Deadbeat Dads (3 page)

“I think you’re mistaken, I’m Mrs. Morris.” Babette’s whiny voice came over the line.

I took another breath. Point made. “Right, this is Erica. I just heard the news and wondered if there’s anything I can do.”

“Actually there is. You can leave me alone. And don’t think you’re going to horn in on Johnny’s insurance policy either.”

I held the receiver away from my ear. That little bitch hung up on me, slammed down the phone. I called to offer help, and the only thing Babette could think of was Johnny’s insurance policy. Well let her have it. Johnny only carried a minimal amount. She’d be lucky to bury him with it.

The next call
I made was to Becky. “Hey Beck, you’re not going to believe this. I just called Babette.”  After relaying the conversation to my friend, I was surprised at her reaction.

“What did you expect her to say? You’re the former wife, of course she resents you.”

“But all she could think about was the insurance policy. That was the farthest thing from my mind.”

Becky
took a deep breath and it set off alarm bells.

“Okay give.
What do you know?”  Becky only acted that way if she knew something and didn’t want to share.

“Uh, um…,”

“Come on, spit it out. You know whatever it is I’ll find out anyway.” I could picture Becky curling her long blond hair around her finger, trying to figure a way to avoid telling me.

“Fred told me Johnny took out a million dollar insurance policy about two weeks ago. The sexy Babette
won’t be hurting. I understand the house will be paid off too.”

“A million dollars!”
My breath caught in my throat. “That bastard only had about five thousand while he was married to me. More than likely, my kids weren’t named as beneficiaries on the new policy. And I couldn’t fight it, Babette said as much. Damn you, Johnny, even now your kids are going to suffer.

“But Fred also said Katie and Josh are entitled to Social Security. You better apply.”

“Social Security, I never thought of that. You’re right, they will qualify. Well, at least they’ll get something from Johnny.”

“Erica, um….” There was a hint of nervousness in Becky’s voice. “I still think you should go to the police, tell them what happened.”

“Are you crazy? They think this was an accident. If I went to the police, they’d arrest me. Then where would Katie and Josh be, with no parent?  Sorry, Beck. I really do feel badly about what happened. But it wasn’t my fault – it was an accident. Nope, I’m not going to the police. Let’s let sleeping dogs lie.”

I
went to bed and tossed and turned. Every time I closed my eyes, Johnny’s broken body stared at me from the bottom of the steps. Finally, after two tranquilizers, I fell asleep. But when I opened my eyes in the morning Johnny’s open eyed stare was the first thing I saw.  I closed my eyes trying to make it go away. It wasn’t like I did it on purpose. It was an accident. He tripped. He shouldn’t have laughed at me. Why didn’t he just pay his fair share, then I wouldn’t have looked for him? Yet, part of me wasn’t sorry he was dead. The kids were better off. At least now they didn’t have to wonder why he didn’t want them around. Didn’t visit.

I
muddled through the next couple of days in a blur, trying to rid my mind of the horrible vision.

Babette had Johnny cremated
and chose a memorial service instead of an open casket funeral. Funny, when Johnny and I had discussed it he told me he didn’t want to be burned. Oh well, too late now, Johnny. You burned us; guess now it’s your turn.

How cynical
I had become since the divorce, cold and hard-hearted. Not because of the divorce, I reminded myself. It was because of the kids. It didn’t matter how Johnny hurt me, but he withheld his time and love from the kids, not to mention the child support? 

I
took the kids to the Memorial Service.  People, I once considered friends, ignored me. Only Becky and Fred spoke to me. Fine, I didn’t want to associate with them anyway. They gathered around poor Babette, who seemed to come alive with their attention.  That was one rich woman who wouldn’t stay single long, I’d bet my life on it. Already men flocked to her side, offering help and support. Oh yeah, the sexy Babette would probably be married before the year was out.  Not that I cared. It helped ease some of the guilt.

