Read Online 4 Kaua'i Me a River by JoAnn Bassett - Free Book Online Page A

It was usually for more than
they needed, and in most cases, more than they deserved.
    “I’m sure the rest of you
watching are wondering when I’ll get around to you. In my mind’s eye I can
imagine you and your offspring toting up the spoils now that the old man’s gone.
Well, here it is.”
    There was a collective intake of
breath. Phil went on, “During my life I was forced to live with—and even support—bad
behavior and lousy decision-making. Certainly, some of the blame falls to me, but
not all. Therefore, I’m done with that. With the blessing of my attorney and my
accountant I’ve decided to bequeath my entire estate to two, and only two,
beneficiaries. One-half of my total assets will go to my loving wife, Suzanne, or
Sunny, as she prefers to be called. The other half will go to my eldest
daughter, Pali Moon.
    “Throughout my final ordeal
Sunny has stood by me without complaint. She asked for little, but gave so
much. I love you, Sunny. I owe you everything. Not only for what you’ve done for
me but even more for what you’ve promised to do for me.”
    Everyone turned to look at Sunny
but she kept her eyes glued to the image on the television. 
    Phil Wilkerson droned on. “Valentine
advised me to make this video so everyone could see that the choice of how I
would divide my assets was mine and mine alone. She and Tim Abbott will fill
you in on the details. I wish you all a life as wonderful as mine has been. Aloha and God bless.”
     The television screen went dark.
Valentine clomped over to the windows and lifted the shades. The sunlit room
remained silent for about three seconds. Then all hell broke loose.

 
     
    CHAPTER
8
     
    “These two twits get
everything?” shouted Joanie Bush, the aging Anna Nicole Smith-wannabe. She
pointed at me with a stiletto-sharp fingernail. “This one didn’t even know Phil
was her father until an hour ago. And her…” she pointed at Sunny, “just
magically appeared in time to rake in a fortune.”
    “The decedent has the sole vote
in deciding who will inherit the estate,” said Valentine. “And in this case, at
least Mr. Wilkerson made the effort to explain his decision. He appreciated the
care his wife Sunny gave him and he was repentant about not being a loving
father to Pali.”
    “Well, excuse me, but he was a
lousy father to my two kids,” said Peggy Chesterton, wife number one. She
turned to me. “Trust me, you didn’t miss much. I’m sure my kids would’ve rather
had the money.”
    While the ex-wives engaged in
side conversations, Sunny Wilkerson raised a hand and waited to be called on.
    “Yes, Sunny?” said Valentine.
    “So, that’s it? Pali and I will split
the estate?”
    “That’s it,” said Valentine. “Except
Mr. Wilkerson requested that you be allowed to live in the Kaua'i property for as
long as you wish. The property will not be sold until you want to dispose of it.”
    “What’s the matter, Sunny D?”
said Joanie. “Did Phil promise you the whole enchilada? Last I heard Phil was worth
thirty million bucks. Are you afraid you won’t be able to snag a new boy-toy
with a mere fifteen mil?”
    Rita, wife number two, smiled at
that but the others kept up the glowering.
    “This can’t be legal,” said Peggy.
“My kids deserve at least something. I’m gonna call my lawyer.”
    Joanie shot back, “Oh shut up. My
kids are getting screwed as much as yours, but there’s not a damn thing we can
do about it. One thing about Phil, he always did things legit.”
    Peggy turned to Sunny. “Well,
just the same, don’t rack up the credit card bills, sweetie, because I’m not
taking this lying down. I want to see what a judge says about Phil cutting my
kids off like this.”
    “Are you deaf?” said Joanie. “A
judge can’t do anything. It’s up to these two to make this right.” She pointed
at me and then Sunny.
    I grabbed my beach bag purse and
pushed back my chair. Joanie reached over and gripped my upper arm.