Page 79 of From Grumpy to Forever
I didn’t want to leave the comfort of Reid’s arms. Not now that I knew he felt the same way I did. Not ever.
Belatedly, I remembered we were in the middle of the plaza, outside Judge Baker’s private office. And not only were we now officially late for the meeting that was going to decide my fate in this town, but half of the townspeople stood by to bear witness.
We’d already provided enough entertainment, so why not give them a little more?
Reluctantly, I tore myself out of Reid’s embrace but stayed close to his side. He wrapped his arm tight around my waist as we turned to face the judge who was watching us with a bemused expression.
“Sorry, Judge. I didn’t mean to?—”
“No apology necessary.” He held up a hand to stop me. “I can tell you had a few things that needed to be discussed.”
My cheeks flared with embarrassment and the realization that we’d just inadvertently exposed our deception.
“Finally.” Jacob pushed his way toward us, coming to stand shoulder to shoulder with the judge, who gave him a sharp look until he took half a step to the side. “We’re late to get started with the meeting. We should go?—”
“I think we can do it right here,” Judge Baker declared. “After all, it doesn’t seem like there are any secrets left to spill, are there?” He looked at each of us in turn.
Reid and I both shook our heads.
Jacob pulled his phone from his pocket. “Let me get my lawyer on the line. I’ll need him to?—”
“He’s right here.”
We all turned to see my lawyer, William, holding his phone up. A man I didn’t recognize was on the screen. “I called him a few minutes ago,” William said. “I thought he might want to see and hear what was going on.”
What the hell?
I shot William a look. Did he really have Jacob’s lawyer on a video chat? Whose side was he on?
But I didn’t have time to ask either of those questions, because the man in question spoke up from his small screen. “And I thank you very much for that, William. I wasn’t aware of the exact nature of the relationship between Ms. Walker and Mr. Lyons. This has been most enlightening.”
“See?” Jacob turned to the phone, speaking to his lawyer. “Now you understand what I’ve been trying to tell you. It’s not real. None of this is real, which means that they’re both liars and?—”
“Enough.” It was Judge Baker who spoke up. There was no room for argument in his voice.
Above us, the clouds had darkened and at some point, while we’d been standing there, the wind had picked up. A storm was coming.
“They admitted it, Judge.” Jacob turned to the older man, who did not look impressed. “You heard it, too. It’s not real.”
“What I heard was the two of them declare their love for each other,” he said pointedly. “What I saw was a very public display of that love. And what I know is that I married the two of them myself in my chambers and that is my signature on their marriage certificate.”
My body started to shake. From the growing cold or the nerves, I couldn’t be sure. The judge’s voice gave nothing away.
Jacob opened his mouth to protest, but the judge cut him off with another sharp look.
“That being said, there is the matter of the will that needs to be discussed and settled once and for all.” He looked at each of us in turn.
Reid nodded and had the sense to look chastised. I offered the judge a small apologetic smile. And of course, Jacob crossed his arms, looking smug. I forced myself not to look at him. I couldn’t let myself be bothered by my cousin. Not anymore.
No matter what the judge said, it would be fine. I had Reid. I could handle anything with him by my side.
At least I hoped I could.
“I’m only going to go through this once,” the judge began. “So I want you all to listen carefully because my decision is final.”
We all nodded.
“The Walkers’ will, that was both legal and binding, very clearly stated that Ms. Avery Walker and her husband were to inherit the inn along with the funds that have been set aside and invested for the purposes of renovating and running the inn.”