Actually
, Babette was better off. A million dollar insurance policy and her mansion paid off. The woman had done well for herself that’s for sure. Now it was time for me to get on with my life. At least the kids would receive Social Security benefits from their father. Babette couldn’t take that away from them, and they were beneficiaries on the small five thousand dollar policy. How thoughtful of their father.

Chapter Four

I called the next meeting of W.E.D.D. to order. It had been a rough couple of weeks. Johnny haunted me, day and night. I saw his broken body everywhere. I finally managed to get it out of my mind when I ran into Babette at the doctor’s office. Of all things we shared a doctor.  Babette came in with a young, dark haired, muscular man on her arm. I almost laughed aloud at their antics. It didn’t take a genius to know this wasn’t a new romance. So, the sweet little Babette was fooling around on Johnny. Too bad he hadn’t lived to see that. What goes around comes around.

Babette ignored
me, which didn’t bother me a bit. In fact, I was sorry I had done the woman such a big favor. We both received more from Johnny’s death than we did if he remained alive. Of course, Babette had the big house and fancy car, and I still had to work. No doubt if Babette divorced Johnny she’d be left in the same boat I was. With Johnny out of the way, she inherited everything, and now Katie and Josh were getting Social Security until they were sixteen, more than they got from their father. Plus, they had the five thousand dollar insurance money in the bank. A little something for their college fund.

An idea began to form in
my mind.  All these deadbeat dads had skipped out on their kids, and their new wives were benefiting from their wealth.  Too bad I hadn’t thought to take out an additional insurance policy on Johnny with Katie and Josh as beneficiaries.

Time to get on with the meeting.

“Okay ladies, I know you all heard what happened to my ex husband.” I raised my hand to quiet them. “What you don’t know is he bought a million dollar insurance policy and didn’t name his kids as beneficiaries. They only benefited from his small five thousand dollar policy.” Again, I shushed the gasps from the group. “They do receive Social Security benefits, which is more than they got from their father. But what I’m proposing today is, if any of you can manage to take out even a small insurance policy, do it and name your kids beneficiaries.”

“Is that legal?” Rae Anne raised her hand. “I mean can we do that, take out an insurance policy without their knowledge?”

“Well, let’s put it this way. If the policy is issued then it’s legal. We get stuff in the mail all the time saying no physical necessary, just answer the questionnaire. Granted, you’d have to sign your ex husband’s name, and that is fraud, but once he’s dead who’s going to prove it? In fact, other than you and the insurance company who’s going to know you took out the policy?  I’m not saying to list yourself as beneficiary – I’m saying list your children. Besides that, you need to talk with your lawyer and make sure that your kids are provided for in case of his death.” I took a breath.

How could
I have been so stupid? Besides being under stress, I didn’t know the law. That’s why I hired a lawyer. Why hadn’t he thought of it?

“I didn’t know any of this until after Johnny died. I’m going to
try to contest that policy and make sure my kids are compensated. God knows how long that’s going to take. But they deserve something. So, I’m telling you this to protect your kids now.  Make sure they’re on those policies and what the heck if you want to take out a little extra, why not?  I know when we were married Johnny only carried a limited amount of insurance on himself. He didn’t even carry a policy to pay off the house.”

“Are you telling us to commit fraud? I mean if we sign our ex hubbies name to that policy that’s forgery.” Nicole whispered.

“Okay, don’t take out the policy.  But make sure the kids are protected under your divorce decree. Mine weren’t.  I’m sure the fact that Johnny was an attorney might have had something to do with it. I got screwed all the way around. My attorney knew Johnny, heck, they all knew Johnny, and they all stuck together. But that’s not the case with most of you. Call your attorneys and ask if your kids are provided for. If not, see if they can amend the decree. Let’s break for refreshments.” 

I
needed a break, my thoughts and emotions were in turmoil.  I hadn’t realized this talk would affect me this way. Anger flared up in me. What a thoughtless bastard Johnny was.

I
sipped my coffee and watched the women congregate into small groups. Nicole stood apart from the rest of them, and I joined her.  “How are you doing, Nicole?’ 

