“Does this mean we’re poor?!”
Kevin somehow manages to be the loudest and most vulgar with his expressions, but that’s soon cut off when the lawyer walks over to the laptop and hits the mute button.
Grandpa takes a long puff on his cigar. No wonder he was so pleased with himself.
He left everything to Magnolia.
I press a hand to my mouth to hide my laughter as Aunt Catherine stops in front of him. “Now, Alexander, I know this has been a stressful time, so it’s not the time to make rash decisions like this. These things take time and vetting?—”
Grandpa cuts her off. “I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’ve made the decision that’s best for everyone involved. It’s time for you all to do things with your lives other than waiting for me to die. I mean, after all, I may decide to hang around another twenty years.”
The shouting and yelling continue, and soon, Eli and the lawyer are ushering everyone outside. The lawyer gives advice that everyone can reconvene when they can be calm.
The room is eerily silent, as it’s just Grandpa and I left.
“Well? Do you like the changes I made in the will?”
I rub a hand over my face. Is it hilarious? Yes. Would I love to be a fly on the wall when Magnolia finds out? Also, yes.
But I say, “No! They’ll put her through hell.”
Grandpa pulls the cigar from between his lips. “She can take it. In fact, she’s just the person for it. She thinksmoney corrupts. She’ll find all sorts of places to donate it to.”
“She has dreams! She wants to start her own business. She doesn’t want to be tied down with this madhouse! I know I don’t want to be tied to this either.”
“So, you don’t care about the money?” Grandpa asks.
“Of course not,” I snap.
Because how dare he paint a target on Magnolia’s back? Grandpa has the kind of money people kill over.
“Kevin has been doing some shady things, Grandpa. He’s been messing with the building at work. He was looking for the will because Mallory made a joke about me keeping a copy of it.”
With a heavy sigh, I run a hand over my face. “You left her everything in a living will. Please tell me you’re going to keep Kevin away from her.”
Grandpa coughs. “I’m not as young as I once was. I’m not about to play bodyguard. I figured you could do that. You like her, don’t you?”
“Of course I like her, but now you’ve gone and ruined everything!” I shout.
“How so?”
“I wanted to ride off into the sunset with her,” I mumble. It sounds so silly when I say it out loud.
“What does that mean?”
“I wanted to start fresh with her in Pine Ridge.”
“And why did it take you so long to admit that? Was it because you were scared she would choose money over you?”
“Yes,” I whisper as I sink down into a chair.
“And why would you think that? Is she that kind of person?”
“No. She’s the furthest thing from that. She’s the most upfront person I know.”
“Besides lying to me about being your fiancée,” Grandpa mutters.
That brings a smile to my face.
