Page 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Kassandra

I walked throughout the house and picked up random plates left by those who stopped by to offer their condolences. It disgusted me that these same people showed their faces simply to keep up appearances, but couldn't bother to throw away their trash on the way out. So much for helping a grieving widow.

Not that I wanted these people's help. None of them were true friends. They wouldn't give a shit about the mess Michael left us in, except to gossip about it behind our backs. I could only imagine what they were saying about Michael's suicide. His parents wanted to keep it hidden, but not me. The world needed to know what kind of person he really was. Maybe then they would stop looking at him like he was some hero.

Not likely. They would find some way to blame me.

The thought had me tossing a plate in the trash bag harder than necessary.

"Hey, Mom. Mrs. Archer left a batch of cookies for us."

I watched Nate's nose turn up in disgust, and for the first time in several days, I chuckled. Everyone on the street knew Mrs. Archer couldn't bake to save her life. She was probably one of the few people who meant well by the gesture, but the cookies would likely break a tooth. And if they didn't, I'm sure she mixed up a few ingredients.

"Just put them on the counter for now. I’ll get rid of them later after I write her a thank-you note."

Everything about this funeral was draining. Maybe even more so knowing that I needed to figure out this crap about Michael and the money he borrowed. We lived on a tight budget to begin with, so it wasn't like I had a lot of spare cash to hand over. The good thing was I could sell off a lot of Michael's unnecessary purchases to help defer some costs. I would do everything I could to keep my boys in the house they grew up in, even if I hated it. Everything I've ever done was for them.

Mikey stepped into the kitchen and gave me a strange look. "Is there a reason some strange dude is walking around our backyard?" His thumb pointed in the direction of the back door.

I rushed over to the door while simultaneously yelling at them to get upstairs.

"Mom, we aren't leaving you to deal with some stranger on your own." Mikey already had his phone in his hand and was probably calling 911 when I realized who it was.

I let out a deep exhale. "He's no stranger."

Mikey lowered the phone and looked at me. "I've never seen him before today."

Of course they hadn't; I pushed David away long before they were born, and it wasn't like I was allowed to have any pictures from when he and Madalyn were friends with us.

"Your father and I went to high school with him. His name is David Black. He owns a security company."

They didn't know about the note Michael left or the problems that came with it. The police officer wanted me to talk to them, so they could stay vigilant, but I shot the idea down. Neither Mikey nor Nate needed to know just how much of an asshole their father really was. I would take that secret to the grave with me.

Michael might've been an absentee father who put a lot of pressure on his sons, but they still loved him, and I would protect that at all costs.

"So, why is he still here? Everyone has left."

I should've put more thought into this plan. To be honest I should've had a plan to begin with. Neither of the boys were stupid. They would see straight through any lies I tried to tell. With any luck, I could skirt the truth enough to not actually lie.

"He's an old friend. I asked him to stick around so we could catch up. I'm sure he's just looking around because that's what he does for a living. There's no need to worry."

I don't think Mikey believed me but he didn't question my explanation and I was grateful for that. I didn't have it in me to continue acting like everything was fine. I was barely keeping my shit together.

Thankfully now that everyone was gone, I was able to ditch the heels. I still had my dress on but only because it was actually pretty comfortable. I originally purchased it because the material felt like butter on my skin. I liked to wear it when I met with clients, but now I'm thinking the funeral ruined it for me. I would never be able to wear it again without thinking about how much it reminded me of Michael and the shit he pulled.

"I'm going up to my room to call Brittany."

"Tell her I said hi and it was nice seeing her there today."

Mikey waved me off. Brittany was his high school sweetheart. They were the same age and had been dating now for two years. As much as I cringed at the thought of him following in my footsteps, I knew Brittany wasn't like that. She wasn't from around here. She moved to Boston in ninth grade and her family was solid middle class. I’d spent plenty of time with both her and her parents. They weren't like a lot of other parents in my son’s school. They didn't care to impress anyone.

"Mom, is everything okay?"

I didn't like the worry in Nate's eyes.

"Yeah, honey. Why wouldn't it be?"

"You've been upset this week. More than usual. Are things going to be okay?"

