Page 44 of New Day at the Beach House

“Here you go, Mimi.”

Willie opened her eyes a slit to see Trina standing over her, hand out, two small white pills on her palm. Willie took them and downed them with a big gulp of water.

Trina came and sat next to her on the end of the couch, as close as she could be. “What else can I do for you?”

“Your mother’s making me pancakes.”

“And toast,” Roxie called out.

“I think I’ll be all right.” Willie lifted her hand. “No, wait. I left my phone by the bed. Can you—”

“Be right back,” Trina said, hopping up again.

The pop of the toaster releasing two slices of bread was a happy sound, Willie thought, but still a little loud.

“Raspberry jam?” Roxie asked.

“Please,” Willie answered. “Buttered first.”

“I know how to make toast,” Roxie snapped back. Then she sighed. “Sorry, Ma. Got some less than stellar news this morning.”

Willie shifted slightly and opened her eyes as much as she dared. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

“The insurance check came and it’s for half what I thought it would be. Claire got the same amount, because we compared notes. Claire called the attorney and get this—” Roxie poured circles of batter onto the griddle. “Apparently, Bryan had other beneficiaries.”

“What in the Sam Hill is that supposed to mean?”

“No idea. But he thought enough of them to give them a share of his life insurance.”

Willie grunted. “Scummy low-life. Who could be more important than the two women who gave birth to his daughters?” Bryan was a bigger loser in death than he’d been in life, and that was saying something.

“My thoughts exactly.” Roxie came over with a plate bearing two crisp pieces of toasted bread generously slathered with jewel-toned jam. In her other hand was a cup of coffee, light with cream.

Willie had never seen anything look so good. She picked up the first slice of toast and took a big bite. It only took a few chews for the sugar and the carbs to kick in. That was exactly what the doctor ordered. She had a sip of coffee, then gathered her thoughts. “Could the lawyer, Kinnerman, be one of the beneficiaries?”

Roxie shrugged. “Claire and I talked about that. I don’t think we’ll ever really find out. It’s all being kept secret by the stipulations put in Bryan’s will.”

“If we could get a copy of that, we’d know,” Willie said. She wondered if such a thing was possible. Maybe. But she wouldn’t know where to start to look or which courthouse to contact.

“Oh, that reminds me.” Roxie got up and came back with an envelope. “This came for you.”

Willie took the envelope but put it next to the chair. “Just some paperwork I have to sign for Zippy’s attorney.”

Trina came back, hands empty. “Mimi, your phone isn’t by the bed. It’s not on the nightstand or the floor, because I checked.”

Willie groaned. “I could have sworn I put it there. If I lost that thing…”

“We’ll call the seniors center this morning,” Roxie said. She was back in the kitchen, flipping pancakes. “I’m sure someone would have turned it in if they found it.”

“Hmph.” Willie wasn’t so sure. “You really think any of those senile old people would even remember finding a phone?”

Roxie came back with a plate of pancakes glistening with butter and syrup, just the way Willie liked them. “I know you’re hungover, but that’s no reason to be cranky.”

Willie gave her daughter a look. “That’s every reason to be cranky.”

Trina put her hands on her hips. “Does that mean you’re mad at Miguel for bringing the rum?”

Willie shook her head. “We both brought rum. If I’m mad at him, I have to be mad at myself. I just overdid it, is all. I should have eaten something more substantial than cheese and crackers before we went to the play. That would have helped.” She smiled at both of them. “I’m allowed to indulge once in a while, you know. But I’m already starting to feel better.”

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