Body Chemistry Read Online Free Page A

Body Chemistry
Book: Body Chemistry Read Online Free
Author: Dara Girard
Pages:
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stopped.
    Brenda parked her car and rushed inside. She threw her coat on the couch, then went to her patio, ripping the carton open as she stepped out in the still night. She could feel her tension ease as she sniffed the box. Heaven was just a match away. A match . She paused. She’d forgotten to buy matches. She checked her kitchen drawers hoping for a miracle—nothing. Then she looked at the stove. That would have to do.
    She reached to turn it on when the phone rang. Brenda hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”
    “I didn’t win the award,” Madeline said.
    Brenda imagined her friend lounging in her lavishly furnished living room. “That’s okay. There will be others.”
    “Not as many as you’d think.”
    Brenda frowned. It wasn’t like Madeline to sound depressed. “You can try again next year.”
    “I saw that Fink won the NSR grant.”
    Brenda laughed remembering their nickname for Franklin. “Yes.”
    “And Dominic is donating to—”
    “Yes, yes,” Brenda interrupted. She didn’t need yet another reminder of what her ex-husband was up to.
    “Remember how we all started out basically the same and look at us now.”
    Brenda didn’t like the direction the conversation was going. “We’re all successful.”
    “Some more than most,” Madeline said without interest. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ve made a mistake with my life.”
    “Not at all. You are a well respected scientist, you’re published and—”
    “But is that enough?”
    Brenda rested against the counter. “Madeline, is something wrong?”
    “No, I was just calling to see how you were doing with the news about Franklin.”
    Brenda didn’t believe her. “I really am sorry about you not getting that award. I didn’t get one either.”
    “So we’re both finished,” Madeline said gravely.
    “No, we’ll think of something. Would you like to go out for dinner tomorrow evening?”
    “Sure.”
    Brenda sighed, relieved that Madeline sounded more upbeat. Madeline was more than her best friend, she was her mentor. She was a very attractive woman, with a dark cocoa complexion, impeccably styled shoulder-length hair and a fantastic figure. Food and friends—that’s all she needed, Brenda thought. And Brenda could use the company. They could talk about their projects, complain about Franklin, laugh, have a few drinks and then everything would be fine. “Great. I’ll call you then.”
    “Right.”
    Brenda hung up, then stared at the framed photo taken years ago when Madeline won the International Academy of Natural Science Award. She was only a couple years older than Brenda, but was everything Brenda aspired to be—devoted, dedicated and driven.
    Brenda hoped that one day she would accomplish half of what Madeline had done. Madeline had been a prodigy, completing her undergraduate degree in two and half years, and her doctorate in three years. She was a beautiful woman, who hadn’t let romance or marriage deter her from her professional aspirations. Brenda smiled, feeling a little better and put the cigarette away. She looked forward to tomorrow; it would make up for today.
     
    “You need a new water heater,” her neighbor Lincoln Darnell said as he came up from the basement the next day. She’d called him right after work hoping for better news.
    “You can’t fix it?”
    “Nope.” He folded his arms, covering the Seattle Seahawks sweatshirt he liked to wear.
    She cringed. “It’s going to be expensive, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, I’m afraid so, but if you want hot water…”
    Brenda groaned as she walked with him outside. “Yes, I’ll get back to you. Thanks for stopping by.”
    “No problem. My son got a B on his science project thanks to you.”
    “He’s fun to work with.”
    Lincoln nodded, waved goodbye and left. Brenda checked her mailbox, then went back inside. She dropped the large bundle on the table, then dialed Madeline’s number. She hadn’t been able to reach her all day and couldn’t reach her now.
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