Page 44 of An Endless Memory

Lily slumped against me. I rubbed her back. She was tired, and all the seats were taken. She’d been working all day, and she hadn’t expected to get jumped by a family meeting.

Kellan was settled between Poppy and Clover, happily drooling at the women smiling and cooing at him. I still didn’t know who was who. Cali was on Alder’s lap, and Jasper had squished himself on the couch to get close to her. Lily’s family loved her kids. My estimation of them went up.

“I’ve had a chance to read through the will and trust,” Weston started.

“Wait,” Lily said, pulling away from me. I missed her heat. “You have a copy?”

“You didn’t review the document before you got married?” Alder asked, his tone clipped.

Lily stiffened. “Aunt Linda knows what she’s talking about.” A flush crawled up her cheeks. “She wouldn’t lie to me.”

“There’s a lot of money on the line for her,” Weston said. “She won’t get the payout from the estate unless all the terms of this trust are carried out within seven years. One year for each of you to get married before the deadline.”

“As if we’d do it sequentially.” Violet scoffed. She shook her head, and her disappointed gaze landed on Lily. “You got married, and you didn’t ask to see the trust?”

Lily shrank against me. “I…”

“I think we should pick this up later.” Lily’s ex was spineless. I had no issues setting limits that would work for everyone. Lily was drawing in on herself, and I could see the girl who was afraid she’d never stand on her own. She was exhausted. “How about tomorrow? Or Sunday?” I made a point of asking Lily.

Her expression softened just for me, and goddamn, a guy could get used to that.

Weston frowned. “We’re all here. We should go over this?—”

“Eliot’s right.” Lily straightened her spine while sticking close to me like she was soaking up my strength.

“Lily.” Jasper was unexpectedly serious. “We really need to discuss this. You only just met this guy.”

If Lily didn’t need us to lie, I’d feel like shit. Her family clearly cared about her. They worried for her. There were worse things than involved parents and siblings.

She lifted her chin. “Sometimes you just know.”

And I knew from the moment I saw her she was strong but barely keeping her head above water. “Like it or not, my wife’s had a long day. You’ll need to talk on her schedule. I respect that you’re worried about her and you’re not sure about me, but I can’t prove I’m not some controlling jackass in one night.” Cali let out a scandalized gasp. “Sorry, boss lady. I’ll watch my language. But I heard Friday nights are Lucky Charms night and I’m hungry.”

Lily’s lips twitched like she was fighting a grin. “How about tomorrow for lunch? I’ll make some hamburgers with the beef my husband so kindly arranged to have delivered. Then, we can all go and support the kids in the dance recital. Cali’s been asking about lessons.”

I nodded, but that was news to me. Lily and I faced her family. Even the kids were quiet, like they sensed the edge to the air in the room. How would the Dukes take to me kicking them out?

Magnolia rose. She clapped her hands together. “Well, you heard them.”

One of the twins cocked her head. “Um…where are we supposed to stay?”

Jasper chuckled. “I think what Eliot’s telling us is…not here.”

Lily

Embarrassment swept through me as the last of my family pulled away. Guilt ate at my insides, but also relief. I had barely recovered from my parents’ last visit when they came to town like a whirlwind and left almost as soon as the check was taken care of for the meal. Then I walked in on Eliot facing down my entire family.

Kellan was on his play pad, and Cali was right outside the front door, waving at everyone leaving. I might be irritated at my family, but they doted on her.

Eliot was sitting on the couch, his forearms draped across his knees. He was wearing the shirt he’d worn to the courthouse like he’d dressed up for the occasion. His hair was ruffled from the wind or from working part of the day, but he looked as smoking hot as always.

“I’m so sorry.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. If he didn’t regret marrying before, he would now.

“Not your fault.”

“I can’t believe…” I shook my head. “You talked, and they listened.” It’d been amazing to see. Individually, each of my relatives was formidable, some more than others. But all together?

“It’s my giant balls. They can tell I mean business.”

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