Time was ticking away. I shook off the sense of doom and deposited Ebenezer and the items into the passenger side of the RV before jogging to the driver side and climbing in. I hoped Angela wasn’t fretting about my tardiness. I hated the fact I made her think that I had decided to deliberately avoid her because of Sarah’s behavior.
I started the RV and pulled away from my house, threading the needle between cars curbside parking on both sides of the road. The task would be easier if the cars parked closer to the curb rather than a few feet away. Didn’t they teach people how to park on the street anymore?
As I neared the spot where Eric had died, my breath tightened in my lungs and sweat coated my hands. Eric’s death replayed itself in my mind. The van pulled off on the side of the road. Eric tumbling into the road. A thunk against my car. I clutched the steering wheel, taking in deep breaths to settle the growing panic. I hadn’t expected this reaction.
“Get past this spot, and it’ll all go way.” I repeated the mantra over and over again. The memory of last night faded and another one took its place: finding Samuel. Worse got to worse, I could ditch crafting in the RV and work on the projects in Angela’s house. “I can do this.”
Giving myself a few more words of pep talk, I envisioned all the places I could take my mobile crafting studio. The RV brought so much potential to my business. I could travel farther to shows. Bring more inventory with me. Create more inventory on the go.
The best way to overcome a fear was to challenge it. Face it. That was what I was going to keep telling myself until I got there. The drive back home wouldn’t be too bad since I would know that I had done it already once today.
The RV handled well on the local roads, and I was doing a good job of staying between the lines though Angela and Norman lived on a narrow road. My favorite thing about the RV, besides being able to cart around an arsenal of craft supplies, was my ability to see over every car on the road. I liked my height advantage.
The turn-off for Norman and Angela’s road was a few miles away from the bar. With all the trees, I hadn’t realized they lived so close to it. The small housing area appeared to be separated from Season’s Greetings, tucked in a wooded, private area when in reality it was just a couple of miles away. The trees and dirt road gave it the appearance of being in a more rural area than the rest of town. I turned down the road, which was a mix of asphalt and gravel. The tires bumped along a few rough spots. I slowed, not wanting to skid and end up with a tire or two in a ditch.
I spotted Norman and Angela’s cute two-story house. Christmas lights were strung on the roof and there was a plastic Santa, sleigh, and eight not-so-tiny reindeer attached to his roof. The garage was still the garage, not the toy shop as in previous years. Angela’s health took a toll on their decoration. I liked the simplicity of their decorations. It was just enough. Perfect. I’d make sure to tell Angela.
The road grew narrower the closer I got to the house. Branches thumped against the sides of the RV. I was going to have a fun time getting out of here. By the time we were done, it would be dark. The best thing to do was to turn this baby around while there was plenty of daylight. I had a few feet on either side and planned to use the old plan of backing up a foot, pull forward a few inches, and repeat that process until the front of the RV was facing out. It wasn’t the most time saving method but my skills in this area weren’t what they should be to zip backwards without a risk to Norman’s car.
I put the RV in reverse, looking in the rearview mirror as I turned the wheel, praying I didn’t go off the paved area of the driveway into the gravel area that looked like a small road. I stopped and put the RV back into drive. Again, I went in reverse, this time turning the steering wheel sharper, adding a few more feet to how far I could back up.
In the rearview mirror, I spotted Angela on her porch waving her arms frantically over her head. “Stop! Stop! The porch.”
I slammed on the brakes and jammed the RV into park. There was a slight jar and crunching sound. Ebenezer squealed. My heart pounded. Oh no! I hadn’t realized he was roaming. I spun the captain’s chair. “Are you okay?”
Ebenezer scurried under the couch, his derriere pointed in my direction. I deserved that.
“Sorry, buddy.” Slowly, I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door. I hoped I didn’t do too much damage to the porch.
“Did I hit it?” I was pretty sure the answer was yes.
