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“How dare you make demands. Are $10,000,000 and living at a mansion for six months not enough?”
Ava leaned back in her chair as if she was ready to drop the whole thing right here and now. Ben knew his mother was the one to worry about. Not his ability to keep it in his pants. He turned to Ava, his eyes calm and kind. His whole life was on that piece of paper. There was not much he would not do right now to make this happen.
“What would that be?” he asked, determined to keep an open mind. Ava shifted in her seat.
“The gardener’s house… I would like it to be my father’s after all of this is over.”
Lucy laughed out loud. It sounded like a parrot being strangled. “The gardener’s shed? You have a shot at a billion dollars, and you are asking for gardener’s shed?” She slapped her thigh as the diamond necklace on her chest glittered with her chuckles. “Absurd!” she added.
Ava jerked to face her. “My father has spent forty years building this garden. I know it’s hard for someone like you to understand, but the view of this garden holds more value to him than all the money in this world.”
Things were not going well, Ben had to act fast. He gently placed his hand onto hers. Her gaze shot right at the area of their touch; her eyes wide open in shock. Ben instantly pulled it back again.
“I think we can certainly arrange for that, right Walter?” he said a bit embarrassed about grabbing her hand like that. Walter nodded.
“Absolutely. I will have the transfer of the deed drafted and ready to sign by the end of the day.”
“It will be yours,” Ben confirmed.
His words seem to appease Ava. She nodded and leaned over the marriage license to skim it one last time.
“After six months that is,” Lucy pointed out with a fake smile.
Ava paid her no mind and without the usual happy wedding sounds of cheers, happy laughter, or clapping, placed her signature on the marriage license as well.She scribbled it fast as if the pen was on fire.Lucy and Walter signed as witnesses and that was that.
Married.
“I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride…” the clerk announced in his usual, energetic wedding voice. But nobody moved or said anything.
“You can always do that later,” he rambled, embarrassed and said his goodbyes as he fled the scene with long, fast steps.
It was dead silent in the room. You could hear a feather drop if one would have dropped. Walter ultimately cleared his throat and adjusted his tie as he walked over and grabbed the paperwork.
“A simple contract,” he said as he slid the document into his leather bag. “And remember, during those six months, neither party is allowed to file for divorce, leave for more than a day, or cheat. You are also to dine out together once a week.”
He paused for a long moment, eyes peering through his glasses and moving from one person to the other, both of them frowning.
“The person who break those rules loses everything and the estate will be willed to the other party.”
Lucy couldn’t take it anymore and let out a loud “Dear God help us.” Her words rolled out faster than her lips moved, like some poorly dubbed TV show. Ben would have loved to say something witty and funny to his overdramatic mother, but for the first time in his life, he was lost for words.
Walter also ignored her, focused on Ben and Ava. “This isn't going to be easy, but I believe if you can cooperate with one another things will go smoothly. Time will go by quickly, you’ll see.”
Ava and Ben still didn’t say a word. Walter smiled. “Well, I hope you don’t mind that I have arranged for a wedding brunch for the two of you.”
Both of them now shoot dagger-sharp, angry looks at him when he quickly added, “It will count as this week’s mandatory dinner.”
This also got a cold reception, but at least both of them faintly nodded this time. Benjamin stood and turned around.
“Well, I will get ready then.”
“Now that’s the spirit,” Walter said with a grin that could not have been more annoying. He walked up to the door but turned once more. “Oh, and please note that I shall be coming around from time to time to check up on you, the both of you. Just to make sure everything is going according to Elijah’s wish. Well, congratulations.” He left.
Ava and Ben exchanged quick glances. Then Lucy rose too.
“Congratulations,” she mumbled and stormed out.
“Thanks, Mom!” Ben shouted after her. Could she not at least try to make this easier for him? It’s not like he wrote the damn will.
