Free After Life by Andrew Neiderman

the roof with a very
    decorative truss at the apex. There are gabled dormers on either side.
    The windows have a sort of Gothic shape to them. The house has a
    full-length porch, like the DeGroot house, with flattened arches between
    the porch supports.
     
    It sounds very pretty, Lee.
     
    Um. Impressive for a public-school teacher. They must have had some
    money.
     
    He pulled alongside the immaculate, silver Mercedes Benz sedan and saw
    the MD license plates.
     
    Dr. Beezly is already here, he said. I don't see any other cars.
     
    Are we early?" "No, Just on time, he said, and shut off the engine.
     
    Schoolteachers have trouble being fashionably late, she kidded. You're
    too used to bells and schedules.
     
    Occupational hazard.
     
    What's the front like? she asked.
     
    There's a concrete walkway with bordering hedges.
     
    Big lawn. Some expensive landscaping. Very, very nice, he added. Then
    he got out and went around to help Jessie out. She threaded her arm
    through his.
     
    How do I look?
     
    Beautiful. I don't know how you manage to get your hair so perfect.
     
    She smiled. Jessie did look very pretty and very fresh tonight. He had
    been worrying about her because she hadn't slept well the past few
    nights and looked tired and drawn to him every morning.
     
    Jessie hadn't bought any new clothing since the accident Lee had offered
    many times to go shopping with her, promising to describe every dress,
    every blouse, every pair of shoes down to the most minute detail, but
    she just wasn't interested, or as she put it, she just wasn't ready. She
    simply didn't have the confidence to try anything new yet. For the time
    being she felt more comfortable with her present wardrobe. She knew
    every garment and easily recalled how each looked on her.
     
    For tonight she had chosen one of her Betsy Johnsons, an
    off-the-shoulder, blue-and-white polka-dot satin dress with a sweetheart
    collar, a form-fitted waist, and a pleated skirt. It fit her as well as
    it did the day she had bought it, for Jessie took great care to maintain
    her figure. She had always been exercise-minded and resumed her routine
    as soon as she had recuperated enough to do so.
     
    Step up, Lee said as they approached the walk way.
     
    It's so peaceful here, Lee. What's the street like?
     
    Very wide, tall maples here and there. Most of the homes are as
    expensive looking and as big as the Bakers someday we'll have something
    like this, too, she said Sure. To him the possibility seemed as remote
    as their taking a trip to the moon, but he didn't want to sound
    pessimistic. He knew one of the things that depressed Jessie the most
    was the fact that she could no longer work and bring in an additional
    income. He told her that now, with her braille typewriter, she would
    have more time to work and she would write something that would sell big
    and have the effect of their winning the lottery.
     
    Great door, Lee remarked. Jessie ran her hand over the elaborate
    panels. And no buzzer. Just this black iron knocker shaped like a
    hammer. Cute. He let it rap. From the sound of the deep echo, they
    both knew the entryway was wide and deep. Moments later Bob opened the
    door.
     
    He was dressed in a maroon blazer with a white cravat and dark blue
    slacks. He held a glass of champagne in his left hand.
     
    Hi, he said. Welcome to Castle Baker.
     
    It's big enough to be a castle, Lee said.
     
    Lee described it to me. It sounds beautiful, Jessie said.
     
    Thank you. It's become home sweet home. Come in, come in. Here, let
    me take your coats, he offered. Lee helped Jessie off with hers and
    handed it to Bob, who hung it in the deep cedarwood closet.
     
    Oh, I love the scent of cedarwood, Jessie said.
     
    All our closets and drawers are done in cedar. Actually we've put a lot

of money into redoing the house. It's pretty old, about fifty years or
    so.
     
    You wouldn't know it from the outside, Lee said.
     
    How long have you been here?
     
    A little