Galilee Rising(40)

"Hello," Jem says, rubbing his shin. God is he too cute for words dressed in a dark blue robe over striped pajamas, wild hair and toothpaste in the left corner of his mouth. I have the strongest urge to lick it off. "This is a surprise."

"It shouldn't be. We're supposed to go sailing today, remember?"

"We are?"

"Yeah. Remember I said I was thinking of going, and you said you always wanted to learn, and I said, 'Well, why don't we start your lessons Sunday,' then you asked, 'Can it be Saturday?' I shrugged, and you said, 'I'd love to. You are the kindest, most generous friend I've ever had. Monuments should be constructed in your image.' Remember all that?"

He grins and the dimple appears. Dear God, puppies aren't even this adorable. "I do now."

"So, you gonna let me in?"

"Right," he says, shaking his head. "Right. Come in."

His apartment isn't how I imagined it. I expected something smaller with a little more personality. All the walls are stark white, as are the venetian blinds that cover a whole wall. The hardwood floors still glint with wax from the sunshine radiating through the skylights above. The only decorations are four large overstuffed bookcases, telescope, aquamarine and white couch, glass coffee table and television. A few paintings still in bubble wrap lean against the wall and fireplace. I hold the handrail as I walk down the two steps in the living room. "It's…big. Definitely has potential. Maybe paint a few walls, throw down some rugs." I look up at the blue sky. "I love the skylights and cathedral ceilings. You can sit by the fire and gaze up at the stars."

"That's exactly why I moved in. That and the view. Hold on." He walks over to the fireplace and grabs the remote from the mantle. When he presses the button, the blinds rise, revealing buildings of various heights below and the red, yellow, and orange of the park's trees. "It's even better at night with the buildings illuminated."

"It's beautiful."

"Yes," he says, staring out with a contented smile. He glances at me, and I smile back. "I need to shower before we leave."

"Take your time."

Jem gives me another quick smile before disappearing into the hallway. I hear the door shut before I start my snooping. I begin in the kitchen to make us coffee. It's small with a stainless steel island in the middle of the room and faux wood counters with only a microwave and coffeepot on them. In the fridge I find rotting Chinese take-out boxes, milk, olives, peanut butter, and two slices of bread. Looks like my old fridge. With the coffee percolating, I move on.

The guest bathroom doesn't even have toilet paper in the dispenser. Wonder if I'm the first guest he's had. The master bedroom door is closed, but the other two bedroom doors aren't. The first is a study with more overflowing bookcases, a file cabinet, and large desk covered in journals, loose papers, and files stacked inches high. I read one of the stray papers but don't understand a word of it. Medical jargon. The last room proves more interesting. As I enter, I notice a shadowy figure in the corner. I quickly flick on the light. An attack dummy, just a torso and head of a fake man. He looks worn, as does the punching bag hanging from the ceiling held together by duct tape and fraying fibers. Well used. The floor is covered with blue mats like those found in a dojo. Huh. I shut off the light.

The coffee is done by the end of the tour. I still hear the shower running, so I quietly sneak into his bedroom with his cup. Okay, I'm shameless, but I am dying to see inside. Like the rest of the apartment it's sparely furnished with only an antique armoire, double bed with plain wood headboard, nightstand, and TV on a dresser. The bed is unmade with soft white sheets and a dark purple comforter. The shower turns off in the adjoining bathroom, and I quickly flee.

I have anywhere between ten minutes and an hour before he comes out depending on his beauty ritual, so I continue my investigation in the living room. First stop is the telescope, which I'm glad to find is pointed at the sky and not at a woman's bedroom. The bookcases mostly have biographies of political figures, non-fiction on wars, medical breakthroughs, spies, political policies, true crime, a lot on forensic investigating and profiling, and a few mysteries thrown in for flavor. What really captures my attention is the shoe-box on the top of the corner bookcase. It's calling to me like a Siren. I crash into the rocks.

Jackpot.

Inside are photos, ticket stubs, even jewelry. A ring, a solitaire diamond on a gold band. There's an inscription inside, "J.A./U.G." with the infinity symbol between the initials. An engagement ring. I put it back and take out the photo on the top. I've seen it before. I recognize it from Rebecca's mantle amid other family photos. She and a beautiful Indian woman have their cheeks pressed against each other making kissy faces for the camera. The next one in the box has Jem and the same woman, I presume Uma, sitting under a tree each reading a book while holding hands. Uma holding up her engagement ring to the camera as Rebecca hugs Jem in the background of a bar. There are a few more snapshots of their romance like the couple at her parents' house, Uma curled up on a couch asleep, them playing darts. In every shot they're serenely happy, glowing even. Is it wrong to be jealous of a dead woman I've never met? Probably.