Scrappily Ever After Read Online Free PDF

looked like she always does,” she said. “She and Jon sat right there.” She pointed to another booth. ”In one seat together, like a couple of lovebirds. It was very cute.”
    That did not sound like Beatrice.
    â€œWas there anything out of the ordinary about them that you can think of?” Vera asked after a moment.
    â€œNo. They had some kind of book that they were looking at while they ate their pie,” she said. “Now, you ladies have a good day.” And with that, she was gone.
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    Paige mulled over Vera’s situation with Beatrice. Imagine that her mother had been gone for a few weeks and not even bothered to touch base with Vera when she came back to the States. It was perplexing. But then again, Beatrice could be the most confounding person on the planet. Usually a person knew where they stood with her though. This sneaking around was not her normal way.
    â€œEarl, do you really think you saw Bea and Jon the other day?” she asked while they were lying in bed with their books.
    â€œI told you that it really looked like them,” he said. “But you said it couldn’t be them.”
    She told him what she’d learned today.
    â€œThat woman has always been a little strange, if you ask me,” he said, setting his book on the nightstand and taking his glasses off.
    â€œWhat were they doing in the drugstore?” she asked.
    â€œThey were getting medicine. They were in line at the pharmacy,” he said, after a moment.
    â€œMedicine?” Paige thought a moment. She didn’t know if Beatrice or Jon were on any medication. She’d ask Vera tomorrow and tell her what Earl had said. It might help. She went back to reading her historical romance novel. As her mind relaxed into the story, a thought occurred to her. Beatrice on medication? What if she was on some new medicine that confused her and she and Jon were wandering around somewhere lost? Lord knew Jon didn’t know his way around—especially in the mountains, where Beatrice had grown up. If they were out there, goodness knew what could happen to them.
    Her heart started to race and she set down her book, sitting up in bed. Earl snored beside her. She had to call Vera, that’s all there was to it. Time might be of the essence.
    She left the bedroom and went downstairs and dialed Vera.
    â€œHello?” Vera said into the phone. She sounded as if she had been sleeping.
    â€œI’m sorry if I woke you,” Paige said. “But I thought you’d want to know this. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I wanted to talk with Earl again.”
    Then she told Vera what Earl had said. The phone was deadly quiet.
    â€œVera?”
    â€œI’m trying to think,” she said. “Jon takes blood pressure medicine. And something else. I can’t remember what it is. But I thought he refilled all that before they went traveling.”
    â€œYour mom doesn’t take anything?”
    â€œNope. She’s as healthy as a horse. She takes vitamins and supplements, things like that,” Vera said and paused.
    â€œWhat?” Paige said, urging Vera on.
    â€œI just can’t get over the fact that my mom is back in Cumberland Creek and hasn’t come home,” Vera said. “What is she up to? Where is she staying? Is she okay?”
    â€œShe must be okay,” Paige said. “People keep seeing her around. But I agree it’s odd. Could she be confused?”
    Vera sighed. “She is eighty-four years old, but she seems so sharp. She’s a little forgetful sometimes. But so am I.”
    â€œDid you call the airline yet?”
    â€œI tried. I couldn’t get a live person, just a recording,” she replied. “I’ll try again tomorrow. Good night, Paige.”
    â€œGood night,” she replied.
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    Vera’s daughter, Elizabeth, had been sleeping for a few hours. Vera found this time of night most