Marrying the Millionaire Read Free Page B

fact, I’m going to
get a jump start to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
     
     
    STRAIN PULLED RICHMOND’S FACE TIGHT.
“Thanks, Mom.”
    Leslie rolled her eyes at her
ex-husband, Russell. “Unlike some people, you can always count on
your mother.”
    Russell’s eyes narrowed at Leslie.
“Now is not the time, Leslie.”
    Leslie’s jaw muscle flickered. “It’s
never the time, Russell. Is it?” Leslie kissed her granddaughter
Isabelle’s cheek, then walked off.
    One by one, attendees at the funeral
made their way up to him and Isabelle, expressing their deepest
condolences. As the many people approached him and his daughter,
Richmond carefully studied their faces, their body language, and
most importantly their eyes. Any one of these people speaking to
him, shaking his hand, kissing his daughter, could have possibly
poisoned his wife and be the murderer. Wondering if the killer was
amongst him, he grimaced.
    Richmond’s good friend Braylon Wexler,
along with his beautiful wife, Sandella, and their baby, Logan,
approached him. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Sandella uttered sadly
as Logan sat perched on her hip.
    Admiring Braylon’s beautiful family,
Richmond’s burning nose flared. Stressed, he nodded at his friends.
“Sandella, Braylon, thanks for coming.”
    Deep, gut-wrenching hurt penetrated
Braylon’s pupils. “Don’t thank us. You know we’d do anything to
support you. We loved Salina.” Braylon threw his arms around
Richmond and Isabelle. “Salina was a good woman. She’s with God
now.”
    Glancing up at him, Sandella placed a
gentle hand to his arm. “Let us know if there’s anything we can do.
After things settle down a little, maybe we can get the girls
together for a playdate.”
    Drool slithered from baby Logan’s
mouth down her chin. As if she understood the word “playdate”, she
gave Richmond a big smile, revealing a single tooth perking out
from her bottom gum.
    Playdate? I don’t know
where to begin with a playdate. God, I’m a single father at the age
of thirty. “I think Isabelle would like
that.”
    Braylon patted Richmond’s shoulder,
then let his hand fall to his side. “Sandella has an employee out
today, so we’re not going to make the repass. But we’ll stop by
tomorrow to check on you.”
    Seeing Braylon and Sandella
as husband and wife reminded him of what he’ll never have again—a
great marriage. Overwhelmed, his knees threatened to buckle. This is how Salina and I used to look before she
got sick. So happy, and vibrant, and in love. Dread almost choked him.
    “ Don’t feel obligated to
stop by. I’m good, man,” Richmond outright lied. I’m a big ball of fucked up.
    “ We’ll see you tomorrow,”
Braylon said flatly. He placed his hand in the small of Sandella’s
back, opened the umbrella, and the two of them walked across the
emerald lawn toward their car parked on the curb of the
road.
    Richmond’s estate manager of Spaulding
Equestrian Center began heading in his direction and paused when
she reached him. “I’ll take Isabelle for you.” Chelsey reached for
Isabelle, but Richmond declined her gracious offer.
    “ Thanks, Chelsey. She’s
going to stay with me for now.”
    Chelsey rubbed circles on Isabelle’s
back. “I understand. I’ll meet you back at the house for the
repass.”
    Richmond nodded.
    The heavy raindrops turned to a soft,
slow drizzle. Grey clouds disintegrated into white puffs. Family
and friends headed for their vehicles off in the distance, leaving
Richmond alone with just his daughter and the funeral
director.
    The funeral director began
lowering Salina’s casket into the depths of the murky earth.
Richmond’s whole body stiffened as he peered down into the ground
and watched on in despair. Goodbye, my
darling Salina. I’ll always love you. I can’t take this, he thought, hastening away with Isabelle cradled
in his arms.
    He stalked across thick
patches of dewy emerald grass, drew open the door of the black
sleek