EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE Read Free Page B

head.
    “Angela’s right,” Brad chimed in. “My father made a decent living. Surely, there’s something left over.”
    Hollin shifted her gaze from one person to the next. It all made sense now--the reason the house hadn’t been updated, the need to sell the paintings. John had been struggling to make ends meet.
    Ed pushed some papers toward Angela, to the end of the dining room table. “Just look at these, would you?”
    Angela lifted her chin. “I don’t have my reading glasses. Brad, would you mind?”
    “Of course not.” Brad slid the papers his way and studied them. His forehead creased, his eyes grew intense, as he flipped through each of the pages. While he read, he unbuttoned the cuffs on his blue oxford and rolled them up his forearms. Finally, he set the papers aside. He looked up and smiled sadly at Hollin, then focused on Angela. “Mr. Townsend is right. Dad was broke.”
    Swallowing hard, Angela looked directly at Ed. “Fine, but there is still the matter of the money from the partnership, and John’s life insurance policy. I couldn’t find his copy this morning. Perhaps he left it at the office.”
    Ed cleared his throat. “Angela, there is no life insurance. John let the policy lapse over a year ago. He said he couldn’t afford the premiums anymore. Keeping up with the payments on this old house wasn’t easy for him.” He paused and softly added, “I don’t suppose he thought he would die at sixty years old.”
    Neither had Hollin. Her mind reeled with confusion. Her stepfather had always seemed so healthy, full of energy. He ate well, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke. He’d even switched to decaf several years ago. Heart attacks were supposed to afflict the old, the overweight, the sick. It wasn’t fair, she thought, swiping a tear.
    “And as far as any money due him from the partnership,” Ed went on, “it was John who owed me money.” He raised a hand in front of him when Angela went to open her mouth. “I don’t want the money. I lost my partner, my best friend. The money doesn’t mean anything to me.”
    “I don’t understand,” Angela said, defeated. “He never said a word. I should have known there was something wrong. Every time I mentioned remodeling or having repairs done, he always made some excuse. Once he said the flaws gave the house character, strength.” A tear rolled down her cheek.
    Brad laid a hand over Angela’s in comfort. “Don’t worry yourself. We’ll figure something out. The girls and I.”
    Rachel, who had been quiet through the entire meeting, got to her feet with a loud commotion. “Please,” she said in a disgusted tone. “Look around, Brad. The place is falling down. How the hell are you going to save it?” She hadn’t bothered to dress this morning. She’d simply thrown a robe over her pajamas. Hollin doubted she’d even brushed her teeth. And it was obvious she hadn’t bothered to run a comb through her hair. Her face looked sallow, with a grayish-yellow tone. The word pathetic came to mind, although Hollin hated to think of her sister like that.
    “Rachel,” Angela said sternly. “Please sit down and be quiet until Mr. Townsend has finished.”
    Rolling her eyes, Rachel ignored her mother. “I’m out of here.”
    Hollin watched Rachel’s retreating back. “She’s upset,” she said, trying to make an excuse for her sister’s irrational behavior.
    “She’s a spoiled brat, is what she is,” Brad said, then quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, Angela. She just gets to me sometimes.”
    After a moment, Ed tugged at his mustache and said, “You could always sell the place. Or even a few acres. In fact, someone called me this morning and expressed an interest in your property.”
    Angela slapped a hand down hard on the table. “This house is not for sale, nor is any of the ten acres that goes with it.” She released a long, exhausted sigh. “I’m afraid this is all too much for me at the moment,” she said, picking up the