Captivation Read Online Free Page A

and I’ll have him call you back.’
    ‘No, I normally deal directly with Suzanne. Give me her mobile number and I’ll call her myself.’
    ‘I can’t give out Suzanne’s personal mobile. Can I take a message?’
    Juliette took a deep breath, trying to quell her frustration with Kaylee and her persistent obsession with taking a damn message. She tried to remind herself that a mixed-up book order actually wasn’t a life and death problem, and that most people would probably be quite happy to leave a message and have it dealt with a little later. She knew she was being silly – it was just that she wanted the whole thing to be done with after just one phone call. She wanted her books here now. She wanted to follow through with her plan. When she’d had a plan – to sit and read, to calm herself and clear her mind – everything had felt okay. Now her plan had been upset and she was feeling anxious and edgy.
    Kaylee’s nasal tones came through the phone again, interrupting her thoughts. ‘Are you still there?’ she asked, sounding impatient.
    ‘Never mind,’ said Juliette and slammed down the phone.
    Pages & Chapters wasn’t actually that far from her place. Maybe it was time she got out. A walk to the shops to pick up her books wouldn’t take long, and it would probably be good for her –a way to start easing herself back into the world again. After all, could she really go on like this? Staying in her apartment block, continuing to alienate herself from everyone she knew?
    Fine , she thought eventually, one trip out, just to get my books – and then straight back here. No big deal. And when I get back, I can go on with my plan. Read for a while, take my mind of everything, and then I’ll open that damn study door.
    She took her time getting ready to leave the apartment. This was different from creeping through the corridors late at night. This was going to mean running into people, chatting face-to-face – and not in the comfort of her own space. She changed her clothes quite unnecessarily. Several times. Then she agonised over which shoes to wear, whether to put her hair up or leave it down. Earrings or no earrings? This necklace or that one? Finally, she had run out of ways to procrastinate any further.
    She picked up her bag with her wallet, keys and phone, slung it over her shoulder and left the apartment. There was no one out in the hall. She made it all the way down to the foyer in the lift without meeting anyone. Stepping out through the heavy front door onto the street, her heart began to beat a little faster, and she took deep breaths to steady herself.
    Outside, walking along the familiar pathway, which took her down past the beach and then turned to bend around to the shops, she felt strange, as she had in those first weeks after Danny had died. Once again, the rest of the world felt foreign to her and she was out of place within it. Despite the heat of the day, she wrapped her arms around herself as goose bumps prickled her skin.
    She was almost considering turning back, returning to the safety and comfort of her own private space. But giving up now seemed silly. She was already out – she was halfway there, she may as well at least complete her task. Get in, grab the right books, avoid too much contact with others, get out – go back home.
    She began to pass people out walking their dogs, or strolling along the footpath hand-in-hand with their partner. Mothers pushing strollers, teenagers on school holidays. Juliette managed to keep her face averted so shedidn’t catch anyone’s eye. She didn’t want to have to smile or say hello. She ticked off the shops as she passed them on the way to the bookstore – the newsagent, the milk bar, the deli. The café that served all day breakfast, the surf-wear clothing store, the café that only served breakfast til 10am.
    Finally, she reached Pages & Chapters. She turned in, mumbled a thankyou to the guy who was exiting the store and had kindly held