CH 07
On her way home she noticed she was being followed but didn't know who was following her. When she arrived home she replaced the disk from the dash cam that she got in her wagon and went inside. She looked at the security camera to see the car park across the road. she was able to zoom onto the driver and she recognized him, then she zoomed back to see three others in the car, she recognized the others.
So she decided to go and confront them. She walks out of the house and down the driveway where she pushes the number code and the gate opens up. She then walked across the road to where the car was when she saw them get out of the car.
"Cindy is that really you" Alex said in shock.
"Yes it is, why are you following me."
"We want to know where you live, and now we know." said Paul.
"Why are you here, why now after all these years?"
"We know about the money," said Paul.
"What money?"
"The money that grandmother left you, we want our share."
"You guys are crazy, you know that."
"Well how can you afford this house?"
"I do work for a living and so does my husband."
"We know that you married that nerd Robert Dixon.''
"So? I love him and he loves me. I want you to leave and not to return."
"We will soon as we get our share!"
"Didn't grandma leave you with any money?"
"Yes, but it is not enough. We know she left you close to two billion dollars."
"Ok if you think you are so smart, if she did leave me with all that money then why are Robert and I still working?"
"We don't know and we don't care, we just want our share of the money," they all shouted.
"Well if you want your share, please feel free to take me to court and contest grandma's Will. But the only things that were given to me were family photos and her jewelry box with her jewelry in it."
"What about the money?" Paul said.
"Is that all you think about. All I have got on my credit card is ten thousand dollars and three thousand in my joint account."
"What, is that all you got."
"Yes, now leave me alone" she turns around and walks back across the road.
"We're going to take you to court," Kelly said. Cindy gave them a wave as she reached her driveway and pushed the button and the gate closed behind her.
On Friday night Mike showed up for dinner. They talked about different things as they had to be careful on what to say since the kids where at the table. An hour later after the children were in bed sleeping. Mike and Cindy were in the living room drinking the remainder of the wine that he brought with him.
"So Mike now that the children are in bed sleeping. When are you and Kate going to do the next step?"
"The next step" asked Mike.
Cindy smiled "you know making an honest woman out of her."
"Oh my you two did more than make out, way to go Mike."
"Gee thanks."
"Well since you both feel the same way, I'm happy for your both."
"Thanks."
"Just make sure whatever happens, you don't lose her."
"Meaning?"
"Navy and bad timing."
"Thanks."
They talked for the next couple of hours as well having a hot drink before Mike left as he to get to work in the morning.
"Thanks for dinner Cindy."
"You're welcome and please think about what I said."
"I will," promised Mike.
"Good" Cindy watched him leave before making sure that everything was locked up and checked on the children before going to bed herself.
Three days later, Cindy was at work at the hospital when a man in a suit walked over to her "Excuse me Cindy Dixon" Cindy turned around. "Yes, may I help you sir?"
He passed her an envelope. "You been summoned to appear in court on Friday."
"What? Why?" he turned and walked away.
"Sir what is this about" Cindy said as she walked quickly to catch up with him.
"I do not know Mrs Dixon."
She then stopped and opened the letter and pulled it out just as the head doctor walked over to her after he heard what the man had said "Lieutenant" she unfolded the letter and read what it said.
Cindy was in shock, "I can't believe they would do this."
"Lieutenant?" she looked up "sorry doctor, my siblings are taking me to court."
"Any particular reason why?"
"Yes my late grandmother's Will, they are claiming that they didn't get their share of the money" she shook her head as she folded up the letter.
"Didn't they get anything?"
"Yes they did, when my grandfather passed away, he gave them ten million dollars, I wasn't mentioned in the Will. However, when my grandmother passed away, she gave me everything that my late grandfather had left to her. She left it all to me and she left my brothers and sister the reminder of the money that my grandfather had stipulated in his Will."
"I don't understand."
"When my grandfather passed away, he left my siblings one hundred million dollars each."
"That is a lot of money."
"It is, but in his Will they didn't get it until after my grandmother passed away, but there was a catch. That is every time they asked her for their share of their inheritance, she takes so much from their accounts and gives it to a charity until there is one million dollars left for each of them. When she died, all they got was one million dollars each."
"So, they hounded her all those years?"
"Yes and they are the ones who caused her death" Cindy said looking at the doctor.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I knew she had a bad heart and if she got stressed out about anything, it would cause her high blood pressure to spike and possibly lead to a heart attack. My brothers and sister were with her asking for money when it happened. They walked out angrily because she said no to them. She collapsed and died that very same day."
"You must have been upset when you learnt what had happened."
"I was angry for what they put her through."
"I guess you were. Did she leave you anything?"
"Photos and jewelry plus the remaining money."
