Chapter Twenty

As she walked to her truck, her temper began to simmer hotter and hotter. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Delly's number. It rang then went directly to her voicemail. As Delly was a beautician, she was probably with a client. Kelleigh left a message: "Delly, you wont' believe this or maybe you will. I can't get the money out of the bank. He listed another woman as the next of kin. Do you recognize the name Becky Garver? Let me know. If Steve were alive right now, I'd kill him. Talk to you soon."



She flipped the phone shut in frustration. It wasn't the fact that she couldn't get the money. It was the existence of it and of Becky Garver. She didn't need Steve's money, actually now she didn't want it. Nevertheless, she did want to find out who this Becky is. Kelleigh started the truck and headed home. She would search on the Internet and if that didn't glean anything, unfortunately she would have to ask Sid.



Kelleigh returned home, parking the truck tight against the garage again. She just didn't trust Sid. Her tempered was still simmering hot and she wished for the first time in a long time that she had a cigarette. She'd quit years ago and had urged Steve to quit as well but he refused. If he were here, she would sneak a cigarette. The irony being that because he wasn't here, she wanted to smoke.
Instead, she poured herself a cup of coffee, slid it into the microwave, and slammed the door shut. Stabbing at the buttons on the panel, she fought the urge to throw things. Much like when she tipped the dresser out of the upstairs window. If she didn't want to keep the racecar so badly, she would take a baseball bat to it right now.



The microwave dinged when it finished heating and Kelleigh giggled at the image that popped into her head: the starting bell of a boxing match. She was the star, pummeling the snot out of Steve. Visualizing the absurd little scene bled off some of her anger. She took out the coffee cup and went to the table where her laptop was pushed off to the side by the textbooks she studied yesterday.
Her stomach did a little flip at the sight of them, a visual reminder of tomorrow's test. Tests made her nervous, especially tests that were taken by and given by men. As she stacked them up and set them on the coffee table, she promised herself that she would study tonight. First, she wanted to find out who in the hell Becky Garver was.



A quick Internet search gave her an address and telephone number. Becky lived in the next town, just about 10 miles away. That was all she gained from the search, no mentions in the local police blotter or community news, no wedding announcements, nothing. Kelleigh wrote down the address and number then slid the paper to the side. She didn't know what to do next. Surely, the bank would have notified her by now of Steve's money. It was nearly lunchtime. For a quick second, Kelleigh considered going back to the bank and waiting to see if she could spot Becky coming to get the money. She discarded the thought as soon as it flitted through her mind; she had no idea what she looked like. She could only assume that she was the girl in the picture they found.
She would just have to wait for Delly to call her back. Delly knew practically everyone, perhaps she would know her, or at least of her.



Frustrated and bored, Kelleigh went into the kitchen and made herself a sandwich. She wasn't really hungry; it was more of a habit. She quickly slapped together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she leaned against the kitchen counter, it occurred to her that she forgot, again, to call the racetrack. Sighing with frustration, she went back to the table and flipped open the address book.
Doing so jarred something in her mind. She flipped to the G section and scanned the names and numbers for anything resembling Becky Garver. Nothing.



She flipped back to the B section and scanned it. At first, she didn't find anything then something struck her as strange. An entry that Steve made "BG" was listed at the bottom. Kelleigh at first assumed that it was a manufacturer that Steve often called with tech questions about the car but she realized that the prefix was the same as the telephone number she'd written on the pad of paper. The remaining numbers were different but the prefix the same. As the manufacturer wasn't local, she knew it wasn't them. Could it be? Would he be that bold? Then Kelleigh rolled her eyes at her own naivete. He'd been bold enough, or rather stupid enough, to keep her picture and money in their bedroom. Why wouldn't he have written the number down too?
Kelleigh added the number to the address and number written on the pad. One more clue to give Delly when she called.



She sat doodling on the notepad with her chin resting in her hand. She suddenly felt as if nothing was real or right. Nothing in her life was as it seemed. With one argument, her entire life changed. She was no longer married, now a widow actually. Her marriage was a sham; not that she carried any delusions about it before Steve's death. With Steve's life insurance, she didn't have to worry about bills for a while. She could do as she wished, with him gone.



