A Dancehall Story- Book 10 Part 2

Chapter 20 - The Cost

 Stacy's POV

I was up early and out of bed, helping with getting the kids to school and waiting for Mel to enter the kitchen for her first cup of coffee. I had plenty of questions and two pots of coffee waiting for her.

"Mom, school is almost out so are we still going to Miami for the summer?"

I was confused. "Who told you that LJ?"

"Dad had said something, I thought you knew."

"Your father and I haven't made any plans for summer yet but I will ask him. Now gwan before yuh make your brother and sisters late." He gave me a kiss.

I sat at the kitchen counter with thoughts that I hated. Masking them was hard but I had no other choice. Coffee alone wasn't helping me. I needed something strong but I will have to wait until Line leaves the house before I start drinking.

"You are up early," Mel said. I looked up at her and smiled. "Hello my mother in law." I pushed her cup and the coffee pot towards her.

"Stacy, I can't help you with leaving the house. I won't make because of you my son puts me into a nursing home."

She reluctantly poured the coffee into the cup and took a seat across from me. "He is not your only child but anyways, that's not what I am here about."

She took a deep breath after her first sip. "What is it Stacy?"

"Poppy, did she really get all of Collins' money?" I asked, getting straight to the point. She placed her cup on the counter and folded her hands across her chest.

"I see you and your husband have been pillow talking."

"So it's true?"

"So I've heard," she answered but a bit hesitant.

"Come on Mel. From what I've heard it seemed you and her had a good relationship for a while."

She leaned forward and smiled. It wasn't good when she and her son flashed their matching wide smiles. Pure evil. "You are intrigued? I guess someone gave you the glitzy part of Poppy Muir and not the gritty, manipulative, controlling, evil side right."

I matched her lean. "Then tell me."

She chuckled and took her cup up and took a sip, her mind seemed to stray and little and I sat there patiently waiting for her to start talking.

"Poppy did get everything Collins owned, he left nothing to his wife and children. I thought it was selfish at first but eventually I understood his reasons."

I got all excited but I kept a straight face. "Why would he do that?"

She looked at me and smiled. "Manipulation. He wanted to haunt her, he wanted her to feel guilty and she did. She has a good way of hiding it but I knew she was hurt. He was her true love and he made sure she never forgets it."

"That's cruel and sweet in a way. So how did his family manage, knowing what he did?"

"At the time they didn't know. You see Stacy, there is good and bad in everyone and Poppy had some good. She had her lawyers make a trust for the kids, three of them, two girls and a son but it came with conditions."

"She never kept the money?"

"She didn't need to, she had all the properties he owned, she gave back the money."

"What were the conditions?"

"The children had to finish school and the girls should marry wealthy and it should be that way for generations to come. Athena Azri had to establish that education should always be a priority and rich men of course."