Page 49 of Single Mom's Undoing

I walk out before she or Bill can say anything else.

My blood boils and my stomach turns with anger and disgust. Of all the people in the fucking world, my ex-wife and the mother of my child decided to hook up with my best friend’s corrupt, murderous father.

They were already unpleasant characters on their own.

Together, they’re worse.

14

CLARA

“It took a while, but I’m here,” Patrick says as he welcomes me into his small office on the north side of town.

I give him a soft smile and take a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk. “Better late than never,” I reply. “Thank you for making the time, Mr. Flannery.”

“Please, call me Pat.”

“Okay, Pat.”

Patrick Flannery was my brother’s lawyer, among other things. Pat is, in fact, a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Rumor has it he came to Blackthorn Falls after he fled New York City, where he used to be an attorney for the mob.

My phone pings. It’s a photo of Matty from Jodie. She’s taking him to daycare while I deal with my brother’s lawyer.

“How is your boy?” Pat asks.

“How did you know?” I respond, showing him the photo on my phone.

“Your face lights up. I think it’s a mom thing. My wife used to do the same when Lacey, our daughter, was little. It’s sweet.”

“He’s good, for the most part. He just really needs this surgery.”

“Right,” Pat nods slowly and takes a folder out from his desk drawer.

His office is small and quaint; every shelf is loaded with binders and law books.

“As you know, Stephan made arrangements for you once you turned twenty-five,” he says. “I spoke to him about it many times before he passed, and he was adamant that it be kept from you until now.”

“I understand that.”

“He was going to give you this money either way, Clara. Once you turned twenty-five, I had clear instructions to gather the funds and transfer them into a bank account of your choosing,” he says. “Stephan was a good man.”

“He was,” I reply, lowering my gaze. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.”

“The only issue is that it will take a few more weeks to get the money together.”

I give Pat a troubled look. “Why?”

Every second I spend here brings me closer to a collision with Bill Lockwood. At least, if I get the money, I can bolt when I need to. It’s the last thing I want to do, but I need to be ready to do it, nonetheless. Jace knows the truth aboutwhat happened that night, and while he did promise to keep it between us, I understand that it’s only a matter of time before he’s compelled to tell Carter and Damon about it.

“Because Stephan wanted the money invested in several ventures so it would grow over time,” Pat replies. “He was wise to pick safer investment channels, nothing high risk: properties, gold, several stable companies listed in the stock market that made some smart political statements, ultimately doubling and even tripling their share prices. Ultimately, Stephan did the right thing. The original sum for your trust fund was supposed to be $150,000.”

“And how much is it now?”

“About $250,000.”

I gasp, my jaw dropping. “That will cover Matty’s surgery and hospitalization costs, for sure, assuming there are no complications.”

“You’ll need to be here to sign the papers once I have the funds pulled and ready to transfer,” Pat says. “I also have the ownership papers filed for Stephan’s cabin,” he says, handing me a separate document. “I know it’s been your home since he passed, but now you’re also the official owner; the same goes for his truck.”