Missing Millions

By Peter Pryce

Settling her late husband's estate should have been simple; instead it's a nightmare of secrets...

 

After the death of her husband, Olivia Gendt attempts to settles his estate. It doesn't take long for her to discover that his life insurance policy has been Altered. But why would he have changed it?

 

Unable to move on, Olivia seeks out answers.

 

Her late husband was hiding deep, dark secrets. The kind of secrets that typically tears couples apart. He'd managed to take his secrets to the grave, but now everything is left to Olivia to unravel. How can she honor his memory when she discovers he is not the same person she married? But Olivia has secrets of her own and digging into her husbands secret life will surely expose her own. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: PETER PRYCE
• Release date: Jun 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201764999

Book preview

1

My mother-law, Adeline wails falling to the ground.

My father and sister-in-law grab onto each one of her arms pulling her up from the ground, her makeup entirely ruined by her tears, the pouring rain wouldn’t have been enough to smear it, seeing as the there is a large umbrella being held over her head. She gets back to her feet and her husband rubs the dirt from her knees, I glance around at all the distraught faces, everyone is dressed in black as they do at funerals.

My children Charlie and Shaye both grip my hand tightly as the pastor continues his eulogy, Shaye understands what’s happening, the inevitable result of life, she's sixteen, but poor Charlie, he’s only six, he’s only known his father a short time, they barely got the chance to bond, he will never get the chance to discuss the birds and the bees with him, or be taught how to shave.

Mommy, why won't Daddy wake up, he’s going to be cold in the ground? Charlie looks up at me.

I don’t know how to answer him, so I don’t, the innocence on his face makes my heart hurt, a raindrop finds it’s way past the umbrella and falls onto his cheek, I wipe it away with my thumb and pull him in closer, he wraps his arms around my waist, resting his head on my hip, I let go of Shaye’s hand and gently lead her head to rest on my chest. My babies, how will they manage without their father, they worship the ground he walks on; I mean, walked on, but if they only knew what kind of asshole he was.

Whether it’s death or divorce, the children are often left in the dark and are most affected, one spouse is always left taking the blame and the hate, without knowing the intricate details of the relationship. The sobbing gets louder, not just from my in-laws, but from family members on my side including Celia, my mother.

I hated that they had a great relationship, when mine and his mothers were the worst, they often spoke to each other on the phone, sometimes I would see Jaxson on the phone and would ask him who he was talking to and it would be her, they would even go out for Sunday brunch together sometimes with the kids, I must admit, I was jealous. She and I weren’t even that close. My cell phone rings, I get a few looks from the crowd, I scramble to locate my phone in my purse letting go of Charlie, I look at the number.

Not right now, I say under my breath as I push the ignore button.

I let go of my kids, hand the umbrella to Shaye and turn around to begin walking back in the wet muddy grass back to the car; I have to get out of here. I tap my shoes against tires hoping to get the mud and grass off of it then close the car door behind me.

I adjust the rear-view mirror and look at myself in it, I move my wet rust color hair out of my face, the rain was merciless on my make-up as well, a raindrop streams down my cheek as if it were a single tear, but I don’t bother to wipe it away. I pound my fists several times against the steering wheel before burying my face in it.

I begin to remember all the years we spent together, when everything was so perfect as a fairy tale until the last couple of years when something changed, a knock on the window startles me, I look up to see Celia standing at the passenger side window.

She closes up her umbrella and slides into the car

Are you alright? she rubs the outside of her index finger along my cheek, I don’t respond.

I’m so sorry this has happened to you and the kids, Jaxson was a great man who loved his family more than anything, I am here if you need me, no matter what, I will be there for you and my grandchildren she smiles pulling me closer for a hug.

I wipe my face after she lets go of me, her black trench coat was covered in rain, as far as she knows I’m mourning the loss of my beloved husband, however, she would be wrong to think that, to her and everyone else he was perfect, but I knew the real Jaxson, I lean back against the headrest.

