Chapter 5
The antiques that Helen had collected over the years were going better than she had thought they would.
There were a lot of box lots that were going for a buck apiece, but she didn’t care.
It was the house that was going to make the most money, and she was going to put it into the bank when she got back home with it.
The banker was going to help her with the money from the sale.
The house, even though it was paid for, was going to have a sixty-thousand-dollar debt on it.
He was going to collect that from the sale as soon as it was over.
She knew that she was cheating her sister, but Beth had never been good with money, and this way she could bail her out when she needed it and not have to worry about how much she was taking out of her savings account.
Beth already owed her nearly fifty grand in bailouts.
Over the years, she’d been in one scrape after another.
Once she’d been so far behind on her apartment rent that she’d had to send her the money or she would have gotten tossed out with all her things.
It was things like this that made her think that as soon as she got any money from the sale, it would be gone in no time. She’d done it before.
When their parents had been killed, there had been enough money from the insurance policies to give them each a million dollars.
Helen had bought and paid off her house with her share and had been living the life she wanted.
When she died, there was still money in the bank, but that had been set up as a college fund for kids going to school to become teachers.
It would last a long time, too, because someone was investing it so that it would never run out.
She had banked all of hers and had an investment banker working with it to make sure that she had enough money when she wanted to buy.
Those things were up in the air right now with her meeting Sherman, what she decided to call him.
He was going to buy the house from the estate, and that would make it so that she had a place to call home.
Even though she already owned the house, she couldn’t take it off the market right now because of all the advertising.
And it had done a lot of good; there must have been about two hundred people at the auction buying things that she had for sale.
Just as she was going to go into the house to see how the things in there were selling, she saw Beth.
“I have to talk to you.” She nodded and braced herself for whatever she had to tell her. “I have a tumor in my brain.”
“What?” She repeated what she’d said like she was telling her the weather was just fine for the day they were having. “What do you mean, you have a brain tumor? Helen had a brain tumor, not you.”
“I’m telling you the truth. I went to the doctor because I was having trouble remembering things, and they told me that I have a mass in my brain.
They’re going to figure out what kind of operation I need to have before I go under the knife.
” She said that she didn’t believe her. “I knew you wouldn’t.
If it’s not all about you, then you decide that it’s not worthy of your time. ”
“What are you talking about? Would you believe me if I told you that I had the same thing that killed our sister? No, you wouldn’t.
You’d be calling me a liar, too.” She pulled some paperwork out of her large purse and handed it to her.
“Just tell me what’s going on. All right, so you have a tumor.
Did they call it that or a mass? There is a big difference. ”
“What does it matter what they call it? It’s still going to have to be operated on.
” She looked over the paperwork that was mostly about how she needed to go in as soon as possible for a second head scan.
“You’ll have to give me all the money now, Serenity.
I’m going to need it for my own funeral and shit.
I’m going to live it up when I get home so that I don’t have to linger like Helen did.
I don’t want to die, but it looks like Helen gave me her tumor when I had to stay with her in the hospital. This is all on you.”
“Me? And you can’t catch a tumor. That’s just nuts.” She wasn’t sure about that, but it seemed right. She looked at her sister. “What did they say to you? Did anyone mention how you would have caught it from Helen?”
“No, they wouldn’t now, would they?” She looked around, then back at her. “It looks like I’m going to make a killing off of this shit. You’ll be turning it all over to me, too. There will be no splitting it down the middle anymore. I’m going to need it worse than you will.”
“You’re not getting but half after the bills have been paid.
I told you this before. I can’t sell the house if there is money still owed on it by us.
” She told her that she would have to pay it then.
“I’m not paying sixty grand to own a house so that I can sell it.
The only reason that the bank is allowing us to do this is that they know they’re going to get their money. ”
“I need it all. And you’re going to give it to me, or else I’m going to have to kill you.
I’m more important than you are right now…
well, I’ve always been more important than you were, and I’m going to get that money.
You’d better hope too that it goes for enough for me to get my bills paid and this shit taken care of with my tumor.
” She didn’t bother arguing with her anymore.
Turning away from her, she was nearly knocked on her ass when Beth grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked it back.
“You’ll not walk away from me until we get this settled.
I need that money, Sen. And if I don’t get it today, then you’re going to regret messing with me. ”
“I don’t know what to tell you.” She rubbed the spot where she’d hurt her head and asked her what was wrong with her all of a sudden.
“You’ve been talking about this money like it’s the end of your life.
You have to have some money left over from when our parents died.
Please tell me that you didn’t spend it all and are now broke. ”
“I’m broke, and that’s your fault too.” She asked her how it was her fault. “You should have known that I was no good with money. You had to have known that all my life. I can’t save anything, and you know it.”
“What I know is that if you try to take the money from the sale of the house without paying off the debt that is there, then you’re going to be arrested.
I won’t because I’m going to tell them that you’re the one who wants it.
Besides, the bank will get all the money turned over to them so that the taxes will be paid on it as well.
” She slapped her, and people around them backed away.
“Do you feel better? Don’t talk to me anymore, Beth.
I’m finished with trying to deal with you.
I’ve told you what has to be done, and I have no idea how you think it’s going to go any differently. ”
“I’ll kill the lot of you.” Serenity was afraid of her sister.
She had a look in her eyes that made her think that she’d go through with the deaths of all of them if she didn’t get her way.
Seeing Sherman and his brother coming toward her made her feel so much better that she grabbed his hand and held it tightly when he was close to her.
Beth noticed that they were holding hands. “What’s going on here?”
“You’ve met Sherman the other week. This is his brother Ace. Sherman, and I have been seeing each other.” Beth laughed, but it was maniacal more than it was humorous. “Sherman and I have been talking since I left for New York. He and I are going to get married.”
“No, you’re not. Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you decided to get married?
I had him dump you right before the wedding.
” She looked at Sherman as he stared at Beth.
“I’m not going to allow you to marry anyone because I like you being a Jamestown.
And if I can, I’m going to ruin your life so that he wants nothing to do with you. ”
“That’s not going to happen.” Sherman kissed the back of her hand and looked at Beth again. “We’re in love, and the sooner you get out of our lives, the better. I’ve been doing some investigating about you. You’re so far in debt that you’ve lost your apartment and are living out of your car.”
“Is that true, Beth? You’ve lost your apartment now and have been living out of your car?” She asked her why she would care. “Because I love you and you’re my sister. I don’t want you living anywhere but your place.”
“Well then, give me all the money so that I can get back home and get myself a better place. With that kind of money, I’ll be able to live it up for a while.
” She said that she wasn’t getting all the money.
“I’d better, Serenity. I’m tired of fucking with you.
I either get all the money, or you’ll be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your short life. ”
“I’m not afraid of you.” The slap to her face caught her off guard, but when she drew back to no doubt hit her again, Sherman caught her hand.
“He’s going to protect me from people like you.
I’m not dealing with you anymore, Beth. I’ll give you half of whatever is left over from the house, but no more.
You should allow me to have it all for all the money I’ve lent you over the years. Where is that money from you?”