“A tiny bit.” Angela pointed at the railing. “Don’t worry about it. Norman can fix that no problem.”
I walked over. The main rail was split at the bottom. Fortunately, the steps weren’t damaged. “I’m really sorry. I thought I had it. I guess I need to practice my parking skills. Maybe the fire or police department will let me perfect my skills in their lots.”
“It’s not that bad. It was just a little tap. The wood was chipping away and needed to be replaced. I’ll have Norman take a look at it when he gets home. I’m sure this is something he can fix. The bottom stairs are fine.”
“Norman isn’t here?”
“No. Our car needs some repairs and my medical bills have been chipping away at all our funds. Fortunately, he’s been able to borrow cars. We hope to have some money in a few weeks to fix it.”
I knelt down to examine the damage to the porch stairs. The RV had bounced forward a bit, leaving a few inches of space between the bumper and the steps. There was a crack in the wood. It shouldn’t cost too much to fix it. If I’d hit it any harder, I could’ve brought the whole small porch down. Might have even hurt Angela.
Rachel’s confession pinged in my head. Eric had said his wife was slouched on the bottom step. He’d have to hit her pretty hard to kill her. The steps to their home hadn’t been damaged. I had seen Jenna—found Jenna—in the bag. There hadn’t been any injuries to her head. Since she had been sitting on the steps, Eric would’ve struck her head with the car. There would’ve been visible injuries.
“Merry, is everything all right?” Angela’s question sounded like it was coming from far away.
I nodded, not wanting to talk and stop the bits of memories floating in my mind and piecing themselves together. Unless of course, Rachel lied to me. She had lied to me about so many things, and who knew what else she lied about. Like the stolen sign and Eric’s confession.
Something in me was warning me not to take everything at face value. I wanted it to have been Eric who killed Jenna. Eric was a good suspect. He was a drunk. A cheater. What I was seeing was saying the scenario Rachel described was wrong.
I was there Saturday morning and the porch steps of the Wilcox home hadn’t been damaged, or recently fixed. They were still a little wobbly when Eric forced me into his house, showing the same wear from Thursday. Eric hadn’t hit the steps. In his drunken state, he confused hitting his brakes hard with slamming into the porch and killing his wife. Someone else had killed Jenna.
Other memories flooded into my head. Norman’s confusion about the parade. “Has Norman been having any memory issues lately?”
Angela blinked a few times. “What?”
“Forgetting things?” I never wanted so badly to hear a yes about someone having a health issue. “Not remembering what’s going on.”
Slowly, Angela shook her head and gripped the railing. “No. Why are you asking me? Have you noticed something?”
“I thought I had.” Misery clogged my voice. I replayed that night. The truth settled around me, dimming the world and swallowing up my Christmas spirit. Norman had said Jenna was dead before I had told him. I had found her body in the bag. Saw her first. Norman hadn’t looked in the bag. He knew Jenna was dead because he killed her.
Norman had access to the city budget. Jenna must’ve found out that Norman was embezzling money. Jenna figured it out blackmailed him. The only way to keep his secret was for Jenna to be silenced and the money returned. At the mayor’s office, Norman had brough
t up to me about paying the money back. It was the way out for him, and I hadn’t taken the bait.
My heart broke. Money. Why was money always so important? I was starting to hate it. The best thing to do with the lottery ticket might be to tear it up.
“Can we go inside?” Angela’s voice was weak. “I’m not feeling so good.”
I jerked toward the direction of her voice. She was clinging to a rail, complexion pale.
The better choice was getting out of there, away from Norman. I’d go a safe distance then call the police. I had to get us away from the house before Norman returned. “How about we go inside the RV?”
I jumped up and took hold of her arm. She struggled a bit, not wanting to go downstairs.
“I just want to sit in my chair.”
“I should take you the hospital,” I said. “Norman isn’t here, and you don’t have another car.”
“I don’t need to go to the hospital.”
“I think you do.”
