My sister Natalie sold insurance. Her plan was to work another three or four years, then start a family with her husband Matt. My wife Emily was a legal secretary, me, I’m an architectural technician. Nat persuaded us to take out double indemnity insurance policies, so that if one of us died early, the family home and any childcare would be more than paid for. Although Em and I were also waiting a few years before having kids, it made sense to get the policies started at the lower age-related premium and lock in that price. Mom and Dad already had one, they reckoned it was a good way of accruing a lump sum for their retirement.

Nat, Em and Mom used to meet up every Wednesday for a girls’ night out – a movie, shopping, perhaps bowling, maybe a couple of drinks or a meal. Matt and I thought it was a great idea for them to have some time to themselves, and what with all the extra hours we were putting in trying to start up our own business, we weren’t getting as much ‘us’ time as we’d like. We knew that’s one of the short-term sacrifices you have to make to safeguard your family’s future, and we thought Nat and Em also understood that.

A year ago, Em’s car went off the road into the river one icy night, and all three died. Nobody seemed to know exactly why they were driving back into town from Jonesboro so late, they had no reason to drive so far just to go out for a drink. It was clearly a tragic accident, and it seemed most everyone in town attended their joint funeral.

The insurance company duly paid up. Dad, Matt and I told people we couldn’t live with the memories and sold up, moving somewhere with a much better climate. Matt and I have leased a small office and so far the business seems to be taking off. We couldn’t have done it but for the insurance pay-out. We don’t have to work crazy hours, and life is looking up again. All three of us are back in the dating scene, and there are some lovely ladies round here. Oh, and it’s NOT a no-fault state.

The trouble with being over-insured is that you can end up being worth more dead than alive. Uh, cheating on your husbands and your marriage vows kinda reduces your value. Enough said.