Chapter 62
Lucas
I said goodbye to the last of guests. It’s time for the intersession. I feel like a hypocrite playing the part of a grieving son when two weeks ago I wished he'd disappear from the face of the earth. And to be trapped in the same room with Stacy all this time. God I hate her. Why couldn't she have been the one Sandy poisoned?
A bunch of people from his office came to pay their respects, and with them came the whispers. I saw the shocked looks when they saw Olivia by my side. I heard the things they were saying about my father and her.
"She must have been doing him, why else would she be standing with the family up front?" followed by, "You'd think she'd show a bit of discretion with his wife right there." I do my best to introduce her to each and every one of them as my fiancé; that only spurs speculation that she was sleeping with us both.
I had to get out of there. I just wanted a minute to myself in the bathroom, and then that cougar attacked. Heartless bitch. I wanted to tell her to fuck off, but I couldn't, not yet. I have to play nice until I know where I stand financially.
I never wanted my father's money, never wanted anything from him, but now that seems the only way I'll be able to open the center. That is if he doesn't leave the wench every last cent. I want it all to be over already.
Albert Banks, my father's attorney, closes the doors to the viewing room after the last person leaves. We sit in the back of the room. Olivia and I turn a couple of the folding chairs around so we could face the two large high backed chairs where he and Stacy sit.
"Thank you for staying. This should only take a few minutes. I am disappointed that your mother didn't come," he addresses me. "I'm going to drop off her copy when we're done here."
I nod. What does he want me to say? I tried to get her to come, but as she said, she had no use for my father in life these last five years, she has even less use for him in death.
"Okay, it's self-explanatory. Stacy," She sits up expectantly, her chest puffed out. "You have one week to move out of the house, taking nothing more than what you brought with you when you moved in. At which time you will receive five thousand dollars in cash."
"What?!" she squeals. I can't help the smile that spreads across my lips. I'm not usually a mean person, but she got fucked in the end, and having a front row seat for it feels good.
"Once Stacy is out of the house, the dwelling will revert back to your mother." He addresses me. "Along with half a million dollars. She is also the beneficiary of his stocks and mutual funds."
"That's not fair!" Stacy shoots up out of her chair, "I'm married to him now."
"Yes, but she was married to him for over twenty years before you came along." I answer.
"Lucas. You are entitled to all his worldly possessions, including but not limited to, his jewelry, artwork and furniture. You are also the named beneficiary on an insurance policy worth fifty thousand dollars."
That’s it? My mother gets half a million and I only got fifty thousand? Did he allow Stacy to spend all that he stashed away over the years?
"And now for Olivia." Did he just say Olivia? Why the hell would my father leave her anything? "Olivia, to you he left the proceeds from two insurance policies worth half a million dollars each."
"What?!" This time it’s my turn to act outraged. "Is this some sort of joke?" I look at her sitting in silence with her head down. The traitorous bitch isn't even surprised.
"See, now do you believe me? I told you there was something going on between them." Stacy sobs. "And now she gets everything. Her and your mother. He took it all away from us, left us out in the cold together."
Instead of telling her to shut the fuck up I ignore her. I know being irrelevant will hurt her more. "There must be some sort of mistake."
"I'm sorry, Lucas, but these were your father's wishes."
"Fuck!"
I close my eyes and rub my forehead. That son-of-a-bitch! Even in death he fucked me over. I knew I shouldn't have given him another chance, shouldn't have gone to the hospital. I stand and head for the door.
Olivia jumps up and follows close behind. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not turn around and shove her hard, into a wall, or the floor. Anywhere that will push her further away from me.
"Lucas, wait. Just listen."
I shake my head. I can't be near her. My hands are balled into fists. Muscles I didn't even know I have are tense and shaking. I want to lash out and hurt her physically. Seriously hurt her. I've never been the type of guy to lay my hands on a girl, but all that goes away if I don't get away from Olivia.
"No. I knew I shouldn't trust you. You're no better than her." I motion toward the door. "I knew you'd stab me in the heart. And what hurts the most is that knowing everything you did, how broken and destroyed I was, you went ahead and did it anyway."
"I didn’t. You don't understand. You need to stop and listen to me." Her eyes are watery. Turning on the tear factory isn't going to get her anywhere.
"I don't need to listen. I just need to get the hell away from you. From you. From her. From him."
I stomp out of the funeral home, get in my car and with the wheels screeching. Speed away.