“Norman can take me when he gets home. He had borrowed the church’s van last night and went to return it.”
Harmony van. Norman had tossed Eric out of the van. I bet Norman had borrowed the vehicle I almost collided with when I escaped Eric’s house. Which meant—Norman knew I had been there and might figure out the truth about Jenna’s death. We had to go.
“We can’t wait for him.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her against me and helping her toward the RV. I wanted her at the hospital where she could receive medical help when the truth about the crime her husband committed broke her heart.
She shook her head but allowed me to direct her steps. I got her inside the RV.
She sunk onto one of the cushioned recliners, pressing her hand to her heart. Tears filled her eyes. “Please, Merry…”
Panic welled up in me. She was having a heart attack. “I’m going to call for help.”
“I just need some water. My medicine. It’s in my house. The table near my chair.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” I yanked open the door.
Norman stood at the threshold, pointing a gun at me. “Let’s go for a ride.”
I turned and grabbed my phone. Angela lunged toward me, hitting the phone out of my hand.
“No.” Her expression was fierce. She knew Norman killed Jenna.
“We can’t let you do that, Merry.” Norman stepped into the RV.
I backed up.
“Sit down.” Norman waved the gun toward one of the recliners.
I eyed the door then from the corner of my eye spotted Ebenezer staring at me from under the couch. I couldn’t leave him and there was no way I’d make it out of the RV without getting shot.
“Sit down. Where are the keys?”
That was a good question. Maybe I could stall him long enough and talk sense into him. “Might be in my pocket.” I patted my front and back pockets. “You do know, since I figured it out, the police will too. This won’t help you.”
“I’m not expecting it to help. Just to end it. What do you know? The keys are in the ignition. Sit. Down.” He pointed the gun at my head.
I sat. Ebenezer squealed and jumped toward me. Angela cried, placing her hand on her chest and stumbled backward into the recliner.
“Are you okay?” I scooted to the edge of the seat.
“Sit back, Merry.” Norman handed Angela the gun. “Keep that on her while I find something to tie her up.”
“You don’t want to do this,” I whispered to Angela.
“I can’t let him go to jail because of me.” Tears streamed down her face. “He was going to give it back. Jenna didn’t care, even after taking some of the money Norman borrowed as a payment to forget about it for a while. She went and told the mayor money was missing. He brought in the accountant. Jenna told us that the whole town would know Norman was naughty.”
“You don’t need to explain anything to her.” Norman shoved me back into the chair and tied my hands together. Ebenezer whistled and screeched at him.
Norman knocked him off the chair.
“Don’t hurt him.” I kicked Norman’s knee.
He lost his balance and fell onto me. I jammed my knees into his gut and pushed him backwards.
“Stop it. Stop it or…” Angela screeched. “I’ll kill your pet.”
I grew still.
Norman knelt in front of me and tied my feet together. “You should’ve let it be. Eric killed Jenna. He was a man who needed to be in jail.”
Technically, so did Norman. “You killed him and Jenna.”
“He didn’t give me a choice.” Norman walked to the front and started the RV. “We’re going for a little drive.”
“If you shoot me, how are you going to explain that?”
“I’m not. You’re going to have an accident driving this mammoth beast. You haven’t had it for too long. No one will question it.” He drove down his road, carefully maneuvering the RV. Branches thumped the sides.
I stared at Angela. She averted her gaze. “That might not be too wise of an idea.”
“First, we’ll drop Angela off at the hospital. You took her there and went to get me. On our way back to the hospital, there was a horrible accident.”
“What?” Angela drew in a deep breath. Fear filled her face.
Norman planned on sparing Angela, but not me or himself. He pulled onto the main road, picking up speed.
“Norman don’t do this.” I struggled against the rope binding me. “Killing us is not the answer.”
