Denim and Lace by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

either,” Gussie wailed.
    â€œDidn’t you?” Bess turned in the seat to stare pointedly at the smaller woman. It was her first show of spirit in recent memory, and it almost shocked her that she felt so brave. Probably it was the ordeal of the funeral that had torn down her normal restraint, she thought. “Didn’t you hound him to death for more jewels, more furs, more expensive vacations that he couldn’t afford in any legal way?”
    The older woman turned her flushed face to the window and dabbed at her eyes. “What a way to talk to your poor mother, and at a time like this.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Bess murmured, backing down. She always backed down. It just wasn’t in her to fight with Gussie.
    â€œReally, Bess, I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately,” Gussie said haughtily.
    â€œI’m worried about how we’re going to pay those people back what they’ve lost,” Bess said.
    Gussie’s eyebrows lifted. “Why should we have to pay them back?” she exclaimed. “We didn’t make them invest. It was all your father’s fault, and he’s dead.”
    â€œThat won’t make any difference, don’t you see?” Bess said gently. “His estate will be liable for it.”
    â€œI don’t believe that,” her mother replied coolly. “But even if we are liable, your father had life insurance—”
    â€œLife insurance doesn’t cover suicide.” Bess’s voice broke on the word. It still hurt, remembering how it had happened, remembering with sickening clarity the bloodstained carpet under her father’s head. She closed her eyes against the image. “No insurance does. We’ve forfeited that hope.”
    â€œWell, the lawyer will handle it,” Gussie said. “That’s what he gets paid for.” She brushed lint off her jacket. “I really must have a new suit. I think I’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
    Bess wished, for an instant, that she was a hundred miles away. The grief was hard enough to cope with, but she had Gussie, as well. Her father had managed his flighty wife well enough, or at least it had seemed so to Bess. She had been protected and cosseted, just like Gussie. But she was growing up fast.
    Since they had to talk to their attorney, Bess asked the driver to drop them by the lawyer’s office on the way home. They could get a cab when they were through, she said, wondering even then how she’d pay for it. But the driver wouldn’t hear of it. He promised to wait for them, an unexpected kindness that almost made Bess cry.
    The limousine stopped at the office of their lawyer, Donald Hughes, a pleasant man with blue eyes and a kind heart, who was as much a friend as he was legal counsel. He sat down with Bess and Gussie and outlined what they’d have to do.
    â€œAs I’ve already told you, the house will have to go,” he said, glancing from one woman to the other.
    Bess nodded. “We’ve already faced that. Mother has a few jewels left—”
    â€œI won’t sell the rest of my jewels,” Gussie broke in, leaning forward.
    â€œBut you’ll have to,” Bess began.
    â€œI will not,” Gussie said shortly. “And that’s the end of it.”
    Bess sighed. “Well, I have a few pieces left. I can sell those...”
    â€œNot Great-aunt Dorie’s pearls,” Gussie burst out. “I absolutely forbid it!”
    â€œThey’re probably fake anyway,” Bess said, avoiding her mother’s eyes. “You know Great-aunt Dorie loved costume jewelry, and they’ve never been appraised.” In fact they had, just the other day. Bess had taken them to a jeweler and had been shocked at their value. But she wasn’t telling their attorney that, or her mother. She had plans for those pearls.
    â€œThat’s too bad. It would have helped swell the kitty,” Donald said