The Widow and the Will Read Online Free Page A

His lone voice echoed off the walls of the tiny shower stall. Joe had probably done it on purpose, thinking it would be funny. If I wasn’t such a fuckup, I might have thought it was funny too . Unfortunately, all humor had dissolved from his life where Hudson was concerned.
    Having no clean towels, Ford climbed out of the shower and let himself air dry as he searched through the piles of clothes throughout the flat. Some piles were dirty, but there was one last heap that had some clean underwear, t-shirts and a single pair of jeans. He pulled on the clothes, then gathered up the rest and stuffed them into a green duffel bag. Grabbing a black leather vest from a hook next to the door, he made sure he had his smokes, phone, and the green card for the post office. He slung the duffel over his shoulder and headed down to his bike. Fastening it tightly on the back of the seat, like a little green passenger, he then climbed on in front of it.
    Turning the key in the ignition, his old, beat-up Harley Davidson Heritage roared to life. Coffee, food, post office, parole officer and laundry, in that order, was what he had on his mind as Ford Marks rode away.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    “That’s the last of them.”
    Lilly handed over a stack of Priority Mail boxes and envelopes. Tess put them in the trunk of her car along with the twenty others already stacked there. Lilly had been there within the hour to help and together the sisters had opened all the gifts and then repackaged them to go back. She also wrote out the notes of regret and for that Tess would never be able to repay her big sister. She had cried over some of the lovely items, a crystal picture frame, a place setting of china. Things she would never get to use. But there had been plenty of laughter through the tears over silly gifts like a ’70s style lamp from one of her fourth cousins and the matching sugar bowl and creamer shaped like elephants. The time had passed quickly enough and Tess had felt closer to normal again. Almost enough to confide in Lilly all of the swirling emotions inside of her heart and brain. Almost, but not quite.
    “Thanks, L. Did you lock the door?”
    “Yep. Want me to go with you to the post office too?” Lilly stuffed her hands into the front pockets of her jean shorts.
    Tess squinted up in the bright June sun and shook her head.
    “No, it’s okay. I got it.”
    “Sure?” Lilly raised her eyebrows.
    “I’m sure. You’ve done way more than enough.” Tess stepped toward her and opened her arms for a hug. “Thanks for taking the day off work to help.”
    “Pffft,” Lilly rolled her eyes. “I’ll take any excuse not to go into that crazy farm.”
    Tess chuckled. Lilly managed one of the busiest restaurants in town and hated the job, but it paid the bills. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
    “Okay. I’ll be home.”
    Lilly gave her a pitiful smile and then turned to walk away to her vehicle. Tess watched and waved as her big sister climbed in and drove away. Sighing, Tess turned back to her car and resumed securing boxes in the trunk and back seat. When everything was stowed, she slammed the trunk shut. Pulling the keys out of her pocket, she stepped toward the side of the car to get in. Looking down, she was mesmerized by the flashing diamonds of her wedding rings.
    Taking a deep breath, Tess leaned against the door and exhaled. She turned her hand this way and that, watching the flashing jewels on her finger. Picking out the rings with Jack had been one of the happiest days of her life. He’d done a swell job of choosing the engagement ring, splurging on a full carat emerald cut stone set into a white gold band with tiny baguettes encircling it. The wedding band was exactly the same, without the center stone.
    Tess had immediately protested. It was too much money. But Jack had shushed her with kisses.
    “I think that’s when it started,” Tess whispered to no one. Until the day Jack slipped the