Say You'll Stay

Another Blow

Of course. That's all I can keep thinking. Of course, this is happening. If Jadyn hadn't changed the plan, we would have more than enough money to pay these bills. How am I supposed to afford the mortgage? The bakery is barely breaking even, let alone paying me enough to survive.

Olivia spends the next hour going through her home office. Nothing financial anywhere. No bank statement, credit card bill, paystub, nada. She was thinking that maybe he kept all their bills at work. She comes across some phone numbers on the back of the cards and started dialing them.

"What do you mean there's an outstanding bill?" She was speaking to the fourth credit card company.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Lawrence" the woman on the phone tells her for the tenth time.

"The notes state your husband arranged a payment plan but hasn't been able to keep up with it. You don't pay the minimum balance by the end of the week, were going to be sending this account to collections" Blood drains from her body. It's the same speech from every account she's spoken to. Thousands of apologies. Millions of tears. Zero answers to the problem. She called the office, hoping Davis will have some answers on where the hell Jadyn's paychecks been going.

"Meridian Cumbria Investment" Alicia's sweet voice rings in her ear.

"Hi, Alicia" She lets out a shaky breath. "It's Olivia Lawrence. Is Davis available?" She hasn't had the time to think about much since the funeral. It's been a blur ever since.

"Oh....I am so so sorry about Jadyn" her genuine concern floats through.

"Thank you, I appreciate it" She says on autopilot. She's heard it so much, it's lost it's meaning. What are you sorry for? Sorry I'm in pain? Sorry my boys have to live without a father? Sorry you didn't see it coming? What is everyone so fucking sorry about?

Her throat clears. "I wanted to call"

"It's fine" She pacifys her. "Is Davis available?"

"Umm, he's ....he isn't....well" she stuttered.

"He's out of the office"

"Okay", She says with confusion.

"Is any of Jadyn's supervisors there? I'm trying to get some information about his paychecks"

Jadyn handled all of their bills. There was never a need for her to worry since he was an investor. It made sense for him to handle and control the finances.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Lawrence" Her voice dropped.

"Umm....Jadyn hasn't worked with us in an while. He received his last paycheck months ago"

"What?"

"I don't....I can put you through to payroll, but I'm not sure what they'll say"

"I don't get it. He went to work the day he died"

"Let me just put you through to Davis's voicemail" she replies quickly. Before she can say anything else, she hears Davis's voice then a beep. She sighs deeply before leaving the voicemail.

"Davis, it's Olivia. I need you to call me. I'm.... just call" She hangs up the phone and sat there stunned.

He lost his job. He changed companies and that's why were late? What the fuck is going on? I can't take much more of this. There's no money coming in from anywhere, and I have to pay bills I didn't even know we had. I gotta worry about food and how were going to keep an roof over our heads. Oh, my God. The house.

She grabs the phone and call the lender.

"How far behind are we on the mortgage?" She asked. She closed her eyes, praying he's paid at least this one.