I should've known I wouldn't get anything past Nate. He might struggle with test taking but he was wise beyond his years, a quality his father could never see, nor understand.

"Everything's going to be fine. It's an adjustment and a lot to juggle but I can handle it. Haven't I always been able to keep all the balls in the air?"

Nate giggled. "Yeah, Mom. Your second job should be a juggler in a circus. You're very good at it."

It was a joke Nate and I shared. He liked to tease me about how many objects I could juggle. Metaphorically, I could handle a dozen. In real life, I couldn't even toss one ball without dropping it.

"I love you, even if you like to make fun of me." I smiled up at him. Even at fifteen years old he had a good three inches on me.

"I love you too, Mom. I'm going upstairs to study. I missed my math test today but I want to take it tomorrow even though Mrs. Johnson said I could have a few more days."

I smiled at his work ethic. I knew it was because of the way his father pushed him but I was still proud of the man he was becoming.

"I'm proud of you!" I hollered when he was halfway up the steps.

All I got was a wave as a response but it was good enough. I knew he accepted the praise even if it embarrassed him.

I was only alone for a few minutes before a knock on the glass caught my attention. David stood there with the glow of the yard lights at his back.

I took a quick glance at the staircase before walking over to open the door.

"Hey." David waited until I stepped back and waved him in. "I didn't want to interrupt your time with your boys."

His thoughtfulness was just one of the many reasons I kicked my own ass over the years for letting him get away. Even if he never knew how I felt about him, at least I could've had his friendship. Instead, we lost out on so many years because I let Michael dictate my life.

"Thank you for that. Mikey was asking who you were but I haven't told them about the mess their father left us in."

David certainly got better at hiding his expressions since high school. As a teenager it only took one look to know exactly what he was thinking. Right now, I couldn't tell.

"That's good. They don't need to know."

I scoffed and crossed my arms. "The police officer felt differently. He said I should tell them so they know to stay vigilant."

"You can have them stay vigilant without having to tell them about what their father was into. No kid deserves to know those kinds of things."

I instantly felt better at David's reassurance.

"Thank you, I needed to hear that. I was second-guessing my decision. I never claimed to be a perfect mother but I've always put my kids first. The cop made me feel like I was being selfish by keeping it from them.”

David nodded. "Any time." Then he cleared his throat. "While people were leaving, I took the time to walk the neighborhood and to check out your property. I'm going to strongly suggest you get a security system installed. I can have a team out here tomorrow morning to set it up."

"I don't think that's necessary."

Translation: I couldn't afford that. I had yet to go through Michael's office, but thankfully I wasn't one of those stupid women who let her husband control things and never knew where the money went. Kudos to the women who could trust their husbands with that task.

I wasn't one of them, despite how many times Michael tried. Call me a control freak, but I needed to know where my hard-earned money went and to ensure our bills were being paid. Michael might've been okay with jeopardizing our kids’ lives, but I wasn't.

And based on the note he left, it was clear he had some money trouble.

"It wouldn't cost you anything and it would make me feel better."

I crossed my arms over my chest. This conversation was headed only one way and I needed to put up my defenses.

To prepare for battle.

"I'm not having you pay for a security system for me. That's not why I called you."

It was bad enough I needed his help to find out who Michael owed money to. I didn't want to use more of his company's resources than necessary. And I sure as hell didn't call him to mooch money off of him. The boys and I would survive, even without the life insurance payout.

"I never said it was, but if the people Michael stole money from come looking, don't you want to protect your sons?"

"That was a low blow."

Using my kids wasn't fair, but I understood why he did it. If there was anything that would sway me, it was that.

"I know it is,” he conceded, “but it's with the best intention in mind."

I knew that as well. Which was why there was no heat when I blew out a frustrated breath and mumbled, "Fine."

David chuckled. "You don't have to sound so enthusiastic about it."

I wasn't. It looked like going over my finances was suddenly pushed to the top of my to-do list. There was no way I planned to let David pay for the system, but we could fight about it later.

"I don't have to sound happy about it. I just need to do it to protect my boys."

"I'm glad you said that. This should make you accept my next suggestion that much easier. I'm going to be staying with you and the boys here at the house until further notice."