Deadbeat Dads Read Online Free

took the kids to the Memorial Service.  People, I once considered friends, ignored me. Only Becky and Fred spoke to me. Fine, I didn’t want to associate with them anyway. They gathered around poor Babette, who seemed to come alive with their attention.  That was one rich woman who wouldn’t stay single long, I’d bet my life on it. Already men flocked to her side, offering help and support. Oh yeah, the sexy Babette would probably be married before the year was out.  Not that I cared. It helped ease some of the guilt.
    Actually , Babette was better off. A million dollar insurance policy and her mansion paid off. The woman had done well for herself that’s for sure. Now it was time for me to get on with my life. At least the kids would receive Social Security benefits from their father. Babette couldn’t take that away from them, and they were beneficiaries on the small five thousand dollar policy. How thoughtful of their father.
     
    Chapter Four
     
    I called the next meeting of W.E.D.D. to order. It had been a rough couple of weeks. Johnny haunted me, day and night. I saw his broken body everywhere. I finally managed to get it out of my mind when I ran into Babette at the doctor’s office. Of all things we shared a doctor.  Babette came in with a young, dark haired, muscular man on her arm. I almost laughed aloud at their antics. It didn’t take a genius to know this wasn’t a new romance. So, the sweet little Babette was fooling around on Johnny. Too bad he hadn’t lived to see that. What goes around comes around.
    Babette ignored me, which didn’t bother me a bit. In fact, I was sorry I had done the woman such a big favor. We both received more from Johnny’s death than we did if he remained alive. Of course, Babette had the big house and fancy car, and I still had to work. No doubt if Babette divorced Johnny she’d be left in the same boat I was. With Johnny out of the way, she inherited everything, and now Katie and Josh were getting Social Security until they were sixteen, more than they got from their father. Plus, they had the five thousand dollar insurance money in the bank. A little something for their college fund.
    An idea began to form in my mind.  All these deadbeat dads had skipped out on their kids, and their new wives were benefiting from their wealth.  Too bad I hadn’t thought to take out an additional insurance policy on Johnny with Katie and Josh as beneficiaries.
    Time to get on with the meeting.
    “Okay ladies, I know you all heard what happened to my ex husband.” I raised my hand to quiet them. “What you don’t know is he bought a million dollar insurance policy and didn’t name his kids as beneficiaries. They only benefited from his small five thousand dollar policy.” Again, I shushed the gasps from the group. “They do receive Social Security benefits, which is more than they got from their father. But what I’m proposing today is, if any of you can manage to take out even a small insurance policy, do it and name your kids beneficiaries.”
    “Is that legal?” Rae Anne raised her hand. “I mean can we do that, take out an insurance policy without their knowledge?”
    “Well, let’s put it this way. If the policy is issued then it’s legal. We get stuff in the mail all the time saying no physical necessary, just answer the questionnaire. Granted, you’d have to sign your ex husband’s name, and that is fraud, but once he’s dead who’s going to prove it? In fact, other than you and the insurance company who’s going to know you took out the policy?  I’m not saying to list yourself as beneficiary – I’m saying list your children. Besides that, you need to talk with your lawyer and make sure that your kids are provided for in case of his death.” I took a breath.
    How could I have been so stupid? Besides being under stress, I didn’t know the law. That’s why I hired a lawyer. Why hadn’t he thought of it?
    “I didn’t know any of this until after