Page 6 of Blue Jean Summer

“You mean to tell me that he gets rich, and I get a fucking job?!” Lewis blustered in disbelief. “That’s absurd! The man was out of his mind!”

The lawyer took a deep breath and pointed to the signature line. “Mr. Wilder was of sound mind, detailing the recipients, requirements, and language well before his passing. He signed it himself in this very room.”

Lewis snatched up the papers, his beady eyes racing across each line. “Ha!” he shouted, his finger stabbing the page. “He’s not married. He’s not married!” Lewis jumped out of the chair, shoving the will back in the lawyer’s face. “ ‘From the real property included in my estate, a portion of no less than ten acres shall be conveyed to the lawful wife of my grandson.’ ” Lewis paused and skimmed down the page with a manic energy. “ ‘If Hayes Thomas Wilder fails, neglects, or refuses to make the conveyance as directed above within a reasonable period following my death, then my estate shall be distributed to my next living relative, Lewis Samuel Halstead, under the same conditions.’ ” Lewis jabbed his finger in my direction. “He doesn’t have a wife! No wife to give land to, no estate!”

My mind raced as the implications of the will fought for attention. If I didn’t get the estate, Lewis was the only living relative. If he got it, he would sell it for pennies on the dollar just to make a buck.

If I didn’t do something drastic to keep my place as the one inheriting the estate, Lewis would do anything to take it from me.

There was no way in hell I was letting anyone touch the land my parents and grandparents were buried on.

The lawyer let out an exhausted sigh. “Though it was Walt’s request to have it worded as such, your grandmother was the one who insisted the clause be added in the first place. She wanted the wife of the person who inherits the estate to have assets and financial security of her own.”

“You’re the executor! Make the change! He’s not married. He can’t give the land to a wife. He doesn’t get the estate!”

“Lewis!” I barked loud enough to startle him into freezing. “Sit. Down. You’re not married either, so stop terrifying the poor man. He didn’t decide what went in the will. Grandma and Granddad did.”

The tension in the room pulled tight like a bowstring about to fire. I took a steadying breath as I prepared to do the most ludicrous thing I had ever done.

There was no time for considerations or weighing the pros and cons as I always did. There was no time to make a game plan. I needed a Hail Mary, and I needed it right now.

Every logical and intrinsic thought inside my head warned me to keep my mouth shut before I said, “I’m engaged.”

Lewis’s flushed skin turned a ghastly gray as he stammered. “You’re…You’re…”

I looked at the lawyer and saw the relief painted on his face.

“No!” Lewis shouted as his momentary shock turned to belligerence. “You’re not! You’re lying!”

I just lifted my hands as if to say, “It is what it is.” If I was going to pull this off, I had to keep my lies to a minimum. The more details I offered, the more they would have to pick apart.

“Who’s your fiancée?!” Lewis shouted. “Who? Give me a name! I’ve never once heard you talk about getting married!”

I lifted an eyebrow, trying to keep my poker face cool, calm, and collected. “You’re not part of this family unless it serves you. Why would I have told you I was getting married? When was the last time we even had a conversation?”

“This is bullshit!” he clamored as he shoved away from the desk in a fit of anger. He paused at the door and stabbed his finger at me. “You’re lying! I know you’re lying!”

I wasn’t about to argue with him. Because if I argued with him, I’d have to produce a fiancée.

One I actually had to marry.

Lewis ripped open the study door and nearly steamrolled Hallie.

“I take it you’re not staying for lunch,” she said with a brow arched in amusement.

“Fuck off!” Lewis snapped.

Guests milling about stopped and stared as he blew out of the study, raging as he stomped through the house.

I turned back to the lawyer. “My apologies.”

He shrugged a willowy shoulder. “It’s how these things usually go. Most families just have more people and less money. Same amount of drama.”

My appetite was paltry after the funeral, but now it had completely vanished. “I’ll be in touch with your office on Monday to work out the details.”

Because I suddenly had a much, much bigger problem on my hands than my half brother being pissed. Ghosts began to fill the sun-drenched study. It was as if I could see my parents and grandparents standing in front of the window, wondering what had just possessed me.

The lawyer excused himself with perfunctory condolences and left as Hallie poked her head into the room. “How’d it go?”