Chapter 27
“Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Lucy patted Liz’s shoulder. “You made a few rookie mistakes. Next time, you’ll know better.”
“I don’t plan on there ever being a next time.”
“If you stick around the Garden Girls long enough, there will be.”
Liz wagged her finger at her sister. “This entire experience has traumatized me.”
“C’mon,” Gloria chided. “It wasn’t that bad. The police didn’t even fingerprint you or snap a mugshot. The good news is, you and Floyd are off the hook, you don’t have an arrest record and Tammi O’Toole and Eric Andretti are behind bars, her for murdering Deanna and him for being a potential accessory. ”
“For a while there, I was certain it was Carol Wright,” Liz said. “She didn’t have a clear motive but had more than enough opportunity.”
“Not to mention she was acting suspicious,” Echo said. “As soon as she found out Liz was snooping around, she began shadowing her and driving by the house.”
“And freaking me out,” Liz added. “Deanna treated Carol like a daughter, and her death devastated her. Tammi convinced the others I was furious about Deanna threatening to nail me with that absurd lawsuit over a minor incident when I lived at Dreamwood. For the record, it was when Frances went gaga over Milton Tilton and chained herself to the building.”
“I remember now,” Gloria said. “Reporters showed up, and it was all over the local news. By the way, how is Frances?”
“I haven’t heard from her in a while.” Liz adjusted her Cartier watch. “I should call her. ”
“Back to what happened,” Gloria said. “Tammi finally confessed that Deanna kept promising to make her a partner. She didn’t know Deanna had done a background check on her and not only discovered she and Eric Andretti were on a lease together, but found the fraudulent papers making them partners.”
“Tammi’s plan was to get a business loan using Designer Diva as collateral, pay off the judgments against her and avoid jail time. Deanna was dragging her feet, so Tammi decided to take matters into her own hands,” Liz said.
Ruth picked up. “Deanna confronted her the night of her death. The women argued and from what we now know, Tammi strangled her in a fit of rage.”
“I hate to say it, but sneaking into the store saved my neck, that and my Bernard Tusse shoe,” Liz said. “There was more than enough evidence stacking up against me. Me being near the store earlier that evening not to mention Deanna had apparently caught me on camera and told the others about it.”
“While all the attention was on you and Floyd, Tammi was working behind the scenes trying to cover her tracks and planting those seeds of suspicion.” Gloria shook her head. “The only problem was, we found the papers Deanna hid before her death about the forgery and Tammi’s judgments.”
“The police already knew about the judgments but had no idea about the forgery,” Lucy said. “I thought it was Becky Kiefer, who was having financial difficulties keeping her new business afloat and in desperate need of customers.”
“Not only was Tammi planting those seeds of suspicion, she was tearing the place apart looking for the papers,” Ruth said.
“Unfortunately, because of Becky’s financial problems, I won’t be using Hometown Designs. I’m back to square one, trying to come up with a plan to get this place move-in ready. ”
“Margaret and I have been talking,” Lucy said. “We don’t have any projects in the works and are up to the challenge.”
“Plus, we have plenty of contacts,” Margaret chimed in.
Liz’s eyes lit. “Are you sure you want to tackle this monstrosity?”
“We’ve never shied away from a challenge,” Lucy said. “Helping renovate this place would be a feather in our cap.”
“Floyd and I will pay you.” Liz hugged Lucy and then Margaret. “I’m so excited. When can we start? Can we start today?”
“As a matter of fact.” Margaret removed her iPad from her purse. “Lucy and I put together some preliminary designs. I’m sure you have your own ideas, but this might be a start.”
The friends gathered at the counter to go over what Lucy and Margaret had come up with. One was a contemporary farmhouse concept. A second was art deco. The third was the one that caught Liz’s attention. “This is it. This is what I want.”
“A French farmhouse,” Lucy said.
“I can see it now.” Liz clasped her hands, a dreamy expression on her face. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
“It will suit you perfectly,” Gloria said. “I’m sure there will be a few bumps along the way and you’ll have to put up with some inconveniences, since this is a major undertaking but I think you’re up to the challenge.”
In no time, they filled out the online agreement, and Liz signed electronically.
“We’ll start tomorrow,” Margaret promised. “Are you still planning on moving in during the renovations?”
“Floyd keeps insisting he has a plan. In fact, he called a short time ago and said he’s on his way here.” The roar of a loud engine echoed. “That must be him now. I believe his plan has arrived. ”
Ruth caught Dot’s eye and pulled her aside. “How’s Ray?” she whispered. “I’ve been thinking about him.”
“It turns out he has an underactive thyroid. Two of the symptoms are forgetfulness and memory fog. He’s trying some new medication. It seems to be working.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Ruth beamed.
“Yes, it is. Thank you for your prayers.”
“Hey.” Gloria snapped her fingers. “Dot and Ruth. You’re missing it.”
“We’re coming.” The women joined the others, watching as Floyd’s truck jostled along the driveway.
Ruth, Dot, Margaret, Lucy, and Echo crowded in behind Gloria and her sister.
“Good gravy,” Dot said.
“Is that what I think it is?” Ruth shaded her eyes .
Gloria grinned. “You have to hand it to him. He’s able to think outside of the box.”
Liz stared at the travel trailer, watching as Floyd shifted his truck into park and climbed out. “What is this?”
“This here is an RV, only gently used a time or two. I know you’re sensitive to smells, so I paid extra for a deep cleaning.”
Liz groaned. “I can’t…”
“Too late. I rented it for the next six months.”
Gloria rubbed her hands together. “Just think…it will be like being on vacation all the time.”
“You’ll be living the dream,” Lucy joked.
“I’m not surprised. Truly, I’m not.” Liz pinned her husband with a stare. “This is only temporary?”
“Only temporary,” Floyd promised.
Gloria elbowed her sister. “Maybe you should’ve moved into the mobile home, after all. ”
“No kidding.” Liz’s eyes traveled the length of her temporary home. “Somehow, this seems fitting for my new lack of luxury lifestyle.”
The end.