Winds of Heaven (2 page)

 
“You call me whenever you like.” Elaine kissed Liz on the cheek. “Let me know of the funeral arrangements and if I can do anything.” She laughed as Skye turned her cheek, as well; Elaine kissed her, then looked into the blue eyes. “You take care of Mama.”

“’Kay.”

“Thanks for everything, Elaine,” Liz said, desperately trying not to cry.

Skye frowned as she looked at Liz. “Don’t
ki
, Mama.”

Liz sniffed and laughed. “I’m not crying, sweet pea. Let’s go home. How about hot dogs for dinner?”

Skye’s eyes widened as she nodded. “And ice
cweem
.”

The next morning, Liz sat at the kitchen table feeding Skye. “Open wide for Mommy,” Liz said, and like a little bird, Skye opened her mouth and waited. “Here it comes.” Liz laughed and made a smooth landing of oatmeal in the little one’s mouth.

“More.” Skye playfully banged her spoon on the table.

Liz laughed and played airplane again. “Now, sweetie, you try,” Liz encouraged.

Skye happily took the spoon. With fierce concentration, Skye took to her task.

Twenty minutes later, Liz had cleaned the floor and the table and got the oatmeal out of Skye’s hair. “You’re getting the hang of it, sweet pea. Just like the potty. Good girl,” her mother exclaimed as she pulled her daughter out of the booster seat.

Skye raced to her toy box. After tossing a few unnecessary items aside, she found the book. She promptly sat down in the middle of the room.

“Play nice now, Skye,” Liz whispered and kissed her head.

Liz looked at the desk, noticing all the unpaid bills. Not wanting to delve into them at the moment, she glanced at a picture of her and Julie, holding each other and laughing. As she looked closer, she noticed for the first time that she was not smiling. She looked pensive; only Julie was laughing.

“Where were we and why wasn’t I smiling, Skye?” she asked her daughter, who laughed and struggled to her feet, then dropped to a thud on her bottom. “
Whoopsie
-daisy.”

Skye laughed and clapped her hands. “Mama funny.”

Liz laughed with her daughter as she gently rubbed her stomach. The baby was moving as if wanting to be in on the family joke. Then inexplicably, Liz started to cry. She put her hands to her face and sat at the desk.

Skye frowned as she watched. “Mama
cryin
’.” Her bottom lip quivered.

Liz quickly wiped her tears and laughed. “No, Mommy’s not crying.” She looked around. “What in the hell…heck am I going to do?”

When the phone rang, Liz groaned and stretched her back as she bent down to pick up the phone. “Hello?”

“Ms. Elizabeth Kennedy?” a man’s voice asked.

“Speaking.”

“I’m John Harris, Ms.
Bridges’s
lawyer. I’m sorry to disturb you at this time, but there are matters that need your attention. At your convenience, would you stop by my office? It’s regarding Julie’s will.”

“Will? I had no idea she had a will.” Liz frowned deeply. Why hadn’t Julie told her of a will? They never discussed it, she thought. She nearly missed Mr. Harris’s next words.

“Yes, her will and another matter, but I would like to see you in person.”

“That’s fine, Mr. Harris.” Liz jotted down the address. She tossed the pen on the end table, along with the phone. “Wonderful. Another bill.”

The following days were a blur to Liz; she thanked God for Elaine and Joanne. The memorial was mercifully over. Liz just couldn’t cry anymore. She was grateful Joanne watched Skye back at the apartment. The few mourners had left the gravesite, which left Liz standing there alone. A surreal feeling engulfed her as if any moment Julie would walk up and laugh at the joke she pulled. That would be just like Julie, Liz thought as she absently ran her hand over her stomach. She felt the baby move and smiled at the thought of life growing inside her. In the next instant, she thought of how she was going to provide for her family now.

As she walked away from the grave, she hoped whatever was in the will could answer that. Deep inside, she knew she hoped for too much.
 

Liz sat in the lawyer’s waiting room, feeling bloated and hot. It was August and she was five months pregnant. She thanked God she took care of herself and didn’t gain too much weight. Still, she felt like the Hindenburg on its maiden voyage as she looked around the office. She wanted a chocolate ice cream cone badly.

“Ms. Kennedy?”

Liz looked up to see the smiling face of Mr. Harris as he beckoned her in. She rose slowly.

“May I help you?”

She waved her hand as she walked into his office. “Nope, I got it, thanks,” she said with a sigh as she sat back in the offered chair.

“Well. Let’s get right down to it.” He opened the file.

As he read the preliminaries of Julie’s will, Liz listened, and once again, an irritated feeling swept through her. She didn’t know Julie had taken the time to make a will; they had never discussed it.
 

“I am sorry, Ms. Kennedy. Julie had no life insurance to speak of. Her medical insurance through the airline paid for the hospital and doctors. However…” His voice trailed off.

“I know, Mr. Harris. Julie thought she’d live forever.” Suddenly, Liz was angry with Julie. No life insurance, no provisions for Skye or the baby.

