Page 48 of The Romance Adventure

“Don’t look at me. I just paint murals,” Strawberry Shortcake says.

“I haven’t yet had coffee. You lost me. Who’s who and why is this confusing?” Ryan says.

“How about first, we start with the truth? What’s your real name?” I ask, taking charge.

Strawberry Shortcake sighs, and her lips twist to the side like the jig is up. “My name is Isla, and this is Robyn. We’re sisters. She needed me to do her a favor yesterday, so I stood in and read the will.”

I glower. “So, you lied about your identity?”

“Technically, I am Miss Pratt.”

My gaze cuts between the two sisters. “I’m going to tell your boss and I’m going to see you in court.”

Strawberry-Isla lengthens her spine. “Please don’t tell Bean’s boss. He just had surgery and she’s trying to get her coffee shop off the ground, so when Mr. Edmonton no longer practices law, which seems like it’ll be sooner rather than later, she has a job.”

Anger slides through me. “Never mind her boss. I’m going to the police.”

“Stop blustering and making threats. Was any harm done?” Isla asks.

“I’m not blustering.”

She gives her eyes a little roll-shake. “But was any harm done?”

“Our grandfather is dead, for one.” The details of which are murky. Was it old age or something more sinister, like murder?

“And I’m sorry for your loss.” Isla softens. “I’m also sorry that you didn’t get to say goodbye, attend the funeral, and had to hear about it all from me. But don’t shoot the messenger, please.” She lets out a breath.

Arms crossed tightly in front of my chest, I pace. “This isn’t right.”

“Then what’s wrong?” Isla asks, planting herself in front of me.

I open my mouth to reply, but I’m not sure what to say. Everything she said she was sorry for, offering her condolences, are the reasons I’m upset, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

“As I see it, there are two choices. You can fulfill your grandfather’s wishes, restore the resort, and do whatever else he asked you. Or you can forfeit it all and Chip’s funds go to Glandless.”

“No,” we all say at once.

“Okay, then we’ll start on the eighteenth. That’s not long from now.” Isla grins widely like it’s decided.

The woman gives me whiplash. “Are you always this peppy? Energetic?”

“On every day that ends in Y.”

“Well, there is a third choice and it involves the consequences of you breaking the law,” I say, not ready to give up.

Magnus says, “You’re not going to go to the police, Royal.” And just like that, the oldest McGregor has the last word.

Undaunted, she says, “Okay, let’s not have everyone bicker. To recap. This is Robyn ‘Bean’ Pratt. I’m Isla ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ Pratt.” She shines a smile in my direction.

“I thought you said your middle name is Courage.”

“It is,” both women say at the same time.

“I was just hoping that would help since that’s what you’d been calling me. Because I dumped a strawberry smoothie on you and, in your words, I’m short.”

“You’re not short,” Robyn says, scowling at me.

“That’s what I said.”