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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

But I will have to deal with it, Frankie thought. I just quit my job and I have no place to go. No nice house a block from the beach with a pool and a big backyard for my new family.

My future stepsons will not be impressed.

14

As Regan and Nora waited in the vestibule, Edna’s voice resonated throughout the house. “All these unusual objects were in a trunk in the garage. Yes, I suppose it is surprising that Cleo didn’t bring them with her. What makes these things so interesting, aside from the fact that they look so crazy, is that they belonged to a sweet girl like Cleo Paradise. Don’t you agree?”

“Absolutely! They give an interesting and unexpected insight into her personality. Who would have thought that these types of things would ever belong to her?”

I can’t wait to see what they are, Regan thought, as she stepped closer to a framed letter on the wall.

“Cleo wrote that,” Dawn whispered, her eyes dancing. “I love love love her. I put first dibs on her My Super Super T-shirt. Mrs. Frawley said I could have it, unless she gets someone who wants to pay her tons of money for it. I’ve got my fingers crossed!”

“Cleo received an Academy Award nomination for that movie. I’m surprised she wouldn’t have wanted to keep the shirt.”

“Mrs. Frawley found it under her bed.”

Regan half smiled, then turned to read the letter. Nora had been staring out the window at the growing crowd. She walked over and joined Regan.

They silently read the scrawled note.

Dear Mrs. Frawley,

I loved staying in your beautiful home! I’m leaving early as I’ve been offered a part in an awesome new movie. I’m so sorry but I knocked over a vase, broke two wineglasses, and made a mess of your iron. I wanted to buy you a new one before I left but now I don’t have time. OH! I also dropped you r china teapot. Please keep the security deposit. I hope it covers the expense of replacing these items. If I left anything behind, please just throw it out or do what you want with it. I don’t want to further inconvenience you.

Warmest wishes,
Cleo Paradise

Regan turned to her mother. They shared a knowing look, both wondering why Cleo was in such a hurry. The note gave Edna permission to sell what Cleo left, but clearly Cleo didn’t think she’d forgotten much, if anything. And the note was obviously written in a great hurry on paper torn from a notebook. The bottom half of the white sheet was discolored, as if something had spilled on it.