“Thank you, sir,” he said reaching out to shake his hand. “Come back any time.”
They watched as the four of them walked down the live oak lane and disappeared into a cloud of sparkling dust. Marnie gasped, then began laughing.
“Are you okay, baby?” asked Mitch.
“Oh, Mitch. I’m perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Gloria Talbot was in a mess. She couldn’t get back into the mansion to get her jewelry to sell it. She couldn’t sell the car because it was in Lawrence’s name. He’d blocked her number or changed his number, she wasn’t sure which.
And to top it all off, her own damn son refused to answer her calls. She couldn’t remember the name of the little nothing town he was working in and even if she could, she needed to get the hell out of town.
“This is all that little bitch doctors fault,” she mumbled.
“What are we going to do, Gloria?” asked Delilah.
“Why are you asking me?” she yelled. “How about you all start thinking for yourselves?”
“We do think for ourselves,” said Sue Ellen. “But you were the self-proclaimed leader of this little adventure, how about you help us figure out how the hell to get out of the country.”
“Out of the country? We can’t leave. There’s business undone,” she sneered.
“There is no business, Gloria. We have nothing. Between all of us we have enough cash to buy plane tickets somewhere and start again. Let’s head to Monaco or Greece, find new men. Change our names. Change our look!” said Hyacinth.
Gloria looked at the three women and then turned, looking around her.
“Where are the others? Where are they?” she asked.
“They left,” said Sue Ellen. “They ran the minute those men showed up. They weren’t just regular men, Gloria. They were dangerous men. Hired guns or something. Our husbands aren’t messing around. We have to leave the country, now.”
“Thank you,” said Delilah hanging up her phone. “I’ve got it. Remember the guy from that golf company? The one that was selling those ridiculously priced clubs and bags? He’s at the airport right now. He was visiting country clubs in South Carolina. He’s headed to Miami. We can catch a ride with him and then find a way to get to Cuba or Jamaica or something!”
“I’m in,” said Sue Ellen.
“Me too,” said Hyacinth. “Gloria?”
“No. No, I have unfinished business. One being my ungrateful son. And two being that bitch that started these issues,” she sneered.
“Gloria, this isn’t going to end well for you. Just come with us. Your son can figure out his own issues. If he’s not answering your calls, maybe he’s found his way out. And that woman? That girl, is protected by those men. You’re not going to get anywhere near her.”
“I always get my way,” she grinned. “You go. I’ll catch up with you in Miami.”
“You’re making a mistake, Gloria,” said Hyacinth turning to leave. “This won’t end well for you.”
“Honey, don’t you know? I always land on my feet. Like a cat with nine lives.” Sue Ellen hugged her and then stared at her.
“Yeah? Well, by my count this life is number ten. Don’t be so full of yourself.”
The three women took the offer of the ride to Miami. When they landed at the private airfield, they took a taxi to a small, low-class hotel and formed their own plan. With their pooled money, they had just enough to charter a boat to Mexico.
After that, they’d figure it out for themselves. They didn’t need Gloria. She’d been pushy and bossy for years.
Unfortunately, she was also cunning and knew how to play the game. When they reached their chartered boat, there was an immigration officer waiting to check their passports.
“Passports? Honey, this is just a leisure cruise, there and back,” smiled Sue Ellen.
“Ma’am, you booked one-way passage. Passports.”
