Deadbeat Dads Read Online Free PDF

comfortable with that kind of money.”
    “Sure, sure anything, but you have to promise not to reveal my whereabouts. Not to Nicole, not to anyone, Promise?”
    I stood up. “I promise as long as we go to the bank right now to get those checks.” I wasn’t about to leave with just a promise. I’d accepted too many of them from Johnny and look how that turned out.
    “Sure, let’s go.” Bob ushered me out of the office and to a bank three doors down. He made a withdrawal and asked for four cashier’s checks.  Then we went to the post office and mailed them. 
    I shook Bob’s hand. “Whatever you’ve gotten yourself into, I’m sorry. Sorry for you and Nicole, but mostly for Cindy. She misses you, Bob. If you can see your way clear, at least call her.”
    “Thanks. Maybe I’ll do that. Bye, Erica.” Bob turned and left me standing on the curb. His tall figure slumped forward as he walked away. What could he have done to keep him away from his family? I saw the hurt in his eyes when I mentioned Cindy. Obviously, there was no love lost between him and Nicole. I wondered if it had something to do with the stripper he took up with. Maybe he got involved in something illegal. But if I could find him so easily, so could anyone else. It wasn’t like he even changed his name. Whatever it was, it was his business. At least Nicole and Cindy would be taken care of and wouldn’t have to move. If Nicole invested some of the money wisely, she could assure her and Cindy of a comfortable life and a college education for Cindy besides. I knew in this day and age a hundred thousand wasn’t a lot of money, but I also knew with the right investments it could grow quickly. I planned on putting Nicole in touch with a good financial advisor.
    I finished my work a day early and couldn’t wait to get home. A feeling of accomplishment after talking to Bob did a lot for my ego, and getting the client’s finances straightened out added to my new confidence.  Too bad Johnny hadn’t been as receptive as Bob. I wondered if I could help some of the other wives, too, if I could just find an opportunity to talk to their ex-husbands.
    Maybe if an outside observer had talked to Johnny, he would have given in. But something deep inside me didn’t think so. Johnny was selfish and egotistical, a ladies’ man and nothing anyone said would have changed his mind. It still griped me that Babette benefited from that insurance policy. Half of it should have gone to Katie and Josh. But my lawyer said Johnny had the right to take out ten insurance policies and name whoever he wanted beneficiary. The fact that Katie and Josh were named in the other policy proved he had taken care of them. Not as amply as Babette, but he had provided for them after his death. Since it was the same policy he held from the time we were married, and he changed the beneficiary from me to the kids was all that counted in the courts. Some things in life just aren’t fair.
     
    Chapter Six
     
    I pulled into Becky’s drive. The kids wouldn’t be out of school for another hour, and I wanted to visit with Becky. I couldn’t wait to tell her how cooperative Bob had been, and I wanted to run the idea past her about trying to find the other deadbeat dads. Even if only half of them cooperated, at least I would have helped a few wives and kids. I stomped the snow off my feet and waited for Becky to answer the door. Strange, she was usually home this time of day. She didn’t go many places other than the grocery store and meetings for the kids at school.  I pressed the bell again and tried the door. It opened. 
    “Beck, hey Becky, did I catch you in the shower?” Not hearing any water running, I doubted that. Something didn’t feel right. I went toward the kitchen and looked in the family room. Becky sat curled up in a chair, sobbing.
    “Becky, my God, what happened? What’s wrong?”  I rushed to my friend’s side and took her in my arms.  “Becky, talk to