Chapter 20 #2
“He’s claiming that my marriage is a sham,” I admitted, hating the way those words sounded. “And that it doesn’t truly fulfill the terms of the will, which would mean I’d forfeit Lochbrae.”
Callum nodded slowly, taking in my words. “Well,” he asked. “Is there any truth to that claim?”
I sighed, trying to figure out what to say, and I was surprised I didn’t feel the need to hide the truth from him. It was funny how quickly things had changed. When Callum had led me around the estate that first morning, I’d worried I might never be able to see eye to eye with the man.
Now I trusted him more than I trusted a significant portion of my own blood family.
I trusted him to have the best interest of Lochbrae at heart.
To care about honoring Grandad’s wishes.
“The marriage is real,” I said. “It’s legal, by the book, all those things.
I’ll admit that when I first proposed to Lena, my only concern was to satisfy the terms of the will.
But in marrying her, I did satisfy them, so I haven’t done anything wrong. ”
“Aye,” Callum said. “Does Lena know that’s why you married her?”
I nodded. “Of course. There are no secrets between us. This was an arrangement that satisfied what we both wanted.” Regardless of what Jasper and his lawyers thought, I’d fulfilled every requirement to the letter.
They could call our marriage a sham, but it wasn’t.
We were partners in all the ways that mattered.
“And anyway, however this started, we genuinely are together now. We’re actually following the spirit of Grandad’s demands as well as the letter of it. ”
“Then it sounds to me like Jasper can take his inheritance dispute and kick rocks,” Callum said.
“I fully agree.” What had started as a marriage of convenience had blossomed into a true partnership, which really shouldn’t have surprised me given how well we work together.
Wasn’t that what marriage should be about? The partnership. The contentment.
As far as I was concerned, we could stay like this forever.
I’d still hold up my end of the bargain, providing Lena with all that I promised her regarding school and time off, but if neither one of us wanted a divorce, I saw no reason why things couldn’t keep going as they were.
It was exactly what I thought I’d have with Narissa, only to be disappointed. Seemed fitting to have it with Lena.
So what grounds did Jasper have to contest anything?
“What are you worried about then?” Callum asked.
I shrugged. “The unknown, I suppose. It’s a guarantee Jasper will play dirty.
That he’ll use anything and everything he can to pick this relationship apart.
That he’ll cause enough doubt to make a case.
” I swallowed hard. “I’m worried I’m going to lose this place before I get the chance to honor Grandad’s wishes.
I don’t want to let him or the community down. ”
I wanted to finish the wind farm and be a man Grandad could be proud of.
Callum hemmed. “I won’t lie. Your cousin is exactly the type to try and weasel his way into places he doesn’t belong, but that’s why you have to keep your cool and let the lawyers handle things. Don’t respond out of anger. That’s what he wants—a big reaction he can use to poke holes in your story.”
I nodded.
“If you have faith in the relationship between you and Lena, then that’ll be enough. The two of you will be strong enough to weather this. And if need be, I’d be happy to testify what a good match you are. Hell, I’m sure half the town would be behind you.”
His words caught me off guard. “You think?”
“I do,” Callum said with certainty. “Pete chose you. He wanted you, Weston. And if you want Lena to be the person to stand by your side through all this, then it doesn’t matter how you two got here.
” He clapped me on the shoulder. “All that matters is that you are here. Trying to achieve exactly what Pete wanted for this place.”
Callum was right. I’d chosen Lena. Regardless of what my reasons had been at first, she was still the person I would choose to help me navigate all this.
“Thanks. You know, I think this is the most you’ve ever said to me.”
“It’s probably the most I’ve said to anyone in years. I do better when my reputation as a curmudgeon precedes me. Less talking.”
Callum exhaled heavily, hands on his hips as he looked out at the property. “Far as I’m concerned, Braeburn is behind you. And with that support, I suspect you’ll be just fine. Provided you don’t do anything foolish.”
His reassurance surged through me like a spike of adrenaline, and I was reminded suddenly of why Braeburn had always been the place I’d felt safest and happiest in the world. This was my home.
As I returned to the house, I saw Lena standing out front, her hand up over her eyes to shield them from the sun as her hair fluttered in the breeze.
Milo stood next to her and he was the first to see me, racing down the steps with Lena close behind.
I knelt down to pet my dog, not quite ready to make eye contact with her.
“Are you feeling any better?”
I rose then, brushing my hands off on my pants before taking her hand in mine. “Aye, I am. Have you heard back from the lawyer?”
She nodded. “Let’s discuss it inside.” She tugged on my hand, leading me up the steps.
Admittedly, I was surprised she held on and I gripped her a little tighter as I followed her.
When we reached the landing, I turned to look out across Lochbrae and I knew that with Lena by my side and the town behind us, there was no way I was going to let Jasper take that away from me.