Everything was changed. It was as if she were dropped into an alternate universe. Kelleigh felt powerless. It was a feeling that wasn't unfamiliar to her and she hated it. She had kept it at bay during her adult life. First by marrying Steve, which turned out to be a horrible mistake, then by working and earning her own money. She also made a point of learning about anything and everything that ever interested her. This thirst for knowledge kept her entertained and distracted from the problems in her life. Now, there was nothing to distract her. Everything that was wrong was highlighted in garish light.

Chapter Nineteen

Kelleigh continued to the bank, feeling more excited as she came closer. She questioned herself, much like questioning her lack of grief. One would think that she would be bitter over these hidden dollars. Instead, she saw it as an unexpected gift. Sad as it was, her life had been nothing but improved with Steve's death.

Upon entering the bank, she inquired at the reception as to whom to speak with about Steve's account. She was given the manager's name and asked to wait. As she sat, she noticed the receptionist point her out to a teller. Hmm, she thought, trying not to feel scrutinized, I wonder what that's all about. Deciding to shrug it off, she picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages.

A few minutes later, a small tight-lipped and buttoned-up woman appeared in front of her. She looked to be only in her forties when you looked closely but at first glance appeared much older.

"Hello, Mrs. Lucky. I am Mrs. Applewhite, the bank manager. I understand that there is an issue with an account here. I'll be happy to discuss it with you, just follow me." She turned on her heel without waiting for an answer.

Kelleigh frowned, tossed the magazine back onto the table, and followed her. She wasn't sure what to make of Mrs. Applewhite. She also had a feeling of trepidation that her reason for being there was described as an "issue with an account."

They entered an office, away from the tellers. Kelleigh wasn't certain but she felt as if every teller watched her as she followed the manager. Something was up, she was sure of it.

"Please have a seat and explain to me what brings you here. I have a message from customer service but would like to hear from you." She smiled with the tight-lipped mouth again. The smile did nothing to soothe Kelleigh's now rattled nerves.

"On Friday night, my husband Steve was killed in car accident. While going through his personal affects, I discovered that he has an account here. I am assuming that it was established before we were married. I would like to close that account." She smiled, trying not to show her anxiety.

"Yes, I understand. That is similar to the message I received. First, let me start with my condolences on the loss of your husband. It must have been a great shock."

Kelleigh nearly smiled at her in response but bit it back just in time. She would have to work on being the widow, grieving or not. "Thank you ma'am. I appreciate your thoughts" was the best that she could muster. She really wanted to lean in confidentially and tell her how this was hidden money and how she would found cash and a picture of a woman but somehow, she knew Mrs. Applewhite would not be a sympathetic ear.

"Now, let me double-check the account. You have the account number?"

Kelleigh nodded and gave her the deposit receipt. "Yes, here it is. It seems like a recent deposit. Here, also, are the copies of our marriage certificate and his death certificate. Also, here is my driver's license so you can verify that I am indeed his wife."

Mrs. Applewhite entered the account number into the computer then frowned into the screen. Like the customer service person, she then asked social security numbers, mother's maiden names, etc. Kelleigh rattled these off without a thought. Mrs. Applewhite continued to frown into the screen, without comment.

"Excuse me, would you? I need to pull his file." She rose and left the office without a sound.

I am starting to feel as if I'm in a science fiction movie or a soap opera, either of them. Something is telling me this isn't going to be as easy as the person made it sound. Kelleigh tried to refrain from mumbling aloud. Leave it to Steve to leave complications behind for Kelleigh to clean up. It was the story of their life together.

A few minutes passed and Kelleigh was becoming increasingly uneasy. Something was definitely wrong. Finally, as Kelleigh was considering leaving and forgetting about the money, Mrs. Applewhite returned with a file in hand.

"Okay, Mrs. Lucky. I've looked into the account thoroughly. It is indeed owned by your husband, Steve. However, you are not listed anywhere on the account. As you may or may not know, account-holders are requested to list a next of kin on their applications. You, it seems, are not listed. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue as you are indeed his spouse. However, he has listed another name."

Kelleigh wanted to groan. "Can you tell me which name? Is it Sid Lucky?" she was trying to quickly think of whom else Steve would have possible listed. "Or his mother, Helen Lucky?"

"No, Mrs. Lucky. It is neither of those names. Whereas confidentiality is of utmost importance, I would normally not ever disclose the name listed on an account but under these extraordinary circumstances, I will give you the name listed. Perhaps it's a daughter? Niece?" Mrs. Applewhite slid a small piece of notepaper over to her. Written up on it in impeccable penmanship was the name
"Becky Garver."

