Nightmares Realized

My Father Is Dead

"The insurance has already been claimed," the lawyer glanced at Regina James, his eyebrows raised. "Or, to be more clear, it has been withdrawn."

Regina gulped, familiar waves of panic threatening to take over.

"There must be a mistake. I have the documents with me. My husband has not left the house since months, due to the covid restrictions. At most, he took the kids to buy groceries when the quarantine was withdrawn."

"Your late husband," the lawyer reminded her. "He withdrew three million dollars, over four years ago. The date of withdrawal..."

Regina felt her heart go cold. Her last hope of survival slipped through her fingers.

My children. What do I do? We're done for!

"Are there any other properties under his name? He always bragged about his assets. There must be something!" Regina pleaded.

The lawyer's pitiful gaze held all the answers.

"Thank you for your time," she muttered. She rose to her feet and rushed out of the office.

"Mom?" Rodrick, who had been waiting outside, followed her quickening footsteps. "Did you ask him? Has dad left anything for us?"

No. The word was at the tip of her tongue but she held it back. Instead, she gripped his hand as they left the agency and made their way to her car.

"Mom?" Dread filled his voice.

"We... We just need to keep searching," Regina inhaled. "Don't worry, Rick. I'll take care of you and Riley. You guys will be fine."

Rick met her gaze, reading the sorrow she couldn't put into words. With a firm nod, he unlocked the car and sat in.

Regina struggled on the pavement for a minute more. With a sharp exhale, she cleared her emotions and prepared herself for the inevitable suffering that was soon to drown them all.

•

Riley stared blankly at the guest standing at her door.

"I'm sorry, who did you say you were?"

"The landlord," the old man in a refined suit smiled warmly. "You must be Adrian's younger one, Riley?"

Something caught in her throat. She parted her lips but struggled to speak. In the end, she just nodded slightly.

"Well," the old man shifted awkwardly. "I'm here to see your father. He hasn't been answering my calls since a few weeks. Could you be a dear and let him know that Mr. Wilson is here to meet him?"

"My father, he-" Riley stuttered, tingles of panic climbing up her spine. "Please can you wait for a while? I'm alone right now."

"Oh?" Mr. Wilson raised his white brows. "Will your father be home soon?"

"Y-yes," Riley nodded. "It's complicated. Please have a seat as you wait."

"Then pardon my intrusion."

Mr. Wilson tried to be as docile as he could so as to not threaten the shivering girl. He wondered why the house seemed empty of life, why his jovial tenent's daughter treated him warily.

Does she not know that her family lives here on rent?

After a while, indistinct murmurs were heard at the front door, before three pairs of footsteps made their way to the living room, where Mr. Wilson sat alone.

"Good morning," Adrian's beautiful wife smiled cautiously. "I believe we haven't met. I'm Regina James."

Mr. Wilson hurried to his feet. "Mrs. James, what a pleasure! Your husband always engaged me with stories about you, and I can see that he did not exaggerate about your beauty."