Page 75 of From Grumpy to Forever
Quinn laughed. “Right.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Because I’ve never heard it before.”
I couldn’t help but grin despite the worry rushing through me. If the judge called an emergency meeting, what did that mean? Was it because of Jacob? Of course it was because of Jacob and the stunt he’d pulled at the festival. Damn him. I would not let that asshole be the reason Avery lost the inn. It wasn’t happening.
My foot fell hard on the accelerator, urging the old truck to move faster.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Avery
Black clouds threatened overhead. The weather had turned quickly, but it seemed fitting and matched my mood perfectly.
I’d only been awake a few hours, but it had been a rollercoaster already. The moment of hope, when I saw the carving on the swing, seemed like it happened a million years ago.
Before I could go to Reid, my phone rang with a call from my lawyer, William, alerting me to an emergency meeting that Judge Baker had called regarding his final decision on the will. It seemed that he wasn’t a fan of public spectacles in his town, and wanted the matter settled once and for all.
“Good morning, Avery.” William appeared next to me, his briefcase in hand. He patted my arm and gave me a friendly smile. “Are you ready for this?”
I shrugged before making myself offer up a smile I didn’t feel. “I guess so. We knew it was coming sooner or later, right? It’ll be nice to have it resolved.”
William gave me a kind smile that didn’t give away anything. I knew he’d tried his best for me. He’d argued my case and presented all the proof of our marriage. But ultimately, if the judge decided our union wasn’t legitimate, there was nothing he could do. There was also a chance that the judge could press charges or hold me in contempt if he decided we’d lied and committed fraud.
I couldn’t think about that possibility. Not yet. One thing at a time.
A cool breeze washed over me.
“Did you hear from Reid yet?”
I shook my head before pulling my phone from my purse again. Three unanswered calls and two unanswered texts. Why wasn’t he answering me?
He couldn’t be angry with me? It didn’t make any sense. Not after the gift of the swing. I wouldn’t let myself think anything bad. There had to be an easy explanation for where Reid was and why he was ignoring me.
I didn’t have time to find him, so I’d called Grayson and he’d promised to take care of it. But the meeting was supposed to start right away and there still wasn’t any word from him.
My gaze kept scanning the plaza for some sign of him. I expected him to pop around the corner at any moment, ready to stand by my side for the judgment. After all, he was my husband.
But he wasn’t there.
And I needed him. More than I realized.
“Are you ready to do this?”
No. I wanted to scream. Instead, I sucked in a breath and as bravely as I could, nodded.
William waved me in the direction of the judge’s private office, where my fate would be decided. But before I could move, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
I turned and my stomach immediately clenched in a mixture of disappointment and disgust to see my cousin approach. I know it was wrong, but I took a measure of satisfaction to see the blue and purple bruise under his eye.
“You’re late, Jacob.”
“I didn’t come here to play nice, Avery.”
“Yeah.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I got that. Where’s your lawyer? Or are you self-represented?” I knew he wasn’t. He’d hired a shark of an attorney from the city.
“He’ll join us remotely.” He raised one eyebrow. “Where’s your husband?”
I didn’t miss the sneer in his voice. He made a show of looking up and down the plaza for Reid, who still hadn’t appeared. I was beginning to think he wasn’t going to. Maybe I’d read the entire situation wrong.
The ache in my chest was only dulled by the anxiety that crashed through every nerve in my body. I worked hard to keep my breathing level and my heart rate steady. I refused to let Jacob see how he’d gotten to me. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