Kelleigh sat back against her chair, feeling completely deflated. She didn't know a Becky Garver. As she and Steve married right out of high school, she knew of any ex-girlfriends, friends, or relatives. This was not the name of any of them.

"So, let me understand. Although I am his wife and this is a community property state, I am unable to obtain these funds due to the listing of a next of kin?"

Mrs. Applewhite, to her credit, looked as if she would rather eat a spoonful of castor oil than answer her. "Unfortunately, Mrs.… ah, Kelleigh, that is correct. You will need to contact the Miss Garver with any further questions. The bank, as policy provides, will also notify her of the funds now that we are aware of your husband's passing."

"I can't believe this." Kelleigh muttered under her breath without realizing that she had done so.

In a gesture that Kelleigh would have never predicted, Mrs. Applewhite rose, walked around the desk and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure that this will all work out, dear. It's surely just a misunderstanding."

Kelleigh accepted the condolence, knowing that it was not a misunderstanding. "Thank you Mrs. Applewhite. I appreciate your help. I can contact you if I have any further questions?"

"Of course. Again, my condolences." She walked Kelleigh to the lobby. Kelleigh felt again as if every eye was upon her. Of course, she would be a hot topic today at the bank: the scorned wife.

Chapter Eighteen

Kelleigh was suddenly excited. She hadn't really felt excited about anything for a really long time, she realized. She went to bed without eating dinner; the past few days had been exhausting and full of change. She had to get up in the morning and secure Steve's money before his family claimed it. As she lay there, she realized that she would have to call into her work. She hadn't thought about that at all either. In just two days, everything had changed.

The alarm woke Kelleigh up the next morning. She shut if off and fell back onto the pillows. She was exhausted and she had a headache. She lay there trying to remember why she was so tired and why the alarm had woken her up. She lay there for a few minutes until consciousness brought everything rushing back with full force: Steve died, the racecar, the money, the test. She had so much to do today! She threw the covers back and nearly ran into the bathroom to get ready.

It was the first morning in a long while that she was excited to be up and about in the morning. She hadn't had anything to look forward to in quite a while. While she wasn't necessarily looking forward to getting the death certificate, she was interested in the newfound money. Moreover, she was interested in taking the test tomorrow.

What she did truly forget was the fact that she hadn't called back to the track to get a recommendation for a reputable chassis builder or paint shop. She groaned thinking about it now; surely there wouldn't be anyone available at the track until Thursday. Oh well, she thought, I have enough to do in the next two days. The racecar will wait.

She called into work and spoke to her boss. Briefly explaining what happened, she was immediately excused from work for “as long as you need.” Kelleigh found herself not caring. Her work was just one more thing that she found herself dissatisfied with. Well, now she had time to change that, if she wished.

Next she flipped through the telephone book and called a security company. She made an appointment to have a security alarm installed on the house and garage. They couldn’t come until the end of the week and Kelleigh hoped that nothing would happen before then.

The next call was to the racetrack. The telephone clicked over to voicemail and she left a message, not expecting anyone to get back to her until the weekend.

The final call was the most nerve-wracking. She called the tech school and inquired about taking the test in place of Steve. After some cajoling and maneuvering, she finally gained permission to take the test. Because of her job, she was enrolled in a continuing adult education program. Otherwise, her plan to take the mechanics test would have been thwarted.

Feeling accomplished, she headed out to the funeral home and bank. The stop at the funeral home to get Steve's death certificate was incredibly easy. She showed her drivers and marriage licenses and had three copies in hand within fifteen minutes. She expected judgment on behalf of the funeral home directors but there was none. Apparently, any time that they had spent with Steve's family had made the dynamic crystal clear.

Chapter Seventeen

She called Delly again. "Delly, is Sid gone?"

"Yeah, I packed up his truck with all of Steve's things. It's all gone now. I don't think he was anticipating getting ALL of Steve's things." She giggled.

"Well, at least he can't say that I withheld anything of Steve's, other than the racecar and his tools. Unfortunately, those are what Sid really wants and I don't think it's necessarily because it was Steve's. He would never be able to afford any of that stuff."

