“Yeah. Okay.” There was still a niggling suspicion that something wasn’t right. They weren’t even addressing how Paul escaped from jail and that seemed pretty big to me. I wasn’t going to argue or even think about how I could prove that right now.
Hank said they had the note from Grady and I was just going to do what Dottie said. It was time to get Happy Trails fixed up, bring in some tourists to Normal and probably sell the place.
“I’ll be right out,” I declared as I shut the door behind them when they exited my camper.
While my cell phone was charged in the back, I changed into a pair of jeans, flip flops, and a T-shirt I’d bought on the way here. I tugged my long hair into a ponytail and splashed some water on my face. No matter how many times I tried to put the images of everything Paul had done into the back of my head, they’d all mashed together like a movie that’d just play over and over again.
“Stanley,” I made a quick phone to the lawyer. He didn’t answer so I left a message. “It’s Mae West. I’m not sure if you heard, but Grady Cox confessed to killing Paul. Happy Trails isn’t as bad as I thought. Everyone here is really nice, but it’s not me. There’s been a lot that’s gone on over the past twenty-four hours. Now that Paul is dead and we know the killer, I think it’s best that Normal isn’t reminded of Paul and what he’d done to them, so I want you to go ahead and look for a buyer. Thanks, Stanley.”
I tapped the end button and held the phone close to my chest. My eyes filled with tears. The fundraiser would help bring in money to fix what was on the top of Dottie’s list and surely all the marketing Abby had been doing had to help. I’d give them the cash I had. I’d rather leave Normal, though I was getting used to all of them and their kindness, on a high note than staying around and keep reminding them of what Paul had done.
No matter how much I tried to distance myself from him and what he’d done, I was always going to be tied to the crime.
EIGHTEEN
“These are amazing.” Betts continued to go through the tubs of clothes. “Every single piece is designer label,” she gushed and separated them into piles. “I’ve seen some of them in the magazines down at the Safeway.”
“You can have all the ones you want.” I knew I’d never wear them again after I’d spent the last week in jeans and tee shirts.
“No,” Abby bent her head over the laptop she’d brought. “We are going to put them on Ebay. Just like that Girl Boss show on Netflix.” She wiggled her eyes.
“How do you know all this stuff?” I questioned her.
“Not many people come into the library. I’ve got plenty of time on my hands to learn marketing and watch Netflix. These clothes will bring in a lot of money for the fundraiser.” She clicked away. “Hashtag designer clothes, hashtag hardly worn.”
Abby got up from the chair and grabbed a couple pieces of clothes out of the pile, taking a photo of them with her cell phone.
“After these are washed and ready to ship, I’ll put make Ebay store live.” She bounced on her toes and threw the clothes back down.
“That’s hand wash cycle.” Betts jerked one of the tops from the top of the pile. “Abby, if you’re going to take photos, put the clothes back in the right pile.”
Abby walked away mocking Betts.
“When everyone is finished doing what they’re doing, I’ve got the puzzle moved and the coffee ready for book club. We need to get started because Mae and I have a lot to get done tonight at the campground since it’s been shut down all day.” Dottie looked over at me. A smile curled up one corner of her mouth when our eyes met.
I could tell she was assessing me to see if I was alright.
“I’m ready. Though I didn’t read the book.” I was ready for some coffee and ready to get out of my own head.
“I wasn’t going to bring it up, but my crystal ball told me about you finding a body in your clothes.” Queenie tapped the fake electricity ball. “Mmmhhhh.” She looked down into it.
“Shut up. You’ve got that scanner going.” Abby walked over to the table, holding her book club book. “But you can tell us all about it.”
“According to the girls from church,” Betts chirped over the sound of the beeps coming from the washing machine where she was pushing buttons to start one pile of my clothes.
“You don’t need to tell us what you heard when we get to hear it from the horse’s mouth,” Queenie adjusted her yellow leggings after she stood up and walked over to the table where book club was set up.
“There’s not much to tell. I had gone to see Ava Cox and her son. She said that Grady disappeared the day Paul had escaped, which makes me think he somehow helped Paul break out.” I put my book on the table and rested my hand on it.
“None of that matters now,” Dottie confirmed. “Grady came to meet Paul at the campground and killed him. Rightfully, justified.”
“I’m not sure if anyone being murdered is justified.” Betts’s brows furrowed. “Love they neighbor.”
“Love they neighbor when they neighbor puts you in the poor house?” Dottie grimaced. “I think not.”
“I’ll teach someone with my new moves in my strike class if they try to take advantage of me.” Queenie did some sort of side-kick before she sat down. “I’m teaching strike again tonight. You need to come,” she directed her words to Dottie.
“I’ll think about it. I did like it this morning.” Dottie didn’t commit. I smiled. “Now, the heroine in our book didn’t love they neighbor at all.”
I sat there as the four of them chimed in about the romance in the book that I didn’t read about. I’d decided against any romance in my life and that meant books too. The coffee and company was good. When I looked and listened to them talk about the book, I couldn’t help but think that in just a few days how I’d made new friends when in my life a few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up a phone and call anyone that I’d call friend.
Those women competed on who had the best clothes, best face lift, hairdresser and so on. These ladies might have lively discussions, but they truly cared for each other and they let me, of all people, in their circle of friendship.
“We got us a live one!” Abby jumped up with her phone in her hand.
“What is she yammerin’ on about?” Dottie jerked up straight in her chair.
“We’ve got our first bid in our Ebay store.” Abby hurried over to the laptop and opened it. She clicked away on the keyboard. “Oh my.” She looked up at me. “You’re gonna have all the money you need to get Happy Trails up and running.”
“Isn’t it great?” Betts reached over the table and squeezed my hand. “Everything is coming together like it’s supposed to.”
“What are you talking about? Supposed to?” Queenie snapped.
“Paul’s killer has been brought to justice. You and Normal can put all of this behind us.” She beamed at me. “You are making good on your promise to give back to Normal. Opening the Happy Trails to what it used to be, is exactly what we need to move forward.”
The ladies rushed over to the computer to see what Abby was gushing about.
My stomach dropped. There was no way I could tell them that when it was all said and done, I was going to move on. Because I knew if we all took a good hard look at the situation, no matter how much I gave, me living here was just a constant reminder of what Paul had done to them.
The book club meeting was cut short with all the hubbub about the clothes and Ebay.
“I’m telling you, it’s all the hashtags and social media I’m doing.” Abby took the credit and she should’ve of. “I can’t wait to see what happens with the fundraiser. I put an ad out in the surrounding towns newspapers. An ad in RV Living, Camping Life, and the National Park Magazines.”
“Where on earth did you get the budget for that?” I questioned, thinking how much money I was going to have to pay her back and the time it’d take.
“They owed me. I give out free stuff for them all the time at the library.” Abby waved away the concern I had. “It’s me giving to you for giving to Normal.”