The Jane Doe Book Club meeting was in full swing when I slipped onto one of the padded folding chairs in the back of the library conference room. The chatter and laughter brought a smile to my face. Melanie stood at the front of the room and wildly gesticulated while discussing her thoughts about A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena.
Amelia slid down the row next to me and put an arm across my shoulder, hugging me. “How’d the therapy session go?”
I smiled. “Tell you about it after.”
“I’ll get you a cup of coffee. I’ve got a couple of offers to present to your parents after this meeting.”
“Oh, that’s terrific!” I whispered.
Amelia smiled and hopped up, heading for the refreshment table.
After the police showed up at my parents’ house that awful night and arrested Charles, Harper, and LJ, we all went to a hotel and just processed for a few nights. Amelia listed my childhood home a week later. Now my parents were living in an excellent rental while their new home was under construction. It would be a fresh start for everyone. There was no hiding the past any longer. Charles, who hadn’t been technically insane, still touted the destiny he believed we shared. He told anyone and everyone who would listen. And last I heard, he was writing his novel from his jail cell, where he’d spend the rest of his life.
Harper and LJ were also serving similar sentences. Harper rolled on LJ and Charles for a lighter sentence. She’d probably be out on parole by the time she was forty. The paper ran front-page stories about my mother and uncle’s past and how it was linked to the Richardson murder for weeks. Piper got the first headline, and now she’d been offered several jobs at much larger papers, plus local television had expressed interest. She’d earned the promotion, for sure.
All of us, including Mother, participated in weekly therapy sessions, and it was helping the family get over past hurts and move into the future stronger. Well, everyone but Uncle Calvin. He said it wasn’t for him. He seemed to be managing, and we all respected his decision. It would be a long, arduous journey to healing, but we’d get there. I no longer harbored hard feelings toward my mother or uncle for keeping me in the dark. I had no idea how I would have reacted in their situation.
Things were improving, and that’s all that mattered to me. Mother and I started a new charity explicitly funded to help those trapped in horrific relationships or lifestyles. We joined with another group who helped those in imminent life-threatening situations disappear for a while. It was one of the most rewarding ventures of my life. Like the Jane Doe cases I worked on, the women deserved to have their identities restored and to live meaningful lives; these people deserved a chance to live and be safe.
Amelia handed me my cup of coffee, and my Gran came hurrying into the room. Out of all of us, she was doing the best. Gran could shift gears swiftly and was always living her best life. “Hey, my fellow Jane Does!” She waved as if everyone had been waiting for her to arrive.
“Daisy! Glad you made it!” some of the women called out, and several hopped up to hug her.
I laughed to myself. Maybe the Jane Does had been waiting for her. She took a seat next to me.
She took my coffee from me. “Thank you for this. I was craving a good cup of hot coffee.”
“Sure.” I shook my head. Her hair was all wild about her head. “What happened to your hair?”
“Helmet hair. My new honey drives a three-wheeler motorcycle. He gave me a ride.”
Amelia let out a giggle, and the book conversation halted. Everyone was turning around, staring at Gran. She began to give them all the juicy gossip about the new love of her life—a man she’d picked up from the senior center.
My phone pinged, and I dug it from my bag. Brad had texted me.
Gran texted me. We’re going on a double date with her and her new fella tonight?
“Gran?” I tapped her on the shoulder to draw her attention away from her adoring fans.
She leaned over and I showed her the message. “Oh yeah, I set it all up. I’ll show you how to reel that man in.” Gran winked at me, and the whole group roared into laughter.
I shook my head, marveling, at how life just goes on. And with Gran around, it was a hoot. I wouldn’t have it any other way.