Chapter 8

           JilltriedtotellherselfthatBenhadgonechargingoffonanotherScentandsimplyhadforgotten(orhadnottakentime)toletherknow.Butshedidnotbelieveit.Ben,incrediblybusyashewas,owedmuchofhissuccess,bothprofessionalandsocial,tometiculousattentiontohumandetails.Herememberedbirthdaysandwouldratherhavewelchedonapokerdebtthanhaveforgottentowriteabread-and-butternote.Nomatterwherehehadgone,norhowurgenttheerrand,hecouldhave-andwouldhave!-atleasttakentwominuteswhileintheairtorecordareassuringmessagetoheratherhomeorattheCenter.ItwasanunvaryingcharacteristicofBen,sheremindedherself,thethingthatmadehimalovablebeastinspiteofhismanyfaults.

           Hemusthaveleftwordforher!ShecalledhisofficeagainatherlunchbreakandspokewithBen’sresearcherandofficechief,OsbertKilgallen.HeassuredhersolemnlythatBenhadleftnomessageforher,norhadanycomeinsinceshehadcalledearlier.

           Shecouldseepasthisheadinthescreenthattherewereotherpeopleintheoffice;shedecideditwasapoortimetomentiontheManfromMars."Didhesaywherehewasgoing?Orwhenhewouldbeback?"

           "No.Butthatisnotunusual.Wealwayshaveafewsparecolumnsonthehooktofillinwhenoneofthesethingscomesup."

           "Well

           "Notatall,MissBoardman.Hedidnotcall;itwasastatprintmessage,filedfromPaoliFlatinPhiladelphiaasIrecall."

           Jillhadtobesatisfiedwiththat.Shelunchedinthenurses’diningroomandtriedtointerestherselfinfood.