“It’s the only one I have, Merry. I’m so sorry I have to do this.” Grief shook his voice. “All Eric had to do was accept the cash I offered and leave. Once the town heard about Jenna’s blackmailing business no one would care anymore about her death. He was free of his demanding and abusive wife. That woman never had a nice word to say to anyone. Not even him. Told me he could no longer accept that deal. We had to tell the truth and save her.”
Save her. Rachel. He loved her. My heart ached. It was so sad. In his drunken state, Eric hadn’t thought clearly and panicked, making a tragic situation even worse and dragged the woman he loved into it. Now, Eric was dead and Rachel was in jail. All for love.
Angela’s complexion was paler. Her body trembled and sweat dripped down her face. She gripped her shirt over her heart. Angela was dying.
Did Norman love her more than he hated me?
“Angela is having a heart attack.”
“That won’t work, Merry.”
“It’s the truth, Norman. Look. At. Your. Wife.”
Ebenezer wiggled himself behind me. The rope. He loved twine. Rope. Wires. I moved my hands, trying to entice him to have a few nibbles. Come on, buddy.
Norman turned his head. His eyes widened.
Angela was gasping for breath.
Ebenezer’s tiny teeth sank into my wrist. I pressed my lips together, stopping myself from reacting to it. He chewed on the ropes, delighted not to be scolded for once.
Angela slumped forward, chin touching her chest. The seatbelt held her in place. Her head lolled to the side.
“No!” Norman screamed. The RV swerved to the side, nearly putting us in a ditch.
I tugged on my hands. The rope snapped. I had a choice, untie my legs and stop Norman or crawl to Angela and start CPR. There wasn’t time for both. I slid to the floor and scooted over to Angela. I unbuckled Angela’s seatbelt and tugged her to the floor. “Hurry, Norman.”
The RV picked up speed. “Stay with me, Honey. Don’t leave me.”
I breathed for Angela, praying we’d get her to the hospital in time.
Twenty-Eight
I sat alone in the waiting room. Three couches were in the room, a color that was not quite blue but not quite gray. Old, worn, and well-used. Many people had sat here, anxious for words about their loved o
nes. A wall clock ticked. The sound echoing in the room, counting down the minutes, the moments. How many did Angela have left? How many did anyone of us have? I picked up a magazine, trying to cover up the morbid thoughts filtering into my head and heart.
The police had Norman sequestered in another room, handcuffed and with two armed officers with him. Chief Hudson had arrived and granted Norman the grace of staying at the hospital until we received word about Angela. The door opened. I jumped to my feet.
Orville walked in, carrying two cups of coffee and sat down in the chair next to the one I had occupied.
I sat back down, not having the energy to remain standing. I was terrified to know the truth about Angela, Rachel, and Norman.
“How’s Norman?” I asked, sipping at the coffee Orville handed me, soaking in the warmth traveling from the foam cup into my hands.
He shifted sideways, body now facing me. “Why are you asking about him? He tried to kill you.”
“Technically, he just said he was going to but didn’t actually try.”
“And that makes a difference?”
“It has to. Makes it easier to process.” I looked into the coffee, not wanting to meet Orville’s eyes. I didn’t want to know what he thought of my opinion. It was easier on my heart to believe that Norman, my friend, made an idle threat against me rather than he intended to kill us.
“I can understand that. You should be able to trust your friends,” Orville said, a deep sadness in his voice. Norman had been his friend also. Was he thinking his friendship with Norman kept him from seeing the truth?
“Should,” I whispered. But I was learning that might be one of my flaws. I trusted my friends too much.
“Don’t write people off, Merry. This is the second time you’ve put yourself in danger because you didn’t reach out first. You don’t have to fix the wrongs in Season’s Greetings yourself. You have to trust we’ll come through.”
I wanted to tell Orville I still trusted him, but my brain wouldn’t let me say the words. Something inside me told me to think about what he said, but another part of me was saying trust had placed me in danger. Was trusting too much worse than not trusting at all? Was a little Scrooge entering into my heart? Was it bad to question things and people at times and not just live by a child-like faith?
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