“Fuck off,” Hayes says, trying to sound upset, but really, the guy doesn’t scare anyone. He rolls his eyes and pulls out his phone. I’m guessing he’s calling the other two.
“Hey, it’s Hayes. I’m with Henry and Mills. Dad died yesterday, and we want to speak to you,” he speaks over the phone.
I protest. “What about me? I’m here, too.”
“Right,” he grunts. “Pierce is on Facetime. We have to talk. The funeral is in a couple of weeks—in Baker’s Creek. We need you there—it’s not optional.”
I’m tempted to ask how this “not optional” works. Our father can’t make us do anything, not even go to the fucking funeral. As a matter of fact, I should wish them luck and hang up.
“I just texted Vance, too,” Mills says.
Vance? Does he get along with Vance and not me? I go and see him play every time he’s in town. I’ve dedicated years of my life to his career. Doesn’t that count for something?
“You’re in touch with him?” Hayes asks, and I decide not to hang up yet.
“Yeah, I saw him once at the airport while he was traveling to Germany. Back when Atlanta had a hockey team. We chat sometimes.”
We see each other at least three times a year, and we never chat or exchange phone numbers, asshole!
I hate that I’m brooding. That this conversation upsets me more than I thought it would. If he tells me that Beacon and he are close too, I swear I’m going to punch them the next time I see them.
“What does he do?” Henry asks.
“He’s part of the military. Not sure if it’s the Army, Navy, or…he doesn’t talk about it,” Mills responds. “We just text a few times a year.”
“Why him and not me?” I swear.
“You two fight like cats and dogs,” Hayes responds, but he doesn’t understand that there’s more to just seeing him once passing through the airport. “You’re fucking unbelievable. I could ask the same. Hey, why didn’t you invite me to your wedding?”
Because I was an idiot and just dragged my then-girlfriend to the motor vehicle office to get a license, and I even skipped the honeymoon.
“Yeah, well, I guess we’re not that kind of family, are we?” I answer.
Leyla is finally by the gate, and I miss part of the conversation, but my attention is back when I hear that we have one more call to make.
“Aww, we’re calling the baby,” I tease Hayes, who is super protective of Beacon. Maybe we all are, though. “He might be sleeping. Isn’t that what rock stars do during the day?”
Henry finally smiles, and Mills just glares at me.
“Is he available?” Hayes asks.
I don’t pay much attention to the back and forth conversation with the woman on the other side of the phone until Hayes says, “In two weeks, in Baker’s Creek. We need him to be there—it’s not optional.”
It is optional, I want to yell at them. We’re not legally bound to attend a funeral or the reading of his shitty will. But I don’t say anything because I’m curious about this charade.
“Hmm, I know where that is,” she says. “You hear, Beac, we’re going to Baker’s.”
Why has he been going to Baker’s Creek? I have so many questions. I suppress the laughter when he says, “There’s no fucking way I’m going to that damn town,” while she argues, “Umm, we were there just a couple of weeks ago.”
Their playful banter reminds me a lot of how Leyla and I used to be when we started dating. It was all laughs and just happiness.
My attention turns back to Leyla’s car. She’s finally opening the door. Daisy and Buster are wearing coats and follow her to the barn. I’m sure they want to say hello to the other kids. I should just let them all go. She needs them more than I do.
Finally, Beacon’s voice pulls my attention back to the call. “Look, asshole, I don’t give a shit about the old man.”
“We agree, Beacon,” Mills speaks. “Yet, we’re here trying to deal with his shit one last time.”
“Mills?”
“Yeah, and Henry is here, too. Just do this once, okay?”
What about me? I am here, aren’t I? That’s when I wonder why Mills is there and not me. I should’ve gone to see our father like Leyla suggested, and now my life just continues to be a collection of stupid disappointments.
“Fine. Send me the info. I’ll be there. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have family shit to do.”
