The Queen of Cool Read Online Free Page B

and
jeans. She looked around for a bra, and saw one in her size hanging
on the door knob with a white starched shirt. A pair of her old
cowboy boots and some socks sat next to the door. She finished
getting dressed.
    Digging in the bathroom cabinet, she found
her favorite brush and hair clips waiting for her. She brushed her
long blonde hair and put it back in a clip. She tucked her favorite
Smashbox lipgloss into the pocket of her jeans.
    In the tight, steam-filled bathroom,
surrounded by the towels, shampoo, soap and new clothing, Lo never
felt more loved. She felt like Don was with her. She smiled at her
tired and drawn face in the dry circle she’d made in the foggy
mirror.
    The door opened with a blast of cold air and
the sure knowledge that Don was gone.
    She was alone.
    She did her best to smile at Lisa and
retreated to her old bedroom. Behind the closed door, she cried
until the water stopped.
    “ Hey!” Larry yelled from
downstairs. “There’s a cop here. Did someone take Lo’s
car?”
    Lo wiped her face and went downstairs to
greet her brother and the police officer.
    “ What happened to your
car?” Larry asked.
    “ What exactly?” Lo
said.
    Q
    Sunday afternoon—1:45 p.m.
River Crest, Fort Worth
     
    Days: 8
     
    After taking what felt like an ice age to
file a police report on her car, Larry insisted on getting Lo
something to eat. Lisa and Larry argued back and forth until Lo
finally gave in. Larry drove them to Kincaid’s on Camp Bowie for
more burgers and milkshakes. Lo managed a chocolate milkshake. She
was so anxious to go home that she didn’t want to take the time to
eat anything else. Of course, Larry and Lisa had no problem
lingering. Since Lo didn’t have a car, she was forced to watch them
eat and gossip. Lo was about to pitch a fit when her siblings
finally got up to go.
    Sitting between the car seats in the back of
Lisa’s SUV, Lo felt almost normal. Almost.
    She looked down at her hand and realized how
lucky she was to be still wearing her wedding rings. Lo always wore
her wedding band but felt the big diamond engagement ring and
ten-year anniversary eternity band were too flashy. If she’d been
at the house when everything happened, she wouldn’t have these
rings now. Leaning against the seat, she closed her eyes and
remembered getting the engagement ring. Don had gotten her mother’s
permission, so she knew it was coming. But when the great Don Downs
got down on both knees to ask her to be his bride? She’d balled her
eyes out.
    “ Oh crap,” Lisa
said.
    Lo’s eyes popped open.
    “ I don’t believe it,” Larry
said.
    Lo’s house – Don’s house; their house – was
surrounded by fire trucks. Bright orange flames licked the side of
their white house. Part of the roof had already collapsed into the
second floor. The tree next to the house was burning like a roman
candle. The fire raged while water from multiple hoses poured into
the house. Shocked, Lisa pulled over at the side of the road.
    A police officer came over to the SUV. Lisa
rolled down the window.
    “ You can’t stay here,” the
policeman said. “Oh hey, Larry.”
    “ When did it start?” Larry
leaned over Lisa to talk to the policeman.
    “ We got the call about a
half hour ago,” the officer said.
    “ Burning fast,” Larry
said.
    “ The guys say it reeks of
kerosene,” the policeman said.
    “ Guess Ms. Fitness Model
was ready to cash out.” A passing sheriff’s deputy said. He stopped
for a moment to assess the SUV and added, “Did you hear they
suspect her of killing poor old Donny? Serves him right for
marrying such a young, wild one.”
    Jumping out of the SUV, Lisa slapped the
deputy across the face. Larry ran around the SUV to keep Lisa from
getting arrested. Lisa and Larry began screaming and gesturing to
the sheriff. In an effort to contain real violence, the police
officer stepped in front of the sheriff.
    Lo took off from the back seat.
    This was her chance to do what she couldn’t
at the