Sean answers after a couple of rings.
“Hey. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. Change your mind about going out tonight?”
I chuckle. His text this morning wasn’t unexpected, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere social with him.
“No, but I wanted to pick your brain. It’s about Emma.”
“Ahh. What do you need?”
“Her father’s harassing her. He’s talking about getting a lawyer to fight her late husband’s will and making noises about her being an unfit parent.”
“What the hell?”
“I know.”
He sighs. “How long ago was probate granted?”
Shit.
“Uhh … She told me before she sold the house in Christchurch. That’d be maybe ten months ago?”
“Then, I really don’t think she’ll have any issues, but one of my lawyers has a lot more estate law expertise than I have.”
“What’s the deal with this?”
“Well, if he wanted to fight this, he really should have started before probate was granted. The fact that more than six months has passed is good for Emma.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “I’m glad to hear.”
“Once the estate is distributed, it’s a lot harder to make a claim. I think we should be glad her father wasn’t paying more attention. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gives it a go, though. It sounds like he wants her off kilter. Which leads into the second part of his threat. I’d be more concerned with him trying to make her look unstable. Not that he has any legal rights to the children, but he could make her life difficult in other ways.”
“That’s what I figured. If he makes accusations, then there’ll be some kind of investigation. And she doesn’t need that—not with everything she’s been through.”
He blows out an audible breath. “I wonder if he thinks she’ll crack under the pressure and go back? That if she’s under his control, she’ll hand over all the money and property.”
I swallow hard. “If that’s the case, he’ll have to get past me.”
“It’s good she has you. I’m going to guess he knows that she’s vulnerable. From what you’ve told me, he would have been witness to how toxic that marriage was, and he’s trying to take advantage.”
“He didn’t count on me.”
Sean chuckles. “No, he didn’t. And if you’re serious about being with this woman?—”
“I’m going to marry her. I mean, I didn’t plan on doing it this soon, but if it helps protect her, I’ll do it now.”
“You need to tell her everything about your business interests. You could consider a prenup if you need to, so she keeps everything she has and doesn’t have to worry about you taking anything. She has her own lawyer, I assume.”
“Yes, I mean, she must do.”
“I can draw something up if you send me her details, and if you give me her lawyer’s details, I’ll send it straight to them.”
“Thanks, man.”
He pauses. “Have you told her about your situation? That you’re not just a forty-something-year-old man with mummy issues still living at home.”
“Ha ha. Dick.”
Sean laughs.
