Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“But that’s not really a gift if everyone who has a trust gets it once they go to college or hit the required age.”
“No, but there’s also a clause pertaining to moral turpitude.”
“You’re kidding. Who defines that?”
“My father did when he set up the trusts in perpetuity.”
“I can’t wait to hear this.”
“The paperwork states that the trust can be held until thirty, or given to his or her parents, if the trustee has any run-ins with the law, shows any unseemly behavior, or could in any way tarnish the Walder name. It’s all very serious.”
“Moral turpitude clause.”
“Yes.”
“She’s an influencer, you said.”
“Yes, so her feed is full of things that could be construed as not adhering to the morals clause.”
“Seriously?”
“You have no idea. Her parents have sent certified letters attesting to how she in no way should receive her inheritance as it will go to drugs and questionable men.”
“Questionable men?”
“I know, right? Like we haven’t all been there.”
I chuckled, and he leaned into me to kiss my temple. “Worst of all, now she’s marrying Orson Phillips, who’s a software engineer, and not Reggie Muehler, whom she dated for three years and who’s now on the partner track with some firm in Boston, where they live.”
“Oh dear God, she’s marrying a software engineer? That is horrible.”
“I know. How very bourgeois.”
“Only rich people, I swear to God. We’d all be lucky to marry a software engineer.”
“Hey,” he warned me. “Watch it. Actors are a good bet too.” When I looked at him, he cracked a huge smile. “The disgust on your face.”
“An actor?” I said, going for aghast.
“I hate you,” he muttered, tightening his arm around my neck.
“Yeah, I can tell. Okay, so who has the final say about Bitsy getting her money?”
“That would be me.”
I smiled at him. “And you said yes.”
“Of course I said yes. Letters and affidavits saying she’s a drug-addled whore when I can watch any of her videos on TikTok or Instagram and know that’s total crap? Give me a break.”
“And so she gets what, keys to the kingdom?”
“She gets a letter with instructions—and we’re talking about a set amount that everybody gets, so don’t go nuts thinking it’s tens of millions of dollars. It’s more like tens of thousands. The sum won’t make her rich, but she can buy a house, depending on where she wants to live, put money into her business, or whatever. But it’s a good amount to help, plus everyone gets yearly dividends from the company after their trust is paid out.”
“Now I get why Hunter’s pissed at you. His illegitimate half brother oversees his family finances. That’s gotta sting.”
“Yeah. True.”
“I’m glad you had good parents growing up.”
“Me too. The good in me is all them—that’s nurture right there, them nurturing me. Me coming late to wanting a home and one person to share that with, taking my brain a long time to come online, that’s on me, and that’s all nature.”
“Oh, come on, give yourself a break. You had a career to start and oats to sow. You can cut yourself some slack for being young and gorgeous and rich. Lots of actors just burn out with drugs and alcohol and a myriad of other vices.”
“True.”
“You’ve had no scandals—”
“That you know of,” he teased me.
“Stop. You haven’t been stupid, there’s no string of broken hearts in your wake, and though you didn’t seal the deal with…what was his name?”
“Hagen.”
“Despite things not working out with Hagen, however many years ago that was, it doesn’t mean that the next serious one won’t stick.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “You’re right. I have only been finding Mr. Right Now, but that doesn’t mean Mr. Right isn’t out there.”
“Very good. I’m glad we got that cleared up.”
“You actually think I’m a good man.”
“Of course I do.”
“Even though after these few days, I’m going to go my way and you’re going to go yours and our paths may never cross again?”
“Why wouldn’t I? This is a gift—you spending time with me. I’m very lucky.”
He only stared at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I… What if I’m in Chicago? Could I see you?”
“Of course,” I assured him, leaning close.
“And sleep with you?”
“If there’s no one else, without question.”
“You’d turn me down for a boyfriend?”
“I’m built loyal, right?” I said, then whispered in his ear, “That’s why you get the small room if I find you in bed with anyone else.”
“Our bed,” he repeated as I put space between us.
“Now stand here while I go find out what is going on with this line.”
There was a chorus of agreement from the people around us.
FIVE
The hostess told me that originally, the plan had been to feed people in two shifts, but then they decided to open the haunted side so they could accommodate everyone.
“Is it really haunted?”
She leaned close. “We’re supposed to say that, but no. I wish it were true. That would be so much better. The truth is, it’s just an old building that looks like a giant ski lodge that’s been here since the American Revolution. We don’t normally use the side that faces the water—it’s not well insulated, and it gets crazy cold until the fires get going because sadly, there’s no central heat in there.”