“Your wife?” Hayes asks, and wouldn’t it be funny that the youngest is the one who has a somehow normal relationship?
He laughs. “Nah, I don’t do that shit. My best friend invited me to have brunch with her family. See you later, assholes.”
“You know what’s sad?” Mills’s low voice asks.
“That we’re getting together just because our father died?” Henry answers with a monotone voice.
“Other than that,” he amends his statement. “That we’re all alone.”
When I look at Leyla walking with Poppy toward the indoor arena, I’m reminded that I have her.
“I’m married,” I protest.
“Are you in all honesty happy with your life?” When he asks that question, I’m hit with an ugly answer. I haven’t been happy for a long time. It happened right after we got married.
“I will be when she signs the fucking divorce papers,” I answer.
This is the wake-up call I need to regain my life. Maybe this is the only real gift my father gave me. When Mills tells us that he’s going to therapy because he wants to be a good father to his son, I’m impressed. I should be more like him.
We end the call. I agree to be at Baker’s Creek. One last hurrah before I start a new life. I’m about to go to the arena to see Leyla and tell her about it but stop myself. It’s time to let her go and regain my happiness.
Chapter Fifteen
Pierce
I’m no stranger to shit shows during the reading of a testament. I’ve been the legal party mumbling the crap the deceased left to their families and friends and watching the faces of those loved ones change from grief to anger in a matter of minutes.
The Aldridge shit show starts with not only the six children my father has left but also Blaire Wilson, Carter’s widow, best friend, and Hayes’s ex-girlfriend. I already know the old man left a little treat in his stupid will when I see her. I pull out my phone to be ready to take notes. We’re going to have to fight her to say the least. Who the fuck knows what else he did? I don’t want the money, but I’ll make sure that the hard work of my ancestors isn’t left to someone undeserving.
“Why is she here?” I ask the infamous Jerome Parrish.
The man who left me that voicemail. The same who stayed with us during the funeral procession. Never have I seen a lawyer being at the cemetery. That doesn’t mean it’s not a thing. Did my father leave some stipulation about us being there that he had to see through? Well, Vance is already out of the running because he hasn’t arrived yet.
“Your father stated clearly that this couldn’t be read unless his seven sons were in the same room,” Jerome explains, handing over a package to each one of us.
I read it, and it’s true, it mentions that the seven of us have to be here. Pulling out my pen, I circle their first mistake. This is going to be easy to fight. By tomorrow Blaire will be saying goodbye to whatever she thinks she’ll be receiving.
“That document is outdated,” I say out loud. “Our brother Carter died twelve years ago.”
“Let’s get this over with, so I can go to bed.” Blaire glares at me. “Tomorrow, I have to drive back to the airport.”
Ask me if I care, Princess Blaire. I don’t give two fucking shits about your life. You shouldn’t be here.
According to Carter’s Mom, it’s because of her that Carter died without treatment. We could’ve saved him.
“We have to catch up, Skittles,” Beacon states, and the nostalgia of the old days grabs onto my heart. How I wish we were younger and the last time we saw each other wasn’t at
Carter’s funeral.
“Mr. Parrish, would you mind reading the will,” Blaire focuses our attention to what matters.
“And please explain her presence.” I agree that we need to do this fast because I’m leaving today. There’s no point in staying any longer, but first, tell me why she is here.
“As I explained earlier, Mr. Aldridge wanted all his children present when his testament was read. In the absence of his son Carter, he requested the presence of his widow, Blaire Noelle Wilson.”
Hayes’s jaw twitches, and if anybody wonders if he still has feelings for her, the answer is right there. We go back to Aldridges can’t keep the people they love. He adored Blaire, and well…she married our younger brother, not him.
“You’re fucking kidding me. She gets part of the cut?” Henry protests. “She’s not getting more money from us. I’ll contest the will. Pierce, get ready to fight her.”
I nod at him. I’ll take care of that immediately. Blaire got Carter’s trust, but she’s not getting one more cent from us.