“I took the liberty and found that if you wish to continue with your daughter’s health insurance, you can convert the policy into a private policy. Unfortunately, that would be—”

“Vulgarly expensive,” Liz said irritably. “However, I really have no choice.”

“I will look into the matter for you,” Mr. Harris said.

Liz nodded. “Thank you.”

“Well then, to continue. Any money is in a joint account, as you well know. So there will be no problem for you to access those funds.”

“There isn’t much money left, Mr. Harris,” Liz said. “After we decided to have a child, it took most of our savings. I’m only working part time, which I can continue until the baby is born. I’ll use whatever is left to pay any outstanding bills.” Inwardly, she became angry with herself. Was she selfish for wanting another child? She and Julie had such plans. Now she felt guilty for all the times she was angry over Julie being gone so much of the time. She was only trying to provide for her and Skye. All at once, she felt alone and terrified of the future.
   

“Ms. Kennedy?” Mr. Harris asked, bringing her back to reality.

“I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“A letter. This was left for you. I have another I am to give to a Ms. Casey Bennett.”

Liz’s eyes widened. “Casey Bennett? Julie left that woman something?” she asked angrily.

Mr. Harris was shocked at her reaction. “That letter is sealed, and as Julie’s lawyer, naturally, I cannot tell you. Please, read your letter.”

Liz took the letter and angrily opened it.

Hey, darling,

We both know what the deal is if you’re reading this. I’m sorry for all this. Now look, I want you to do me a favor. I’m contacting Casey Bennett. Don’t go getting angry.

You know I love you, but Casey is a solid woman and she will help you have the baby. I know she will come through for me. She’s got a good heart. I know she’s been a thorn in your side, but that was my fault. At first, it was hard for me to let her go, but I loved you.

I know I wasn’t the best partner. We started a good family and I wasn’t around a lot. I am sorry about that. You were just so good at being a mom. And me, well, I tried my best.

Now you let her help take care of you, Skye, and the little one on the way, just until you can get on your feet again...

I’m so sorry I’m not there... So sorry I wasn’t there... But I did love you...

Julie

Liz sighed and closed the letter, choking back the tears that stuck in her throat. With trembling hands, she folded the letter in half, then in half again. A desperate lonely feeling tore through her as she took a deep quivering breath.

She felt Mr. Harris watching her carefully. “Do you know Casey Bennett?”
 

Liz heard the kindness in his voice, but she ignored it and grunted. “Casey Bennett is a former lover of Julie’s, with whom Julie broke up five years ago because Casey Bennett is an arrogant, egotistical playgirl who didn’t want to settle down,” she said through clenched teeth. While in the throes of passion, the fact that Julie had called out Casey’s name on more than one occasion did little to abate her anger. “No.” She sighed heavily. “I never met the woman.”

Mr. Harris smiled weakly and nervously stretched his neck. Liz looked at him. “Are you married, Mr. Harris?”

“Yes, and I have three children.”

Liz nodded. “Then you’ve been through the insanity of pregnancy.”

He said with a laugh, “Yes. When my wife was pregnant, she had the same look. I recall staying out of the kitchen when she had a knife in her hand.”

They were both silent for a moment until Mr. Harris continued. “I’m afraid you may have to meet this Casey Bennett. This is a legal correspondence, and I’m bound to deliver it to her attorney and have her read it. Whatever happens from there is up to—”

“Casey Bennett,” Liz said with a low growl. “Now I really need some ice cream.”

“Julie thought she’d be a good solid woman to assist you,” he offered.

Liz raised a dubious eyebrow and said nothing.

Chapter 2

“Oh, Casey. God, what you do to me.” Suzette moaned. She lay naked on the pillows in front of the huge fireplace. She sighed and looked down at Casey kissing her breast, her long lanky leg gently rubbing against her. “My God, you’re the best lover I’ve ever had,” she whispered with a deep moan.

Casey lifted her head, her green cat eyes dancing. She purred against Suzette’s breast, sending the woman gasping and clutching Casey’s salt and pepper short hair.

“I take that as a compliment since I believe you’ve been with half the North Shore of Chicago,” Casey mumbled.

Suzette laughed and tugged Casey’s hair. “I’m serious. You’re so amazing.”

“My mama said anything worth doing is worth doing well. And, my darling Suzette, you are worth doing well.” Casey moaned against her breast, her teeth gently nipping at her hardened nipple. She picked up the ice-cold martini shaker and poured the contents into the long-stemmed glass. As she put it down, she traced the icy metal against the side of Suzette’s breast.

Suzette arched her back. “Casey,” she exclaimed.

“Yes?” Casey offered her the martini.

They both drank in silence for a moment, then Casey took an olive out of the glass and sensually placed it in Suzette’s navel. She laughed as Casey murmured against her ear, “I’ll get to that later.”

Casey then showed the lovely Suzette just how amazing she could be…

They lay entwined in front of the fire. Casey lay across Suzette’s body, both breathing heavily. “Did I eat that olive?”

Suzette laughed. “Yes, you did and everything else in sight.”

Casey raised her head and looked up, her green eyes smiling. “I was hungry.”