“What’s the verdict, counselor?” she asked softly.
He lifted his gaze to her and shook his head. “It doesn’t look good.”
“Is it legal and binding?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“But,” she leaned on the table, pleading with her eyes, “can’t we fight it? Can’t we get it overturned?”
“If we could prove they were drinking heavily at the time, or that they were both on medication that made them not think clearly, then yes, we could probably get it overturned.” He sighed. “But my father has made so many business deals in his life and succeeded, that I doubt the judge will think this was a fluke.”
Her throat tightened as panic filled her. “Same with my father. He’s been too successful to prove that he had a faulty contract drawn up.”
Calvin drummed his fingers on the table. “So, are you going to marry your boyfriend and not worry about the contract?”
She sucked in a quick breath. “Why should I have to forfeit my inheritance? I’m the only child of Max and Ruth Kennedy. I deserve my inheritance.” She flipped her hand his way. “Why can’t you give up your rights? You’re a lawyer, and I’m sure you’re making good money by now. Besides, you’d be sharing your inheritance with brothers and sisters, so I’m sure it’s not that much.”
“Ha!” He rolled his eyes. “Then you have no clue how much money my father is worth.” He folded his arms and glared at her.
“So then, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” he snapped.
“We have to get married, don’t we?” she asked with a catch in her throat. “That’s the only way we are going to receive our inheritances.”
“Let me think on this. There’s got to be another way.” His breathing was labored, and his nostrils flared. A vein on his neck pulsed, testifying to his anger.
“Okay. I’ve had a few days to think of a way out, and I’ve come up blank. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck since you’re a lawyer.”
“Fine. I’ll call you when I’ve figured it out.”
She opened her purse again and pulled out one of her business cards. “Here.” She slid it on the table toward him. “Call me.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything.
After finishing her drink, she pushed away from the table and stood. His eyes didn’t meet hers, so she left and walked out of the building. With each step she took toward her car, her hopes of a normal marriage to Eddie sank farther down into her chest.
She knew the outcome just like she knew the sun would rise tomorrow. Plain and simple, if she and Calvin wanted their well-deserved inheritances, they would have to live together for a whole year as husband and wife.
But she wasn’t going to like it!
* * * *
CALVIN PACED HIS CONDO, his mind swirling with a feeling he’d never experienced before. Never had he been as helpless as he was right now. Everything in his life so far was going great – a successful career, a nice condo, even a nice car, and faithful friends who made his world interesting. He knew he’d eventually settle down, marry and have a few kids with the most beautiful woman in the world, but that wasn’t going to happen for several more years.
He passed his cell phone lying on the counter, and he glared at it.Call me!He needed answers, and since he couldn’t get them from his father, there was only one other person who might help. If only the woman who’d given birth to him would call him back.
Karen Hutchins, formerly known as Mrs. Jack Gates, had only held the title of his mother for twelve years, but even during those years, she’d never acted like a true mother. Calvin had seen the way his friends’ mothers had treated their sons, and Calvin wished his mother had cared enough about him to show a little love by attending his football games or wanting to take pictures of his first date and first high school dance. It would have been nice if she’d been just a little upset when he’d had been given detention after school by the substitute teacher for continuing to burp out loud during class, even when he’d been asked several times to stop.
When his father announced to the children that their mother had run off with a famous painter from Paris, Calvin had felt no emotion. In fact, it had felt like an older sister had moved away from the family. His younger siblings hadn’t cared, either. Their housekeeper was more of a mother to them than Karen.
The phone buzzed and he jumped toward it, quickly picking it up. “Mo... um, Karen?”
“Hello, Calvin.”
The woman’s voice on the other end sounded so foreign that he wondered if it was his mother or not. But caller ID told him it was her.
“I got your message,” she continued. “What’s wrong? You sounded so panicked.”
