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Johnny died. I’m going to try to contest that policy and make sure my kids are compensated. God knows how long that’s going to take. But they deserve something. So, I’m telling you this to protect your kids now.  Make sure they’re on those policies and what the heck if you want to take out a little extra, why not?  I know when we were married Johnny only carried a limited amount of insurance on himself. He didn’t even carry a policy to pay off the house.”
    “Are you telling us to commit fraud? I mean if we sign our ex hubbies name to that policy that’s forgery.” Nicole whispered.
    “Okay, don’t take out the policy.  But make sure the kids are protected under your divorce decree. Mine weren’t.  I’m sure the fact that Johnny was an attorney might have had something to do with it. I got screwed all the way around. My attorney knew Johnny, heck, they all knew Johnny, and they all stuck together. But that’s not the case with most of you. Call your attorneys and ask if your kids are provided for. If not, see if they can amend the decree. Let’s break for refreshments.” 
    I needed a break, my thoughts and emotions were in turmoil.  I hadn’t realized this talk would affect me this way. Anger flared up in me. What a thoughtless bastard Johnny was.
    I sipped my coffee and watched the women congregate into small groups. Nicole stood apart from the rest of them, and I joined her.  “How are you doing, Nicole?’ 
    Nicole struggled to make ends meet.  Bob had all but disappeared from the face of the earth . They weren’t even divorced. The bank had foreclosed on their house, and Nicole took a job as a waitress and moved into an apartment. That’s when Josh and Cindy became friends. Cindy also threw herself into her school work and they isolated themselves from the rest of their classmates.
    “I’m fine. I….uh , what you said back there about making sure my kids are listed as beneficiaries, how do I do that? I mean I don’t even know where Bob is.”
    “That’s why I suggested you take out your own policy. Besides, who’s going to know if you sign his name?”
    “That’s true, but how am I going to know if he’s dead? I can’t even find him for child support payments. Even child welfare service is looking for him. If I had the money I’d hire a private detective.”
    Private detective. The wheels in my head started to turn. Somehow, some way I was going find Bob and make him compensate Nicole. I smiled. “It’ll work out somehow, Nicole. Really it will.” God only knows how, but I’d personally see to it. Nicole had lost more weight since the last meeting. The poor thing almost looked like a skeleton with skin. This wasn’t fair. New anger surged through me.
    “Erica, I ...uh….I don’t know if I’ll be able to come to anymore meetings, I have to take another job, this one doesn’t pay enough to make ends meet. I really appreciate your support, but I’m sorry….” Nicole turned away.
    “Hey, Nicole.” I put my arm around the woman. Damn that Bob. “I understand. Anything I can do to help? If you need to talk, call me, and you’re always welcome at the meetings. Okay?”
    “Thanks, Erica. You’ve already been a big help. Just knowing other women are in the same boat helps. Not that it takes away the problem, but at least I know I’m not alone.
     
    Chapter Five
     
    After the meeting, I went home and turned on my computer. There had to be some way to find Bob. Sure, social workers were looking for him, but with their case load, they wouldn’t exhaust all possibilities.  I typed Bob’s name in the search engine. Robert Brown turned up over 9,890,000 entries, but I narrowed it with people search.  I remembered from past conversations Bob liked warm climates so I searched them, looking for someone with the same approximate age between 38 and 40. I found several that fit. For $9.95 I could get more information, but I hesitated since I really couldn’t afford to