The Widow and the Will Read Online Free PDF Page B

into a big argument and came back early. Then I had a huge fight with David about all of it. I’m not really sure how I feel about being adopted and a millionaire all at the same time. And then Dad and David started acting real douchey. It was a lot to handle. Yes, I know, I should have come to you, but
     
    “Yes, you should have, you asshole!” Tess yelled, sniffing back the tears filling her eyes.
     
    I didn’t want it to get in the way of the wedding. You seemed so happy and consumed with all the details. I didn’t want to burden you. I hope you can forgive me for not telling you sooner.
     
    Tess couldn’t decide if that statement helped or hurt. It proved Jack hadn’t had any idea how conflicted she was before the wedding and for that she was glad. Once again, though, she was overwhelmed with guilt about her ungratefulness for having probably the best guy in the world as her fiancé. Trying to push those feelings aside, she forced herself to focus and keep reading.
     
    Bottom line is this: you and I are set for life. We won’t have to work another day if we don’t want to. We can travel and start a family and do all those things we said we wanted to do. I went ahead and saw a lawyer to get everything transferred into my name and then I did a will for you. That way if anything ever happens to me, you’ll be protected. I was so upset that my parents hid all this from me for so many years that I didn’t want to wait until we got back. I wanted it all taken care of as soon as possible. Even now, I’m still really angry. I would have liked to know my birth father.
     
    So right now, you’re in the living room talking on the phone with your mom figuring out some last wedding detail and I don’t think you’ve ever sounded happier. I need your help to figure out what to do with my family. Adopted or not, they raised me. They must have had a good reason for not telling me the truth. I want your advice so we can make sure the future
     
    The letter ended there.
    Tess stared at the screen, frozen. The words were trying to register in her brain. Adopted? Inheritance? None of it made any sense. She forced herself to read the entire letter again until the meaning of Jack’s words began to really sink in. He’d known about it all for weeks before the wedding and said nothing. Nothing !
    “Why?” she yelled, snapping the lid closed. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
    How could Jack have kept such huge revelations from her? Tess couldn’t figure out how to feel. Anger was the predominant emotion as all of the new information roiled around in her brain. Betrayal was running a close second, making her stomach burn with rage.
    Tess shoved the computer off her lap and it skittered across her legs and the top of the coffee table to land with a crack on the floor. Growling, she got up to retrieve it and ended up stubbing her toe on the leg of the table. The pain that exploded in her foot caused her to shriek. Hopping up and down on her right foot, she held the toe of her left in her hands.
    Raunchy expletives spewed forth as she lost her balance and fell backwards onto her butt.
    “Uh, what the hell is going on?”
    Tess’s head flew up when she spotted Lilly standing in the doorway, a twelve pack of Labatt Blue in one hand and her purse in the other.
    “What are you doing here?” Tess snapped. “I’m having a breakdown. Can’t you see that?” Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. She tore her eyes away and examined her wounded toe.
    “Yeah, I kind of got that impression from all the swearing I could hear from the parking lot.” Lilly came all the way inside and closed the door behind her. She moved to set the beer on the coffee table, but stopped short before stepping on the laptop. Gingerly, she tiptoed around it to deposit the twelve pack on the floor. Flinging her purse onto the couch, she went to her sister and squatted down in front of her.
    “I didn’t think you should be alone after what we did today,