We watch as everyone makes their way back to their cars, what’s a funeral without food, someone dies, great, Let's go stuff our faces, and of course, how would it look if the widower didn’t host the event, Celia said it was called a celebration of life, Shaye and Charlie climb into the back seat.

My poor grandchildren Celia whips her head back stretching her hands out from the front passenger seat placing them on both of their knees while gently rubbing,

I fix the rearview and notice Shaye staring back at me, her eyes burn with anger, and seem to pierce through me, unexpectedly, she rolls her eyes turning her head to look out her window.

2

Celia Plays host to the guests, I can bet she’s walking around with a tray handing out drinks to everyone sitting on the couches and chairs we brought up from the basement like the perfect hostess, she loves hosting. As a child I remember the weekly dinner parties we had, they use to drive dad and I crazy, I didn’t like having people in my home, but she always forced me to socialize with them.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door, then it slowly opens, Adeline walks in, she fixed her make up from the mess the rain had caused, her eyes swollen from the tears, she saunters towards my bed, her black hair features a white streak in the front hangs down to her shoulders; she sits awkwardly at the foot of the bed.

She’s never been in my room, as a matter of fact, she’s never been in the upstairs as much as I can remember. Her eyes wander around the room as she remains quiet for a few moments, I continue to lay down facing the ceiling not knowing what to say to her.

I know we haven’t had the best relationship Olivia, but I would like that all to change starting today,

I raise my bed from my pillow, my back still flush against the mattress to find her staring intently at the wedding photo of Jaxson and me on my nightstand.

My mouth begins to move but I decide not to and removing the strength I was using to hold my head up forcing my head to fall back to the pillow. Sadly, it had to take her son dying for her to want to make peace with me after all these years, so many times has she come over and shower the children with love and gifts, Jaxson would get his share of hugs and kisses.

The most I would get was a hello and the occasional condescending comment, and indirectly letting my husband know that I should be doing a lot more to meet up to her standards of what a wife should be doing, such a cliché.

Sure I reply sarcastically,

you can cut through the tension with a knife, Adeline runs her open palms on my satin sheets as she seemingly embraces the awkwardness of the silence,

I’m getting the feeling that you want to say something, I sit up on the bed, leaning against the headboard, her nose crinkles and her eyes droopy.

She stands up and is now in front of me,

I would like the children to come and live with me she looks down at the floor, doing her best not to make eye contact, I whip my legs out of bed and plants them on the floor using the chest of drawers for leverage, almost losing my balance in the process, she takes a step back, her expression dulled.

Excuse me? as if I didn’t hear what she said,

I just think with everything that happened, it would be best that you take some time for yourself and let us deal with the kids I give her the once over.

How long do you think that the kids should stay with you? she bites her bottom lip, as If she doesn’t know the answer to that question, but I’m sure she knows, everything is planned when it comes to Adeline, she puts her down and her eyes up to me like a regretful child.

a few months at least, but to be honest, I wouldn’t mind having them indefinitely

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

She always thought I was a bad mother and I guess this confirms it, she doesn’t believe I can manage my kids alone without my husband, Anger rises from the pits of my stomach, I wrap my arms across my chest,

you are out of your mind, I say defiantly.

Lower your voice, there are people downstairs,

There it is, that condescending tone she’s famous for, I glare at her as I walk closer towards her, practically melting her with my mind.

"Let me understand this, my husband dies, and you want to take my kids away from me?

She steps back as I get closer,

I can tell you this much, Adeline, you will never get my children, no one will ever take my children from me I bark,

I can provide a better life for them she believes that because she has a lot of money, she can buy anything.

You can’t provide a better life for them than their mother can, this may come as a shock to you, but money can’t buy you everything we stare at each other quietly.

Fine she walks towards the bedroom door but stops before leaving, she turns around to face me.

You know what money can buy? A very good lawyer and a judge would be very interested in what I have to say.

