Page 12 of The Backup Groom
I shook my head. “No. Nothing. Not that I know of. I would’ve remembered it since that document is a transcription of the video I watched. Uncle G was very clear on what we needed to do to get the money. Everything was pretty much straight-forward.” I indicated the folder. “See for yourself, but I think my chances of becoming a millionaire and leaving this place are over.”
Stella took a seat and opened the file, flipping through the pages, analyzing every word, every sentence, occasionally shaking her head or sighing. After she got to the end of the will, she went back to the beginning and started again.
“I can’t believe, for such a smart man, there isn’t squat in here, no contingencies, nothing.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Hang on.” She tapped the screen on her phone.
“Who are you calling?” I asked.
“Rowan.” Stella said. “I need to pick his brain.”
Rowan was her childhood friend, who was now one of Southern California’s top lawyers.
“Hey Rowan, do you have a quick minute?” Stella asked. “I have a situation here and desperately need your brilliant legal help.”
Rowan was good, but I didn’t see how he could help.
Stella paced back and forth. “Okay, here’s the situation. My friend, Amber Norris, was named as one of the beneficiaries in her uncle’s will. However, there’s a stipulation that says she has to marry Ryan Scott if she wants the money. He’s a guy she used to know years ago, but we don’t need to get into that. Anyway, we found out that Ryan is already married, so for all intents and purposes, it appears she’s out of the money. Unless you can find a golden-goose loophole in the will for us.” She nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it right now.” She disconnected the call and glanced at me. “You don’t mind if I take pictures of the will and text them to Rowan, do you? He needs the pages that mention you specifically.”
I shook my head. “I don’t mind, but I think it’s a waste of time.”
“Hey, we’ve got nothing to lose,” Stella said, taking photos of the pages with her phone. “He’s one of the most brilliant lawyers in the state. He said he’ll check it out immediately and send me a text with his findings. Cross your fingers.”
Stella paced back and forth again, as we waited to hear from Rowan.
After what seemed like an eternity, the phone vibrated.
“What did he say?” I asked. “I’m sure there is nothing I can do.”
“On the contrary, my sweet, wonderful friend.” Stella glanced down at her phone. “Rowan says that the will doesn’t specifywhichRyan Scott you have to marry. All you’ve got to do is find another man named Ryan Scott to marry and the five million dollars is yours. He also said it would hold up in court if anyone contested it.”
“Yeah, right. Like I’m going to do that.” I snorted.
Too late. Stella was already Googling Ryan Scotts on her phone.
God help me.
I pointed to her phone. “Stop that. They’re going to think I’m crazy if call a stranger and ask him to marry me.”
Stella tapped a foot on the floor. “You would be more insane if you let Maggoty Mercedes haveyourfive million dollars. Quit thinking so much.” She collected the folder off the table and walked toward the conference room door. “Come on, let’s go.”
I held my palms in the air. “Where?”
“Next door to get some coffee.” She twisted back around toward me. “We’re going to find you a backup groom.”
ChapterThree
Scotty
“I’ve got a Marty McFly Chai for Beverly!” I called out, setting the hot drink on the pickup counter to my right at Bean Me Up, Scotty.
As the name might suggest, my coffeehouse (on the main drag in Pacific Beach) is science fiction and fantasy themed, an homage to many of my favorite classics includingStar Trek, Star Wars, Back to the Future, Weird Science, Avatar, Spaceballs, and Ghostbusters,to name a few. This is my passion and I’ve been serving up the best coffee in San Diego for the last ten years.
Beverly walked over, hips swaying, eyes twinkling. “Thanks, Scotty.” She picked up her drink without taking her gaze off me, the same look she gave me every day when she came in.“Any plans for the weekend?”
I shrugged. “Working. The bills don’t pay themselves.”
Beverly frowned. “Well, you know where to find me tomorrow if you decide you want to live a little.”
“To the left of the Pacific Beach lifeguard station. Yellow towel. Red bikini.” I wasn’t interested, but I smiled since she was a regular customer.
