Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
In other words, he always looked forward to her texts.
In fact, they were the highlight of his day.
Nope, that wasn’t exactly right.
They were the only light in his days.
This time, there were three. And they lit him up, but not like they normally did.
The first said, Nugget of news: Mom AND OSKAR are suing Dad as part of the divorce settlement to get Dad’s brownstone.
The second said, Another nugget of news: Dad grew up there. It was my grandparents’ house. It was also my great-grandparents’. FYI: My great-grandad’s parents came over from Hungary to escape the Nazis.
The last one said, Final nugget of news: I…just…can’t.
He instantly hit her name at the top of the screen then hit call.
She answered in two rings.
“Hey,” she said tersely.
“You okay?”
“I. Am. Livid.”
“Breathe, baby, and talk to me.”
“Dad is…he’s beside himself, Hale. He offered her a two-million-dollar settlement to start. He’s confessed this to me, and I use the word “confessed” considering he knows how I feel about Mom’s shenanigans, and that’s most of his retirement. He also told me he was willing to settle at two point five, which would nearly wipe him out.”
“I don’t know his finances, but that seems more than fair.”
“I agree. However, she, or Oskar, or both of them said no to that, demanded five million and the house. Even if Dad gave her my and Emilie’s wedding funds, he obviously doesn’t have anywhere near five million dollars.”
“Has Oskar seen his financials?”
“He had to cough them up, so, yes.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“Right, because I didn’t tell you she’s not actually angling for that five and the house. She’s angling for maintenance for the rest of her natural born days, and the house. Dad wants to put a line under it. She wants her hooks in him for alimony until the day he dies, and his childhood home. Apparently, this place in Bushwick is not a lifestyle to which she wants to become accustomed. And Adam’s nest egg also had to be given over considering he fucked over his own wife, so Mom is feeling financially vulnerable. However, there’s an alternate scenario, that being it seems the family has split between Mom, Oskar and Emilie, and Dad and me, and I don’t have five million dollars either…yet. But I’m flush, and I could help him out. So this might mean they’re going after me.”
Hale felt it boiling up inside him. It was a familiar feeling. It happened on specific occasions.
Those being anytime someone he cared about was getting jacked around.
“Do you think that’s true?” he forced between his teeth.
“Honestly? I don’t want to. But it’s something Oskar would do. Multitasking. He’s jealous of my success and he’s pissed I’m not getting in line when it comes to Mom so he wants to punish me through Dad. And it’s obvious he simply wants to punish Dad, for whatever reasons he has.”
Hale didn’t have to ask if Oskar was that fiendish, he’d met the guy, and he was a certifiable dick.
“What’s David’s attorney say about all of this?” Hale asked.
“He says the house isn’t in her name, she didn’t put any money into it, the history is compelling, and she isn’t coming into the negotiations very strong, considering the adultery, and the fact she was able, but didn’t contribute to the household, even after us kids were capable of taking care of ourselves. Topping that, Dad also isn’t fighting the divorce or trying to screw her. But if they push it and it goes before a judge, it’s at the whims of the judge and anything could happen.”
“Anything” was not going to happen.
“Okay, baby, try not to worry about it.”
“That’s hard, Hale.”
“I know, Elsa. I’m sorry this is happening to you, to David. It’s dicked up.”
“It is.” He heard her take in a sharp breath, and then she said, “God, I love it that you called, but I have to go. I might have an in on interviewing a few women up in Misted Pines, Washington. Do you remember that whole sex scandal thing that happened there?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, some of the women there have formed a kind of coven-like deal. Or at least the locals are calling it that. Their twist to the story is interesting, and I want it. I have a phone meeting with one of them in ten minutes. Are you in Brussels?”
“Yeah, room service is coming up, then I’m gonna crash.”
“Okay, I’ll keep you in the know and I’ll talk to you in a couple of days. Again, I love it that you called, honey. Thanks for listening.”
“Always, sweetheart. Seriously, just shake it off. Things have a way of working out.”
“I hope so. Eat well, sleep well, and speak soon. I’m blowing you a kiss.”
“Got it. Later, babe.”
“’Bye, Hale.”
They’d barely disconnected before he was on the phone with Brandi.
“Get me Oskar Cohen immediately. He’s an attorney based in Boston,” Hale ordered.