Page 31 of Cherished Lands
"Well," Hank said, tapping a page with his index finger, "Ray's lawyers did their homework. The geographical scope covers all of Sable Point and neighboring counties. Time frame is one year from termination of employment." He adjusted his glasses. "And the restricted activities encompass pretty much anything involving fermented beverages."
"How is that even enforceable?" I snapped. Tessa flinched and Mom gave me a look. I knew it wasn't fair to bite Hank's head off. But the hot, tight pressure gathering at my temples needed a vent, and its primary target wasn't here
"Courts generally uphold non-competes if they protect legitimate business interests," Hank explained. "Given Tessa's position at Vintage Point and her access to trade secrets,manufacturing processes..." He spread his hands. "It's restrictive but likely valid."
Tessa groaned and rested her head in her hands. I fought the urge to go to her.
"There has to be something," Dad said.
Hank drummed his fingers on the stack of employment documents and glanced between me and Tessa. "There might be one solution. Though it's... unconventional."
"What?" I asked.
"Marriage."
I blinked. "What?"
Tessa's eyes bugged out of her head, but her expression gradually morphed from dumb-founded to thoughtful. "Of course. As Elliot's wife, I'd be his legal business partner. The non-compete wouldn't apply because I wouldn't becompeting. I'd be supporting my spouse's existing business."
"Exactly," Hank said. "Marriage would make any investment marital property. The cidery could be structured as an expansion of Elliot's existing business operations using joint funds."
My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at Tessa. She met my gaze steadily. The same woman who'd driven me crazy for years. Who'd shown up on my doorstep for dinner. Who was currently wearing my t-shirt.
"We'd need to move quickly," Hank continued. "Before Ray's lawyers file for an injunction. And of course, there would need to be careful prenuptial agreements to protect both parties' interests."
My face must have betrayed my panic because Momtouched my arm. "No one's forcing anything, honey. We can look for other options."
I barely heard her. My protective instincts were at war with my common sense. Marriage was insane. We'd kill each other within a week. And yet...
I couldn't stop thinking about how when her father had thrown her out, she'd sought refuge with my family instead of running to some luxury hotel. A few weeks ago, the thought of Tessa Belmonte wearing my old sweats and sleeping in my childhood bedroom would have sounded like a bizarre fever dream. But it didn't feel even slightly weird. And she'd fit so naturally into our Sunday brunch, like she belonged there.
"I need some air," I muttered, pushing away from the counter. I avoided Tessa's eye, but I caught a glimpse of her face falling before I stepped out onto the back porch.
The December wind bit at my cheeks, but I welcomed it. I needed to clear my head.
Marriage.
To Tessa Belmonte.
It was the craziest solution possible.
So why didn't it feel completely wrong?
All my life,whenever I had something big I needed to figure out, I'd take a walk through the orchard. Mom and Chase were talkers— hell, Chase never fucking shut up. Charlie, Jasper, and I were more like Dad. We needed solitude to sort through things. But I couldn't hide from this decision. Once I was fit for human society again, I returned to my parents' kitchen. Hankwas still there. Mom had made a pot of coffee and placed a platter of snickerdoodles on the table.
"Okay, tell me about this injunction," I said. "What does it mean?"
Hank accepted a steaming mug and reached for the jug of cream. "An injunction is a court order that requires a person or entity to?—"
"In English, Hank," Dad pleaded.
"Okay." Hank chuckled and began again, turning back to me. "It's like... imagine you're playing Monopoly, right? And your dad's being a dick and saying you can't buy Boardwalk because of some rule he made up last year. An injunction is like him getting the game stopped completely while everyone argues about whether his made-up rule is valid. And while that's happening, you can't touch Boardwalkat all.
"But here's the important part, if you two get marriedbeforeRay's lawyers file for the injunction, then the whole game board changes. Because once you're married, Tessa's not competing with Vintage Point. She's supporting her husband's existing business. It's like... it's like she's not trying to buy Boardwalk anymore, she's just moving in with the person who already owns it.
"And these injunctions? They can happen fast. Like, Ray's lawyers could file for one tomorrow, and then, boom—Tessa's stuck in legal limbo."
"Okay," I said slowly. "And we have no other options?"
