Page 10 of Wedding Whitney
“I know.” I reach across the table for my grandmother’s hand. “I love you, Gran. I’ve loved doing all the planning with you. I just wish Dad and Brett would get on board. I don’t know why they don’t like Jake, beyond the fact that he wasn’t born with money, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’m marrying him whether they like him or not.”
“Your father is simply being cautious, but he’s coming around. Brett, sadly, is one of those men you hope will outgrow himself but hasn’t seemed to. The idea of him someday running the family business is enough to make me live forever.”
I chuckle. “Well, I’m good with that, so let’s make it happen.”
We smile at each other over the table, but I need to know the answer to the biggest question that arose yesterday. “Gran? Is my inheritance contingent upon my having two children by the time I’m thirty?”
“Not in my will,” she says firmly. “What your father does with his money is up to him.”
“Okay, then it’s a non-issue.”
“You are going to have children, aren’t you?” Gran suddenly looks concerned.
“Yes, but probably not two before I’m thirty. Maybe the first around the time I’m thirty? I don’t know yet. We’re not even married and have so many other things going on.”
“I know, dear. Don’t be upset, all right? I’ll talk to your father, and we’ll get this handled.”
“Thanks, Gran.”
“Good morning, beautiful ladies.” Jake comes in looking freshly showered and a lot better than he had the night before, and conversation turns to other things.
Hopefully, this will be the end of it.
The next few days are nice, spent with friends and distant relatives that aren’t jerks. Thank goodness. Gran said she was going to call my father and have a talk with him, but I don’t care anymore.
My father and brother are both assholes, and I’m not going to let Jake devote another second to getting to know them or bonding or any such bullshit. Luckily, today we’re joining Kane, Hailey, and the twins for a day at Six Flags, which feels like a much-needed escape.
Initially, Kane and Hailey hadn’t planned to go since there wasn’t a lot geared for babies, but with Jake and me there to help, it sounds like a win for everyone.
“I’m ready for all the roller coasters,” Kane announces when we get there.
“Me too,” I say, grinning.
Jake grimaces. “Not me. I’ll sit with the twins while you guys do it.”
“You don’t do roller coasters?” Kane asks in surprise.
Jake shakes his head. “I got sick on one when I was a kid, and now it just grosses me out. I don’t get motion sick or anything—I just don’t like them.”
“Fair enough.” Hailey rubs her hands together. “Then I’m down for any and all roller coasters while you babysit.”
Jake grins. “Works for me.”
“It’ll be good practice for you, buddy,” Kane says, teasing him.
“Don’t tease him,” I say softly after we leave Jake with the twins and head into the line for the next roller coaster.
“Don’t tease him?” Kane stares at me in confusion. “How come? I spend half my life teasing him. Probably three quarters!”
“I mean, about babies. There’s some family drama going on about having two babies before the age of thirty in order to keep my inheritance, and even though I don’t care about the money, I think it’s really put him on edge.”
Kane grimaces. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“I know. That’s why I’m bringing it up now. He’s had a rough time with my father and brother, and I don’t know how to fix it. Gran said she was going to intervene, but they’ve never listened to her before, so I don’t know why they would start now.”
“I think you need to relax, enjoy the days leading up to your wedding, and ignore all the bullshit,” Hailey says firmly. “Jake can take care of himself.”
“He can, but it’s not fair that they’re making him second-guess not just himself, but what we have together. Maybe he hasn’t said it out loud, and maybe he hasn’t even thought it to himself, but I know him, and he’s not having fun. Not even a little.”