"What did you find out at the bank?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Because we live in a community property state, I just have to provide the death and marriage certificates and the money is mine. I have to go get a death certificate at the funeral home tomorrow. I want to do this as quickly and quietly as possible. I don't want Sid to find out."

"What are you going to do with the money?"

"I don't know, Del. I'm going to transfer it out of that bank so there's no way they can change their minds. After that, I'm not sure. I am going to use the money we found in his dresser to finish the racecar, that and the life insurance money. After that, I am not sure."

"You're going to finish the car? Are you sure?" Delly sounded skeptical.

"Yeah, I'm going to finish it. I know nearly as much as Steve did. I think it would be fun. Steve would have never let me drive it if he were alive."

"Gosh, Kel, think about it before you do it. Are you sure? It's a lot to take on."

"Do you think I can't do it Del?" Kelleigh began to feel defensive. She hated anyone telling her that she wasn't able to do something.

"No, I don't think that you can't do it Kelleigh." Delly's tone let her know that she'd regretted saying anything. "I just think it's a big project to take on."

"Not really though. I can pay someone to finish the chassis and paint the body. Then its just assembly. I can do most of it and I'm sure that I can find someone who will help me. I've already made a telephone call to someone at the track. Hopefully, they'll be able to steer me the right direction. Excuse the pun."

Delly laughed. "It sounds like you're determined and Lord knows there's no stopping you once you get your mind set on something."

"That's right. I think it will be fun. Now, I need to go find my marriage certificate for the bank. I'll call you after I get out of there tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. Good luck. Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"You got Sid off of my back for the time being, that's enough for now. By the way, did he mention when they planned the funeral? He never told me."

"Yeah, it's Tuesday, during the day. 2:00 p.m."

"I'll have to take the afternoon off…" Kelleigh was shocked at her own words and replied before Delly could. "Yikes, did I just say that out loud? I keep waiting for it to hit me Delly. I should be some sort of sad, don't you think?"

"I guess it just shows how much the marriage was over. No one can judge how or when they'll react. I wouldn't worry about it. But I would refrain from comments like that, people will talk." She ended it on a giggle.

Hanging up the telephone, Kelleigh realized that it was early afternoon already. She had spent most of the morning on the telephone. She returned to the garage and gathered up all the paperwork that she had found. Bringing it back into the house, she set it down on the kitchen table, next to Steve's books for his mechanical certification. Pulling out the chair, she sat down and began flipping through the book.

She was surprised as she read through it just how much she actually knew. All the time that she had spent with her grandpa then with Steve had apparently stuck firmly in her memory. There was a workbook that accompanied the textbook, Kelleigh opened it and flipped through the pages. Steve hadn't used it at all. While looking at it, Kelleigh remembered Steve muttering something about having all the information he needed in his head and he didn't need any stupid workbook like a first-grader.

As Kelleigh remembered these moments, she was increasingly surprised and disappointed in herself for putting up with Steve for the past few years. With these unpleasant memories, it was no wonder that she wasn't upset over his death.

Without thinking about it, she picked up the pen by the telephone and began to fill in the questions in the workbook. At first, she filled in only those that she knew for certain were correct. As she went along, however, she began to look up the answers that she didn't know and write them in as well. It was an exciting challenge for her. She loved the feeling of knowing and of learning more.

The telephone rang and she ignored it. She had books spread across the table and was steadily flipping through the workbook. When she finally finished the last page, she looked up to find it dark outside. Looking at the clock, she realized that it was nearly 8:00 p.m. She had worked the afternoon away finishing the workbook.

She fanned the pages of the workbook out, looking for any uncompleted tasks. To her surprise, there were none. She had completed the entire workbook. She reached over and picked up the folder that held all the information for the class.

Kelleigh was surprised to find that the workbook was the only "work" that was needed to test for the certification. Reading further, she learned that there was a hands-on portion of the test in two different categories: troubleshooting and repair. The examples that were given were things that Kelleigh's grandpa had taught her years ago.

She sat back in the chair with her fingers drumming on the table. "I could take this test." She thought about it, "No, I could PASS this test." Smiling, she rose from the table. "I'm going to take the test. I'm going to do it. There's no reason not to."

She looked at the calendar; the test was ironically Tuesday. It was scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at noon. "That will give me time to go to Steve's funeral." She giggled at her plans. "Oh my God, I'm going to do this!"