed her nipple then took it in his mouth, sucking eagerly. Jules sighed. That felt good. Really good. She urged him to the other side. Then she reached down, opening his jeans, skimming her hands over his hips, trying to lower the garments so she could feel more of him.

  “Are you in a hurry, Julie?” he asked.

  “Yes, Theo. I want you naked. Please?” she begged. He stood and stripped off his jeans. Jules wriggled out of her black pants and pink thong. When he stretched out on top of her, the weight and delicious warmth of his nude body heated her beyond desire to desperation. Her kiss grew wild.

  “Slow down, Julie,” he urged, “we have all night.”

  “I want you now, Theo,” she begged. “Please?”

  Theo grinned and kissed her, but didn’t hurry one bit. He returned to the pleasurable task of caressing her breasts, driving her out of her mind with excitement. This time she could feel his erection against her inner thigh. She touched him there, cupping the heavy swell of flesh in one hand and stroking. He groaned, but allowed the touch.

  “Touch me,” she urged. “Like you did this morning.”

  “Right here?” he asked, running his fingertips down her body to her drenched, swollen folds. He dipped into the pooling moisture and angled upwards, stealing her breath in an intimate caress.

  “Oh... oh yes,” she exhaled, still stroking him while he stroked her. Or at least, she tried. Turned on as she was, her building climax quickly distracted her from her task, and her hand fell onto her thigh.

  Then Theo stopped.