BooksBarbecue
Back Mobbed Save as PDF
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

“It’s where I had my first kiss,” Karen recalled.

“Don’t remind me,” Edna retorted. “I never liked that kid. What was his crazy nickname?”

“Fish.”

“Oh, that’s right. He liked to swim. His fingers were always wrinkled.” Edna rolled her eyes. “Karen, this is all good news. When I came back Sunday I was feeling a little down in the dumps. On the one hand it was good to come home, and on the other I hated leaving my new friends at Golden Peaks. I was making a cup of tea, which my grandmother said she always did to feel better if the blues hit her before cocktail hour. I was just about to take my first sip when the doorbell rang. It was fate! Later that night, kooks were driving by, honking their horns, shouting Cleo’s name. I was so glad I’d agreed to sell the house. Even though we have the gate and the alarm system, I don’t feel safe here anymore …” Edna paused for a moment to allow that tidbit to sink into her daughter’s brain. “At Golden Peaks, I won’t be so completely alone.”

“You know I wish I could live closer to you. But Hank’s company is headquartered in San Diego.”

“He does research on the algae in the Pacific Ocean. What’s wrong with the algae in the Atlantic?” Edna asked for the umpteenth time. “The Atlantic’s right down the block. If you lived with me, he could walk to work.”

Karen sighed. “Does Frankie know about any of this?”

“Highly doubtful. What ocean is he in the middle of as we speak? Tinkling the ivories on a cruise ship keeps my son busy. He won’t care. He’s never here, either. I wish I had raised at least one homebody.”

“Do you have anyone helping you run the sale?”

“Two lovely young women who have a business called The Garage Sale Gurus. I was lucky to find them.”

“What about security?”

“Two young, handsome, muscular men. Oh, to be a girl again …”

“Who are they?”

“Bouncers at one of the clubs in Asbury Park. They come highly recommended. Tattoos and all.” Edna stood and surveyed the backyard. The pool was sparkling in the sunlight. The tall hedges that bordered the wrought iron fence were green and lush. And every inch of the lawn was covered with junk. “I’m starting a new life, sweetie. It’s so exciting. I feel young again. And with my aches and pains, that’s not easy.”

“I’m calling the airlines.”

“It will be wonderful to see you. And when I do there’s another big surprise I’ll tell you about.”

“What?” Karen asked hastily.

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, now, would it?” Edna asked, then gleefully hung up the phone.

3