Free Breakwater Beach by Carole Ann Moleti

how could he use this to deny her request? “Back away or I will knock your teeth out. You have one week, Mr. Jeffers.” Liz grabbed his arm and shoved it aside.
    She walked quickly to the door, but didn’t run until she got out of the suite.
    The Chinese takeout place was far too slow tonight, giving Liz plenty of time to fidget and fret. Gerry wasn’t here to rescue her this time. She being orphaned, and he estranged from his parents because he was involved with an Irish Catholic, all they’d had was each other. For twenty-five years, that had been enough. Now she had to rely on a girlfriend. Liz scrolled through her numbers. Marti had survived a nasty divorce and would know what to do.
    “Hey, Liz! What’s up?” Marti sounded like her mouth was full of marbles.
    “I don’t want to ruin your dinner or your appetite, but Bill Jeffers is screwing around with my money and wants to screw around with me."
    “Ugh, that is a nauseating image.”
    "I bought a house on the Cape, and he’s giving me a hard time about the money. I need a good lawyer.” Liz tried to hold back the tears. “I can’t believe he tricked me into going to the office late in the day. How could I be so stupid?”
    “Don’t you think for one minute it’s your fault, sweet thing. He’s a classless idiot. Don’t back down. Don’t let the bastard withhold a single penny. Marianne Hartley is a total bitch, but you need someone like her in a situation like this. She’ll nail his balls to the wall.”
    The image of Marti pointing both index fingers like guns for emphasis, like she always did, stopped the waterworks. She dabbed her eyes. “I just need to get the estate transferred out of his control as soon as possible.”
    “I’ll text you her number. Keep me posted.”
    The woman at the counter pointed to the shopping bag full of food.
    “Got to go, Marti, my food is ready. Bye.” Liz paid and rushed the few blocks home.
    Jay ran down the stairs as she came through the door. “I was getting worried. It’s nearly eight.”
    “Traffic. Then I had to wait for Bill, and then I decided to pick up Chinese takeout. Panda Garden is so slow, but it’s worth the wait. Got your favorites.”
    Liz unpacked their dinner while he set the table. She tried to act like nothing had happened. Her son had endured enough this year already.
    Jay seemed more interested in information. “So what did Bill say about the house?”
    “He refused to advance me the money, and I’m going to fire him.” Liz dished out her portion and started eating.
    Jay stopped fixing his plate. “What? How are you going to handle all that money?”
    Liz struggled not to scream in frustration. Why did everyone assume she was a hapless widow?
    “I’m not an idiot. Dad handled all the finances, but I was always involved in decision-making. I’ve thought this through very carefully.”
    Jay’s voice went up several octaves. “Dad appointed Bill. Why don’t you at least consider his advice?”
    She matched her son’s shrill tone. “I don’t trust that Bill has my best interests in mind.” Unable to sit and defend herself yet again, Liz pushed back her chair and went to the kitchen counter. “I’m buying the house, and no one is going to stop me. Your father agreed with these plans. It’s something we always wanted to do after retirement, and now is the right time for me.” 
    Jay finished the dumplings in spicy Szechuan sauce and chicken and broccoli.
    Liz opened her fortune cookie, laughed, and read it out loud. “‘Life is not a dress rehearsal.’”
    “I don’t find that funny, Mom.” Jay dumped his plate into the dishwasher, then stomped out of the kitchen and up the stairs. The pounding on each step echoed in her ears, and then the final bang reverberated like a gunshot. They seemed to be at odds about everything these days. Invoking the pre-approval Gerry had given was not going to make a difference.
    Liz tidied up and took a bath. Chilled despite her