BooksBarbecue
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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

“No, I’m sorry,” Dirk said. “I should never have left you like that. I didn’t even ask you if you were a good swimmer. I could kick myself.”

Cleo tried to smile. “I am a good swimmer. But I usually only swim in pools. I got a bad cramp. I was so afraid you’d never find me if I …”

Dirk’s hand was on her cheek. “Relax, Connie. Just relax.” Cleo closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I’m okay. Let’s get going.”

“No.”

“No?”

“You have to take a few minutes.”

“Okay.” Cleo closed her eyes again and tried to catch her breath.

Several minutes later Dirk helped her to her feet. Slowly they donned their shoes and T-shirts. Dirk took Cleo’s hand and he started up the crumbling trail. But his right foot slid out of his flip-flop, and he started to lose his balance. He let go of Cleo’s hand so he wouldn’t pull her down with him. The last thing he wanted was to cause her more problems.

But it didn’t work. She fell backward onto the beach.

24

Edna and Nora were seated at the kitchen table, glasses of iced tea in front of them. Nora had already autographed her books and they were back on the lawn in a more prominent spot.

“I can’t believe all the years that have gone by,” Edna said wistfully. “Remember how much fun we had, sitting at this table?”

Vaguely, Nora thought, as she smiled. “Of course, Mrs. Frawley. I had some very memorable moments in this house.”

“Edna. Please, call me Edna. We’re all grown-ups. Oh, I hear the front door opening.” She grabbed Nora’s arm. “Here we go! The sale’s starting right now!” But then she wrinkled her nose. “What’s all that yelling?” Edna pushed back her chair.

Nora and Edna hurried into the dining room, where a middle-aged man with a bad haircut and an ill-fitting shirt that barely covered his stomach was checking the price tags of the items on the table. “This all belonged to Cleo Paradise?” he was asking, sweating profusely. “All these painted skulls and pottery?”

“Yes,” Jody answered.

“I’ll take everything,” he announced, gesturing broadly with his arms. He reached in his back pocket for his wallet. “I’m paying cash.”

In the living room, a woman had her arms around the rack of Cleo’s clothes. “This is all mine,” she shouted. “I want everything here!”

Regan hurried downstairs when she heard the yelling. These people are crazy, she thought.

Another two women, most likely a mother and daughter, with the same bowl haircut, sharp nose, and square jaw, were clearly disappointed when they heard Cleo’s things were sold out. So disappointed they started complaining in raised voices.

“Can’t we buy one of the skulls?” they asked. “They’re so different. We want a skull!”