She pulls the door open storming past Shaye, who is standing in the middle of the upstairs hallway just staring at me, I stretch my arms out to her, hoping for her to come into my arm but she doesn’t move.

She scowls at me then turns away going into her bedroom, slamming it behind her, I continue down the hall and stop at the top of the stairs, I look down to see Adeline and her husband and daughter gathering their things to leave.

I sit at the top of the steps and watch as they leave one by one; hopefully, I’ll never have to see them again, but I know I’m not so lucky, I’m sure she’ll show herself again soon enough. When they leave, I get up and make my way slowly down the stairs.

Charlie gets up from the couch and runs to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, his face full of lipstick residue, especially around the patch of freckles that run from one side of his face, up and over his nose and to the other side of his face. I rest my hand on his head, petting his brown hair and taking a strand in between my thumb and index finger.

Most of the people have left but a few have remained, some sitting on the couch and some on the chairs, Celia glances at me as she hands out food to everyone, I have got Celia’s facial expressions down a tee and that look was her asking me what the hell happened.

I’m so sorry for your loss, my uncle says getting up from his seat, he hugs me.

Later on, Celia, Charlie, and I stand at the door as we watch the guests leave, hopefully, I won’t have to see these people again, I close the door after the last person leaves. 

Olivia Louise Howard, what in the world has gotten into you? Celia says sternly, when she calls me by my maiden name that means she’s upset

I lead Charlie on the stairs landing and tell him to go up and get into his comfy clothes.

I walk over to the mini bar in the living room. I pour myself a small glass of brandy and take a sip, hoping it will calm my nerves, I needed this, Jaxson was shocked and impressed that I’m a whiskey girl, and he was always embarrassed when I drank him under the table. The first time we went out to a bar and I ordered one the look on his face was priceless, he said it showed confidence and strength in a woman, he went on to say that I had a taste for the finer things in life; he was right, I did.

"What do you have to say for yourself, young lady? Celia sizes me up, mom hasn’t called me that since I was nineteen when I told her I was pregnant.

Celia pulls the glass from my hand before I could take another sip,

I’m talking to you, what happened between you and Adeline? mom says putting the glass down,

I don’t want to talk about it right now mom, it’s been a long horrible day, I say walking towards the stairs that was an understatement, Celia grabs my wrist.

Talk to me she demands,

she wants to take my children from me I blurt out turning around to face her.

Her mouth falls open, I walk back to the bar and pick up the brandy and take a seat on the couch, Celia pours herself a glass and joins me.

The nerve of that woman, I can’t believe this mom sits on the love seat sofa across from me angrily crossing her legs,

she stares out the door behind me facing the backyard, her long grey hair in a ponytail with her bangs cover her eyebrows.

Why in the world would she do that? her eyes dart back to me,

because she’s hated me for years, and she’s evil, maybe this must be her way of trying to punish me because her son is dead I hear a creak from the steps forces me to stop talking,

Shaye walks down the stairs and heads straight to the kitchen.

Shaye, can you come in here for a moment? I call out to her, but she ignores me, I only hear glasses shuffling in the cupboard and then the tap turning on.

"Honey? I call out to her once again, this time she steps out of the kitchen and glares at me, her dark eyes piercing a hole through me, she hates me, or at the very least she blames me for her father's death.

I stretch my arms out to her as a baby would do to its mother waiting to pick her up, Shaye rolls her eyes, and drags her feet as she walks towards me, she doesn’t come into my arms as I’d hope; instead, she sits beside me on the couch.

I rub her back and pull her closer to me, my beautiful daughter, she's growing into such a lovely and sophisticated young woman, her brown hair and dark eyes match mine.

I’m so sorry about what you saw earlier between your grandmother and me, I was wrong for raising my voice, she says nothing.

You, me and your brother are going to be just fine I kiss her on the forehead

I miss him so much Shaye's voice breaks, her hands in her lap and her head in my chest,

I know, sweetheart, we all loved him very much suddenly it was as if a light switch turned off inside of her, she breaks away from