Read Online Gypped by Carol Higgins Clark - Free Book Online Page B

this?”
    “I don’t think food poisoning strikes right away, so it probably wasn’t anything you ate at the party. But if we start getting phone calls from sick party guests, you’d better check your insurance policy. What did you eat yesterday?”
    “Nothing for breakfast. When I was out shopping, I had a cheesesteak sandwich. Last night I was so busy I only had a couple hors d’oeuvres and a small piece of ham.”
    “Don’t you advocate the importance of a healthy diet to your clients?”
    “At times, I stray.”
    “Do you want me to cancel lunch with Regan?”
    “No! I have to talk to her about Bobby Jo. Regan won’t mind having a sandwich up here. I certainly won’t feel like eating.”
    “What about Rich?”
    “He’s only stopping by for a little while. He can come up here and speak to me.”
    “I’ll run to the store and pick up sandwich makings and a salad. I don’t think we should offer Regan leftovers. Especially if they cause food poisoning. I’d better throw everything out.”
    Zelda nodded. “Get me some of the chicken noodle soup we love. Hopefully I’ll be able to have that later.”
    “Okay. Don’t worry, Zelda, you’ll feel better soon.”
    “I hope so. Norman, do you think someone could have spiked my drink?”
    “Why would anyone do that?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Your friends wouldn’t do that. The help wouldn’t have any reason to do it. Rich and Heather and Gladys certainly want you to stay healthy, that’s for sure. If you die, they won’t be handling your money.” He chuckled. “Bobby Jo will.”
    “Norman, why are you tormenting me?”
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It was a stupid joke.”
    “If you must know, you’re in my will, but that could change because I plan to amend it.”
    “What? Zelda, you’re my friend. I didn’t mean to—”
    “Listen, would you?” Zelda interrupted.
    “Okay.”
    “I left generous gifts to you and a couple of other close friends. Everything else goes to my father. But I don’t want that woman to get her hands on it. I don’t know everything about trusts but I know enough to know that I’d like to set one up formy father. If I die he can take money from the trust until he dies. Then it will revert back to my estate and go to you and my other friends. You should be grateful to Bobby Jo. If she hadn’t come along I wouldn’t be making these changes. Most of my money would go straight to my father. It would never end up back with you.”
    Norman had been pointing in the air with his index finger, making an imaginary trail of the money. “Zelda,” he stammered, “I’d be desolate if something happened to you! All jokes aside, I’d rather have you in my life than your money in my bank account. I mean it!”
    “I know that, Norman. I really do. That’s why I trust you, and I only want the best for you. You haven’t seemed happy lately.”
    Norman flopped in the chair. “It’s hard not knowing which way my life is going. I love working for you, but it’s not a career and I need more.”
    “What would you really like to do?”
    Norman looked at the ground. He tapped his fingers against the chair. “I don’t know.”
    “Yes, you do. It’s the question I ask everyone I coach. What would you really like to do?”
    “Sing,” Norman said in a tiny voice.
    “I can’t hear you.”
    “Sing,” Norman said a little bit louder.
    “What did you say?”
    “SING,” Norman shouted.
    “There you go! You want to sing?”
    “YES! I feel alive when I sing! There’s nothing like hearing the applause.”
    “Applause? When do you hear applause?”
    “Late at night in karaoke bars.”
    “It’s a start.”
    “It is! And I’m taking singing lessons, but I can barely afford them.”
    “What do I always tell my students?”
    “Go for your dream.”
    “That’s right.”
    “But sometimes going for your dream is a little tough on the pocketbook.”
    “I’ll pay for your lessons.”
    “You