Tuesday Oct 1

Bobbie thought Townes would be more comfortable if he were to sleep alone so she went to sleep in one of her spare rooms. She slept surprisingly well and woke up refreshed. She stroked Fossie idly as she ticked over in her mind what Townes had to do to look after his mother’s estate. He was banged up and no doubt needed help with whatever he decided. Thank goodness Trixie offered to help.

She stretched and got up to feed Fossie and figured Townes might need a painkiller so she got some water and went into her bedroom to check on him. He was quiet and very still. He didn’t look quite right and Bobbie went over to him and felt his forehead. It was cold. She bent down to pick up the blanket on the floor and stopped herself. She stood up and called his name and touched his cold hand. She shook her head and walked slowly into the kitchen. She picked up her phone and called Eddy. “I think Townes is dead.”

Within 15 minutes and ambulance was there and Eddy was pulling into the parking lot. He hugged Bobbie and went to talk to the emergency responders who were assessing Townes. He came out and looked at his mother. “We’re not sure but I think it was a brain bleed. That can happen after an accident and it’s very hard to pick up. It can be missed on a CT scan. They wanted to keep him overnight but he insisted he wanted to come here.”

“Then it’s my fault. I could have noticed something If I had been in there with him…”

“You had nothing to do with it, Mom. You couldn’t have done anything.”

“OK. It’s a tragedy and I have to make sure he and his mom get home. I’ll ask Frank who his lawyer is.”  She went out on her front steps. She felt she was suffocating and needed air. She called Frank and he must have been on his balcony because he came right over. Most of the hotel guests were out on their balconies looking at the ambulance. She could see Johnny coming up the hill. She ushered Frank into the living room away from the medical staff.

Johnny came tearing in. “Oh my god Bobbie I thought something happened to you… I mean I’m so sorry about Townes; How did it happen?”

“It’s bad. Townes and his mom were in a car accident on the way to the airport and Brenda died and Townes was banged up and experienced a brain bleed last night. So now he’s gone.”

Johnny whistled. “That’s such a drag. It’s hard to imagine how fast things can change.”

Frank was just nodding and Bobbie was making notes in a small notebook. She was already thinking of the spreadsheet she’d need.

“You’ll probably want to get rid of the bed. It should go to a hazardous waste place that takes that kind of thing. I know a guy who can come get it.”

Thanks Johnny, I want a new bed anyway. I don’t need a big King-sized monster any more. I’m swearing off men forever.”

Frank looked up. “I have the name of Townes’ lawyer here you’ll want to reach out.”

Bobbie put down her notebook and took the card. “Thanks Frank. I’m sorry guys. I was starting to really like Townes. We maybe were not going to last but I’ll miss him and it sucks that it ended like this.”

Her landline started to ring in the kitchen and her phone started to ding. Bobbie went to the kitchen and picked up the phone. “Hi Mom I guess bad news travels fast.”

“Oh Bobbie, Eddy phoned me. I’m so sorry this happened. You were just beginning to live your life again and this happens.”

“Thanks Mom, I’ll be all right. I thought I maybe loved Townes but I think I was holding back because of Alex. I’m not really over him yet so I’m not going to have any more relationships for a while. I’ll miss Townes and am very sad that he’s gone but I’ll be all right. Thanks for calling Mom.”

Bobbie picked up her phone. “Oh no, someone posted a picture of the body going into the ambulance on my hashtag.”

The cellphone started to ring; It was Trixie. “Hi Sweetie, I’m sorry to here about Townes, don’t go online. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

Bobbie turned to Frank and Johnny. “That was Trixie, she told me not to go online…”

Johnny and Frank were online. Johnny looked up. “It’s bad Bobbie. They’re saying you killed Townes and Alex and maybe Rick the geologist. They’re calling you the black widow.”

“Well, I can’t think about that right now. Obviously, we’re not going to dignify this with a response. I need to text Wally and Clay. They are so young to be on line but Eddy lets them see the pictures on my hashtag. I want them to see my warning message before they look at the pictures.”

Frank said he had to go and Johnny said he’d just hang around and Bobbie went into her den to call Townes’s lawyer.

“Good morning. My name is Bobbie Orlov and I have some really bad news for you. I live in Crow Harbour and own a motel and both Townes and Brenda Carson were my guests. They were involved in a fatal vehicle collision. Brenda died at the crash and Townes died later from complications. I was hoping you could get in touch with their executor or whomever is responsible for them.

“Hmm, thanks for calling Ma’am. Townes just gave me his updated will. We’ve been working on it for a while. It seems you are the executor and you also will be his sole heir.”

“Oh, I see. Are there any instructions about their end of life?”

“It is expected that they will both have their ashes interred in the family crypt.”

“Of course. That gives me time to organize a memorial. I’ll have the bodies cremated here and I’ll send you the death certificated and the autopsy results from Townes.”

“We’ll be especially interested in why Mr. Carson was not in the hospital where he could have been monitored after his accident.”

“I’ll have to get back to you about that; thank you I’ll be in touch.”

Bobbie sat there for a moment trying to process things. Townes wants her to take care of things and she now owns all his stuff. She should have insisted he say at the hospital last night. She could have stayed there with him and the machines could have picked up when he started to get into trouble. He could still be here. She winced and tears started forming in her eyes. She wasn’t his doctor and he was a grown man it’s not my fault she tried to convince herself. This is not about me this is about Townes and his mother.

Bobbie went out into her living room. Johnny was there with a glass of water. “My guy came and took the mattress and box spring and I had Drey arrange to take the bed-frame to the storage container. When do you want to get your new bed?”

“It’s going to be a while before I can get a bed. I’ll stay in the spare room for a while. I spoke to the Carson’s lawyer and I’m inheriting their stuff. It’s crazy. I’m in charge of them and everything. I’m going to get them cremated and take them home. Oh, and I’m probably going to sue the hospital.” Eddy was coming into the room. “No hard feelings Eddy.”