Don't You Forget About Me by Suzanne Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page B

knew we were in trouble. By not giving it to his wife, keeping it in the family, it would make it that much harder for us to benefit in any way.”
    Bernice knew why Jack had been so angry, but she wasn’t going to bring it up in front of Sandra. She prayed silently that Bill wouldn’t, either. It would be the final devastation.Now this lovely young lady knows we’re broke. Can I keep a little of my pride?
    “I’m not sure what I have to do with this,” Sandra said. “Your mother invited me here for lunch. I’m didn’t come here to argue with you.” She thought, It’ll be over my dead body that he gets one percent of the business Jack left to me . He had left it to her to protect Pam; Sandra could see that now. The date of the restraining order and the day Jack changed his will, giving his business interest to her, were close.
    She was so pleased with herself! She couldn’t wait to tell Pam! This sudden epiphany made so much sense. Jack knew that the money issues here were escalating and Bill was going to be trouble. Jack hinted that he felt like he might be dying soon. She wasn’t the only person who noticed; even his own lawyer told Pam he felt that. He knew that Pam was too kind to deny Bill; if she had the controlling interest in the business, he would hound her to death. Sandra was tougher. Bill would not be able to harass her like he could Pam. Sandra felt vindicated. Jack hadn’t left the business to her because it would benefit her, after all. It had been to protect Pam.
    Lunch was ruined. Bernice was numb. What does Bill expect of me? She didn’t know what to do. She looked beseechingly at Sandra. “Is there any way you can help us?” she asked.
    Sandra stood up and walked toward the French doors that lead to a beautiful walled courtyard. It was August, and the flowers were still abundant, no sign of dog days out here. It was evident that the gardener was coming frequently, that one of the unpaid bills would be from thegreenhouse. “Well, let me ask you first. Is there any way you can help yourself?” She looked from Bill to Bernice and waited.
    Neither said a word.
    “Okay, let me word it differently. If I were to give you money right now, how would it change anything? You would still be broke tomorrow, correct? There wouldn’t be any income coming into this house or yours either, correct, Bill?” After all, the guy was just sprung from jail. What income was he going to have? She waited. “The way I see things, you are living above your means here. You both want to have expensive lifestyles, yet there is no money to support it. Can I ask what is going on with your office?” She could tell that she had hit a nerve; Bill was bright red in the face. But to his credit, he was keeping it together.
    “It’s closed. The business is closed.” He was embarrassed to say it in front of his mother, even though she had to know it was his father, her late husband, who had driven the business into the ground, keeping it going by selling off investments and allowing his family to believe everything was okay when it was really over. Bill would have been forced to face reality and look for another job if he had known how bad things were. But would he have? He floundered for a full year after Harold died, trying to stay afloat with no business. Sandra just didn’t understand it. Maybe he was daft.
    She looked him in the eye. “I have to think about this. But you do, too. I am going to talk to Pam to see if she can come up with anything.”
    Bernice started to protest, and Sandra put up her hand to shut her up.
    “I’m not keeping this from her, if that is what you are going to suggest. She is in this, too. I can’t risk what is, in all actuality, her money. I want you both to think about how you can help. If it’s putting your houses up for sale, your office, too, so be it. Someone has to go to work. The way I am seeing it, I am the only one working here, and I don’t like it.” She reached for her