“Can we skip the drama and act like grownups?” Blaire sighs and crosses her arms.
“Where is Vance?” the lawyer questions.
“He was striding into the hotel when I was sauntering toward this room,” Blaire, who is just as nerdy as Hayes, answers.
Vance chooses that moment to enter the room, looking like he just came off the set of an action movie. I hope the red stuff around the raggedly bandaged arm is ketchup because if it’s not, he’s in the wrong place. Go to a hospital, buddy.
“Sorry for the delay, the guy at the entrance didn’t want to let me in. According to him—”
“He did the same to me. Tried to send me to a shelter,” Blaire complains and glances at us. “I suggest you train him or fire him.”
“Hey, Skittles,” Vance hugs her. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”
“Took a shower, avoided a kidnapping, and I even texted my mother on my way into the conference room,” she jokes, touching his arm. “You okay?”
“All good. I’m glad you’re here because I’m too busy to go and search for you,” he dismisses her question. “What have I missed, other than the funeral?”
Everyone stares at them with confusion. Hayes and Henry mumble shit that I don’t hear because I’m too busy reading the stupid will.
Dad is leaving us all his assets. The properties around the world, including the factory that operates in Happy Springs. Aldridge Enterprises too, which I’m not sure if it’s still based in New York. How are we supposed to manage it? That’s Henry’s new toy. I know shit about business, but I’ll be happy to check on the contracts if he needs me. There are also several bank accounts with billions of dollars. I knew the guy was loaded, but this is just criminal.
When I read the conditions, I almost laugh. We have to spend the next eighteen months sharing the Aldridge mansion located in this town to receive this inheritance. We also have to share the responsibilities of The Lodge, the factory, and Aldridge Enterprises.
The commotion starts. For the first time in years, we all agree. This is bullshit, and we are walking out without wanting a cent from William.
“Ms. Wilson, I haven’t finished reading the will, and as I told you over the phone, a lot of people count on you,” Mr. Parrish declares. “All of you. Let me finish reading.”
I sigh and turn my attention back to where I stopped reading but freeze when I hear him say Leyla’s name, “For the next eighteen months, you’re to live on the Baker’s Creek property. Pierce, who is the only one married of the six, should live with his wife, Leyla Faye Aldridge.”
“Wait, he knew I’m married?” I stare at him. “How? I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
Mr. Parrish disregards my question and continues, “Mills should bring his son, Arden, along.”
I look at Mills and ask, “Did he know about your boy?”
Mills shakes his head, but Blaire answers, “If you follow hockey, you know he has a son. This guy is considered the hottest single dad in hockey history.”
I follow hockey, but I had no fucking idea about the kid until a couple of weeks ago.
“May I resume?” The lawyer asks.
We all nod.
“You will share the responsibilities of the companies. You should manage the properties and do what’s best for the towns of Baker’s Creek and Happy Springs. After eighteen months, everything will be divided into equal parts. If one of you walks away before the term is over, all the assets will be liquidated and donated to various charities.”
“I vote that we take the charity route. Let’s sell everything right now,” Hayes suggests.
As I’m about to suggest that we all vote, Mr. Parrish interrupts me, “I don’t think you understand what’s at play.”
“Well, then tell us the stipulations, so we can figure out how to end William’s game,” I request, annoyed at this charade and begin reading from his document in case he has any notes I don’t.
“In the event that one or all of you decide not to commit to this town, the employees, and the properties, everything will be sold to the pre-approved buyers assigned by William Aldridge. That means The Lodge will be demolished, and the land will be donated to the state of Oregon with the condition that nothing is built in its place.”
It goes on and on about how he’ll fuck every person he has touched in his life if we refuse to follow his stupid stipulations. It’s not about the money he’s leaving but about having the last say. I’m trying to read as fast as I can to find at least one loophole.
There’s nothing.
“Can you contest the will?” Blaire asks me. “Modify the terms, so you can donate everything to the town, and they can run their own lives.”
