Page 40 of New Day at the Beach House

“What do you think it is?”

Her mom shook her head. “I hope it’s the insurance check. Although I have no clue why your grandmother got an envelope, too.” She went around to the other side of the counter and flipped the pancakes on the griddle before opening it.

She pulled out a sheet of paper and a long check. She nodded. “That’s what it is.”

The check was in two parts, the top half folded over the actual check. Her mom unfolded it, looked at the check, and frowned. “This isn’t right.”

“Why not?”

“It’s supposed to be six hundred thousand.” She turned the check around so Trina could see it. “It’s only for half that.”

Claire was just back from her walk with Kat, who’d already gone to take a shower, and was about to make coffee when a man appeared at the sliding doors on the back deck. That was highly unusual. He was in a delivery uniform, so he seemed all right. She went to check on what he wanted.

“Can I help you?” she asked through the glass.

“Claire Thompson?” He held up a large envelope. “I need a signature. The women downstairs said I could find you here.”

The insurance check. It had to be. Claire opened the door, nodding. “That’s me.”

She signed his little machine, thanked him, and took the check. She started back to the kitchen but before she could open the envelope, Roxie was standing at the edge of the kitchen, obviously having just come up the steps that connected the two floors.

Roxie looked upset. She had a piece of paper in her hand. “We were supposed to get equal shares.”

Claire shook her head. “What are you talking about? I haven’t even had coffee yet.”

“The check. The insurance. Somehow you got more than me.”

“What?” Claire ripped off the little tab to open the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. She looked at the number on the check. A pit opened up in her stomach. That was not the right number. She shook her head again. “I don’t know what you got, but I did not get six hundred thousand as expected.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.” She stared at the figure on the check. Just because she hadn’t had coffee didn’t mean she was reading it wrong. It definitely said three hundred thousand. She felt sick. Yes, it was still a good amount and a lot of money, but it was half what she’d been expecting.

How was this going to impact her involvement in the bakery? She’d already started making so many plans.

“So? How much did you get?”

Claire frowned. “That’s kind of a personal question.”

Roxie rolled her eyes. “I got three hundred. Does that help?”

Claire heaved out a breath. “That’s how much I got, too.”

“You did?”

Claire showed Roxie the check. Seeing the number for herself seemed to take a little of the heat out of her.

“I’m sorry I assumed you got more than me.” Roxie frowned. “That son of a—we were supposed to get equal shares, weren’t we? Half and half is six hundred. Apiece.”

“It should be.” Claire tried to remembered what Charles Kinnerman had told them about the life insurance money. “Something isn’t right.”

“Yeah, I’ll say. Maybe they already took taxes out but there’s no way it would be half.”

“No, it wouldn’t be. And I don’t think they could have taken out any other expenses. I’ll call Kinnerman as soon as his office opens. Maybe you should, too, so he knows we both got the wrong amount.”

“Couldn’t hurt.” Roxie let out a deep sigh. “This isn’t as big a deal for me as I suspect it is for you. I’m sorry. For both of us. But especially for you.”

“Thanks.” Claire definitely hadn’t been expecting that. “But I’m sure we’ll get it cleared up and have the correct amounts soon.” She had to believe that, because otherwise, she was going to have a small breakdown.

---