Nicole struggled to make ends meet.  Bob had all but disappeared from the face of the earth
. They weren’t even divorced. The bank had foreclosed on their house, and Nicole took a job as a waitress and moved into an apartment. That’s when Josh and Cindy became friends. Cindy also threw herself into her school work and they isolated themselves from the rest of their classmates.

“I’m fine. I….uh
, what you said back there about making sure my kids are listed as beneficiaries, how do I do that? I mean I don’t even know where Bob is.”

“That’s why I suggested you take out your own policy. Besides, who’s going to know if you sign his name?”

“That’s true, but how am I going to know if he’s dead? I can’t even find him for child support payments. Even child welfare service is looking for him. If I had the money I’d hire a private detective.”

Private
detective. The wheels in my head started to turn. Somehow, some way I was going find Bob and make him compensate Nicole. I smiled. “It’ll work out somehow, Nicole. Really it will.” God only knows how, but I’d personally see to it. Nicole had lost more weight since the last meeting. The poor thing almost looked like a skeleton with skin. This wasn’t fair. New anger surged through me.

“Erica, I ...uh….I don’t know if I’ll be able to come to anymore meetings, I have to take another job, this one doesn’t pay enough to make ends meet. I really appreciate your support, but I’m sorry….” Nicole turned away.

“Hey, Nicole.” I put my arm around the woman. Damn that Bob. “I understand. Anything I can do to help? If you need to talk, call me, and you’re always welcome at the meetings. Okay?”

“Thanks, Erica. You’ve already been a big help. Just knowing other women are in the same boat helps. Not that it takes away the problem, but at least I know I’m
not alone.

Chapter Five

After the meeting, I went home and turned on my computer. There had to be some way to find Bob. Sure, social workers were looking for him, but with their case load, they wouldn’t exhaust all possibilities.  I typed Bob’s name in the search engine. Robert Brown turned up over 9,890,000 entries, but I narrowed it with people search.  I remembered from past conversations Bob liked warm climates so I searched them, looking for someone with the same approximate age between 38 and 40. I found several that fit. For $9.95 I could get more information, but I hesitated since I really couldn’t afford to spend the extra money right now. I turned off the computer and fixed myself something to eat. There had to be a way to make these guys pay, and I was determined to find out how.

As usual
, visions of Johnny entered my dreams again, and I tossed and turned all night. Guilt ate at me. I knew I didn’t really kill him. It was a horrible accident. It wasn’t even my fault he tripped. So why did I feel so guilty?

Josh and Katie had settled into a routine. Johnny
had been dead for almost a month and life returned to normal. Whatever that was. Josh was still withdrawn, but Katie became her normal bubbly self. If only I could rid myself of the guilt.

The month passed and work helped. The busy tax season required long hours.
I hated having to get a sitter for the kids, but I had no choice.  Almost every day I tried to track Bob, finally narrowing my search to Florida.   If only there were some way to talk to him, maybe I could convince him to send some money. I always thought Bob was a nice guy and great father.  He sure spent a lot of time with his daughter. Matter of fact, he had doted on Nicole, too. At least, it looked like he did. Nicole had taken on a second job at a grocery store, but it only paid a bit more than minimum wage. Josh told me Cindy said they were looking for a cheaper apartment, which meant Cindy would have to change schools. I knew the cheaper apartments weren’t in a good part of town. I wished I could help Nicole, short of giving her money. I barely had enough of my own. With the Social Security benefits for the kids, finances had eased somewhat, but we still didn’t have extra.

I
felt lucky to have a job after being out of the job market for so long. Johnny had insisted I quit my job only six months after we were married. It didn’t look good for his wife to work, he said. Successful men’s wives didn’t work. So I quit and spent my time volunteering for various organizations. Even then, Johnny spent long hours at the office. Nothing unusual for a new lawyer in a large law firm. He had to prove himself. Shortly after Josh was born, my life consisted of staying home and raising my son. Johnny opened his own office and once again put in long hours, establishing himself.  Oh he established himself all right, and the sexy little Babette benefited from my sacrifices.