I glance at her and then at the table because so far, I can only say that we’re fucked.
“Pierce, can you find the loophole?” Hayes insists.
This is too long, too wordy, too calculated for a man who was dying.
Mr. Parrish says, “Other than contesting and seeing if you can win, there's nothing else that you can do. You have thirty days from tomorrow to get your affairs in order and move into the property.”
“Can they buy out William’s assets?” Blaire grasps for straws, and I swear she’s the only one who is thinking with her head and not her anger.
“No, only approved buyers can do it,” he answers and gives her a more detailed explanation about who can do it.
Of course, Blaire tries to find her little loopholes. “When you say we have to live here, does that mean we can’t travel for business or pleasure?”
By now, Mr. Parrish is somehow annoyed with us and asks, “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ll be happy to move into Baker’s Creek if that’s what he wishes, but I have work to do, and I want to make sure that I can continue.”
She then looks at me with an agonizing face that almost reminds me of Leyla when she’s about to put down an animal, “Could you contest the will, or do you know anyone who could at least help us modify it?”
I nod, and I wonder if I am wrong about her. I wish Leyla were here. She’s better at reading people than I am. While everyone argues how their lives can’t be uprooted, I continue reading. Father expected us to live on his property and become residents of Oregon and Baker’s Creek. We’re free to work on our businesses remotely. However, the factory, the resort, and managing the properties are our priority.
I burst into laughter when I get to the stupid stipulation that fucks me. “Fucking William. That too. We have thirty days to gather our things—my wife will be happy about this.”
But, in fact, this is perfect. “You know,” I pause, tapping my chin and staring at the ceiling. Thank you, God. This is precisely the thing that I was expecting. That change of air…even if I can stop the stipulations, I can just show this to her, and she’ll sign. This is her hard limit. “This might work. Leyla will give me the divorce immediately. She hates small towns. I might be in.”
/>
Once I compose myself and pay attention to the discussion, I realize that Blaire is freaking out. Scanning the document, I find some stipulations made for her. He is fucking with her more than with the rest of us.
Why?
“Sorry, Blaire,” I announce, and I feel bad for her. “But you can only use the next thirty days to make an appearance. He restricted you a lot. You’re not allowed to travel—not even short trips. Portland is as far as you can go and only for the day. You don’t get thirty days after the first six months are over like the rest of us.”
I focus back on the will. What is Carter’s Kids Foundation? I google it, and fuck if I’m not wrong about little Blaire and the gold-digging bullshit my father and Hayes’s mom spewed when my brother died. She’s freaking Mother Theresa.
Can she even afford to do all this with the bit of money she receives from the trust fund?
“If you need money for the operation, tell me how much, and I’ll just write a check,” I offer.
She smiles and says, “I might accept your money.”
“What about those thirty days?” Henry asks, desperate. “Do we have more than that to pack?”
“No. We all have to be here in thirty days,” I say and explain to them how they’d work out. Unfortunately, Blaire doesn’t get that either.
Henry protests, then Hayes. I’m already scanning the will with my phone to send it to Nyx. She’s good at finding loopholes.
Beacon complains about his upcoming tour. It starts in September. Should I ask him to reimburse me now because it’s obvious that I won’t be able to be there either.
Blaire assures him that they’ll wait for him while I tell him his exceptions and stipulations, “You can commute. It’s right here in the will. As long as you only do it twice a week and you’re back the same day, you can do live appearances. Fucking William Aldridge. He has to be laughing his ass off at us from hell. Mills, it says that your son could benefit in this environment, and it’d be good to be around his uncles and aunts.”
“Which aunts?” Mills asks, confused.
“Leyla and Blaire,” I answer, but the problem is that Leyla can’t be close to kids because this is going to break her heart. I exhale and close my eyes briefly. “Let’s hope that Leyla doesn’t come.”
Defying Our Forever (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers Book 3) Page 10
