Riley
“Idon’t understand.” I squeeze my hands together in my lap and glance at Granger, Felix’s uncle, before looking at the lawyers on the other side of the table. “What does that mean for me? Now.”
“Can I, Ken?” the woman to the left of the man who just explained my parents will and the trusts asks.
At his nod, she leans forward, her forearms on the table. The move brings her closer, more like we’re having a chat at a cafe than a meeting in a conference room.
“I know that was a lot of legal jargon that you probably aren’t familiar with and honestly, even I find it a little confusing and I studied law for years.
” She smiles and it makes her look years younger.
“Basically what your parents did was leave their entire estate to you, but they put the house and money in trusts so that no one could take advantage of you because you were a child at the time they set this all up.”
“I get that, but what does it mean now Aunt Bethany is dead and Warren inherits her estate?” I’m hoping it doesn’t mean what I think it does because if I’ve got it right, I’m no better off now than I have been my whole life.
“Well, as you aren’t twenty-five or married, your parents’ estate remains in control of the trustee. As her sole heir, that’s Warren Sanders.”
“How? How does he get to inherit the trustee position?” Granger asks, anger and confusion lacing his words. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this isn’t right. “The Roses nominated Bethany.”
“Yes. They did. And unfortunately, in her will, she nominated Warren,” the older lawyer—I think he said his name is Michael Sturgis—says with a frown. “I realize now, that was an error we made when setting up your parents’ will.”
“So the only way to get access to what’s mine is to wait another four years or be married?”
“Yes.”
Urgency fills me. Turning to Granger, I say, “Take me back to Felix. I need to talk to Felix.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Right now. I need to talk to him now.” I can fix this. Can stop Warren from having any more of my parents’ money.
“We can call him,” Granger says with concern in his eyes.
“I don’t have a—” I stop talking when Granger pulls his phone from his pocket and hands it to me. “I don’t know—”
“Can you all give us some privacy, please?” Granger pushes his chair back and stands. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready to go over anything else.”
“Of course.” Mr. Sturgis stands. “I’ve got another meeting to get to, but Thea will be available to go over anything further.”
I don’t even say goodbye. Or thank you. I’m too busy staring at the phone in my hand. I’ve never held one before. I’ve seen them, I know all about them, but cell phones were not an option in Aunt Bethany’s world. I could get one now.
Except I can’t. If the lawyers are to be believed, there are millions of dollars waiting for me and I can’t touch a cent.
Because the gatekeeper is a man who would never let me.
The money that used to land in my account came from my aunt, but she got it from the trust. Thankfully she had no real control over the money.
In a weird twisty way, my parents have saved the bulk of their wealth from being squandered. By my aunt or her son. It’s all locked away, small amounts being deposited into my aunt’s account every week.
“Here, let me call my nephew.” Granger sits back down beside me and holds out his hand. “I’m assuming you’re thinking about the marriage loophole.”
“How…?” I shake my head. “I wouldn’t be if Felix hadn’t originally tried to find a wife.
It would never enter my mind to ask him, but it’s the only option I have.
I can’t let Warren have any more than he’s already gotten, and I can’t get him out of the house otherwise.
Not without taking control of my parents’ estate. ”
“I think it’s a solid plan. I only ask that you take care with Felix. He’s been through enough and—”
“Oh, I know. I’d never hurt him. He’s the kindest man I know.” Heat fills my face. “And I like him.”
Granger chuckles. “Considering the lecture I got about taking care of you before we left the cabin this morning, I think that feeling might be mutual.”
A cut off ring echoes through the conference room a second before Felix growls, “What’s happening? Is Riley okay?”
“She’s fine.” “I’m fine.”
I grin at Granger before saying, “We’re still at the lawyer’s office.”
“Oh. Did you find out what your parents left you?”
“Yes. But…” My gaze meets Granger’s. At his nod I continue. “I can’t get my inheritance until I’m twenty-five. Or married.”
“Then we’ll get married.” There’s no hesitation, no uncertainty in Felix’s voice. “Uncle Granger can help organize whatever we need to and get it done as fast as we can so you can get what’s rightfully yours.”
“There might be a small hitch in that plan you’re forgetting,” Granger murmurs.
“Like what?” I ask.
“Felix. You might need to come to town to achieve your objective.”
“I can do that.” The wobble in Felix’s voice has tears filling my eyes.
“You don’t have to. We can work something out. Maybe someone can come to the cabin?” I have no idea how these things work legally, but I don’t want him to do something he hasn’t done for years because of me.
“Whatever it takes, Riley. Whatever we need to do to secure your inheritance and your safety. Uncle Granger?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you help Riley find out what we need and organize it as soon as possible, please?”
“Of course.” Granger’s gaze meets mine. “But she can’t stay in Winter Lake yet. Until she takes possession of her parents’ estate, which includes the house, she can’t stop Sanders from staying at the house. Or the money he has access to in his mother’s account.”
“She can’t?”
“No. Aunt Bethany named him as her successor for the trust.” I tell him. “Luckily the bulk of the money is tied up and only a small amount drops into my aunt’s account each month. And that’s where my allowance was coming from, which of course Warren cut as soon as his mother died.”
“Okay, let me know when you head home. I’ll make dinner for all of us, and we can go over the plans.”
“Felix?”
“Hmm…”
“Thank you. I know this is putting you—”
“It’s not. Remember what I told you?”
I shake my head before I realize he can’t see me. “You’ve told me so much, done so much for me.”
“I told you I’d help you.”
“Yes, but this…it’s a lot to ask.”
“Why did I invite you to my home, Riley?”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” Felix laughs. “I’m okay doing this. I want to do this for you.”
“It just has to be until everything is in my name.”
“For as long as you want, Riley.”
My throat constricts with emotion, but I manage to get a couple of words out. “See you soon.”
“Drive safe, Uncle Granger.”
“You know it.”
After our goodbyes, Granger calls Thea back in and between us, we put together a plan to get my inheritance under my control.
There were a few stops to make in town, the police department being one of them, where we informed the chief I’m taking steps to get what’s mine and we might need his assistance in the near future.
Finally, we’re back in Granger’s truck making our way home.
And yes, I mean home. Felix’s cabin feels more like home than anything I’ve ever had. He might have agreed to marry me to help, might think this is only temporary, but I know his original plan was to find a wife. A life partner.
He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m not planning to leave once I get my parents’ estate.
No, my plan is to sell the house or rent it out or something. I can leave it empty until I decide, but I won’t be living in it. Not ever again.
I’ll be tucked away in a mountain cabin living with a man I never expected to find. A man who has found his way into my heart in record time. A man I trust above all others.
A man I plan to call husband for the rest of my life.