Brewing Trouble by Wendy Meadows

Author:Wendy Meadows [Meadows, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC

Chapter Twelve

Cherry didn’t like picking fights. It was a habit her mother hated and had often discouraged, even in adulthood. Fights could be dangerous and unpredictable. Rather than guess the outcome of a fight, Cherry preferred preventing one to begin with.

However, she’d learned some martial arts years ago just in case she ever found herself backed into a corner. She didn’t think she’d need to use them on Beatrice, but she could sense that the stakes were being raised.

“I’m not interested in an argument with you, Beatrice,” Cherry said. “You’re family. So if we can find a way to get along, that’ll be great. For Bernie’s sake.”

Beatrice pondered this for a moment, then nodded. “I think that’s fine by me. I can make peace. Truce?”

Beatrice held out her hand for a handshake. With a wary look, Cherry reached for it, and they shook hands.

“Truce,” Cherry said.

“Great! Now that we’re friends, I was wondering if you’d tell me what you know about Bernie’s life insurance,” Beatrice said.

Cherry frowned. Beatrice was playing games again. “Why do you want to know?” Cherry asked.

“I’m just curious how things will be managed now that we’ve lost him,” Beatrice said innocently. “He had many investments, you know. Tricky for one person to run, especially if they only knew him for a few months.”

“You have a point, but it’s all taken care of. You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Cherry replied.

“Do you want to share the value of the policy, then? Has to be a couple million, right?” Beatrice asked.

“These are not helpful questions, Beatrice,” Maggie said, growing exasperated.

“You should stay out of other people’s business, Maggie. No one intruded when you were getting divorced,” Beatrice said.

“That was uncalled for,” Maggie said.

“Just returning the favor. Do I get an answer or not?” Beatrice asked Cherry.

“You get nothing, actually. Thanks for the interest, though,” Cherry replied.

Beatrice gave a wry grin. “Well, see you at the funeral, then.” She left, walking fast toward the brewery.

“She’ll be trouble,” Maggie commented.

“I’ll handle it,” Cherry said.

For the rest of that day, Cherry traced every original document Bernie had in their room and stashed them all away in a lockable suitcase.

With that done, it was time to bury her best friend and husband.

The next day, clad in a black dress, Cherry walked through the wooden doors of St. Paul’s Church to the sounds of a hymn. She was in front of Bernie’s casket. Flanking her was Beatrice, also dressed in black. Behind them were the pallbearers, who included Roger, Stu, and other workers from the brewery. As they ambled down the aisle, Cherry realized the church was nearly full, which wasn’t the norm. Many people in the small town weren’t spiritually inclined anymore, at least not enough to attend church services. But Bernie had many friends who wanted to pay their respects.

The charm of the little church had always captivated Bernie, and he and Cherry had attended services there together many times. Cherry knew this was the place he’d like his funeral service to be held.

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