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“Anyone want to take bets on when they get married?” Patrick asked.
“A year out at least,” Mom said. “We’ll need time to plan the wedding, which would be nearly impossible in that time anyway.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I stated.
“Royce doesn’t look like the type who wants to wait,” Dina said. “I give it six months.”
“Dina!”
“You’re both wrong,” Charlie interjected. “Hayden’s gun shy so it would take some time for Royce to convince her…”
“Traitor,” I snapped. I looked at Bones. “You want to say something?”
He smiled. “No. I’m enjoying the conversation.”
I elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to grunt and release me.
“Darling, if you married him sooner rather than later, you’d be able to take your rightful seat on the board,” Mom said.
I shot Charlie a panicked look.
“Okay, enough talking about them,” Charlie stated. “Who wants to see my new tattoo?”
As Charlie expertly diverted the attention of my godparents with her announcement about her tattoo, a server approached my mother and pulled her away.
Bones took the opportunity to sweep me to the other end of the room.
“Slow down,” I muttered. “I can’t walk as fast as you right now.”
He immediately slowed as I reminded him of the toy currently nestled in my body.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said when we had a moment of privacy. “I should’ve warned you that’s how they were going to be.”
“I’m not upset by that,” he said. “I think your family is hilarious—and they obviously love you very much.”
“Okay, but can you ignore all the marriage stuff?” I begged.
He took a sip of his scotch. “What did your mother mean?”
“About what?” I averred.
“You know what. What board? What seat?”
I sighed. “My father was the President and CEO of Spencer Pharmaceuticals. When he died, his trust was clear…in order to inherit my seat on the board, I had to wait until I was thirty years old or be married.”
He frowned. “Why those stipulations?”
“Not sure, really. I think because he thought if I was married, it would mean I was more stable.”
“But you’re not thirty or married,” he pointed out. “So, who’s in control of the seat?”
“My stepfather,” I said. “He and my father were business partners.”
“I see,” Bones murmured.
“It’s been a lifesaver, really,” I stated. “I haven’t been in a head-space to even contemplate taking my rightful seat on the board. It’s still too painful to think about my father’s company. Everything about it reminds me of him. It was his legacy.”
He took another swallow of his drink but didn’t reply.