"If you don't mind me asking …"
"Just under two billion dollars" He look at her in shock.
"You are a billionaire?"
"Yes and Navy knows?"
"Then why are you still working" Cindy smiled.
"Because it is a job I love doing, same with Robert. Just because we are wealthy it doesn't mean we are giving up the jobs we worked and trained so hard to do. We are still going to carry on doing what we love doing the best."
"You amaze me lieutenant."
"Thank you sir. Now if you will excuse me I'm going to see if I can swap shifts with someone for Friday."
"What are the chances that they will win?" Cindy smiled
"Zero cause of a clause that was put in the Will and they all signed stating that if they accept the money that was gifted to them and that they agree that the contents of the will not contest it." the doctor smiled.
"I didn't know that could happen?"
"I told my grandmother to have it checked out with the lawyers."
"Ok that is a smart move."
"Yes it is. Now if you will excuse me doctor" she walked away.
That night when RO checked his email, he saw one from Cindy. He read what she said. He was shocked but not surprised that his brothers and sister-in-law took Cindy to court over her grandmother's Will. She put in her message that Dean Adam is going to represent her since he offered to do it and if they win, that he would be asking the judge for her brothers and sister to pay the court's costs, his legal fees, accommodation and airfares.
And that Cindy wanted no contact with them ever again. After finishing reading what Cindy told him. He replied back to her message letting her know that he wished he was there for her when she went to court. After finishing typing his message he sent it to her.
On Friday morning Cindy showed up in court where Dean was there waiting for her.
"Cindy, how are you?"
"I'm ok, I just want this nightmare over with."
"I know you do, shall we?"
"Sure" they walked down to where the courtroom where the case is being heard.
"I've told Robert about what happened, he said he wishes he was here with me."
"Why isn't he here."
"He is out on patrol."
"OK."
They walked into the courtroom and walked up to the front and sit down. They talk about what Dean is going to do when the door opens, they turn to see who walks in. She smiled as she stood up and turned around.
"Sir this is a surprise."
"I'm here to support you Cindy since RO can't be here."
"Thank you Sir. Dean Adams, this is Commander Flynn, second in command of HMAS Cairns. He was also Captain of Hammersley before his promotion."
"Nice to meet you Commander."
"Likewise Mr Adams" they shook hands then they sat down and talked till they saw Cindy brothers, sister and their lawyers walk into the courtroom and sat down.
Few minutes later the judge walked out and sat down and bangs the hammer on the gavel. There were other people in the courtroom listening to everything that was being said. The court case lasted less than five minutes thanks to Dean and a copy of the Will and copies of the papers that the four signed. When it was over the judge had ordered the four to pay for court costs and pay for Dean airfares and hotel stays. When it was over Cindy shook Dean's hand.
"Thank you for everything."
"My pleasure Cindy, take care."
"We will do" then she turned to Mike.
"That was a quick court case" commented Mike.
"Yes it was." They walk out of the courtroom while talking about other things.
The next morning Cindy did a friend's shift since she did Cindy's yesterday because of the court case. She just left to go to the cafe for lunch when she smiled when she saw who was walking towards her.
"Robert" she said smiling.
"Cindy" they hugged and kissed.
"This is a surprise, when did Hammersley get in."
"Half an hour ago. I got your text message, your pleased it is all over."
"Yes it is, so lunch?"
"Sure, I have got to be back in fourty five minutes, we towed a pleasure boat back and the CO gave me an hour since we need to leave to finish our patrol," explained Robert.
"Ok come on then" they walk towards the cafe while talking about the court case and the children.
A Month later Cindy was at the mall shopping for new clothes for her growing family when she saw Mike in the mall outside a jewelry store. He was in civilian clothes. So she walked over to him.
"Have you decided on which ring to buy?" he turned around in shock "Cindy this is a surprise."
"You and me both. So, have you and Kate talk about the future?"
"Yes we have and your right about her thinking about promotion or family."
"She can try for both Mike, so what ring were you thinking about getting her" she steps forward to look at the rings.
"I don't know" said Mike.
"Let's look inside"
"I'll come back another time" Cindy grabbed his arm and pulled him into the shop.
"Mike, when the next time you get a day off work."
"Don't know."
"Well there is no time like the present."
"No your right" they look at the different rings.
"For Kate I think three stones in yellow gold," Cindy said.
"Why is that."
"Yellow gold would remind you of her hair as it glitters in the sunlight giving it's yellow gold, plus with the three stones, represents, the past, present and future."
"You know Cindy, you're right" Cindy smiles.
Mike looked at the different rings. He chose a simple three round diamond ring that was set in white gold with a yellow gold band.
Once he paid for it and it was in a box, Cindy and him walked out together and walked down to a cafe where they talked while having a coffee.