(Note: This is a draft. There may be editing mistakes, misplaced commas, and scene that could change before the final edit.) This short story is set in my fictional town of Copper Creek Haven. I featured this short story in my October newsletter, if you want to read part II you'll have to subscribe to my newsletter. (Blonde Classic). I've written a 1st person from the hero's POV. Part II will also be 1st person, but from my heroine's POV. Tagline: The most eligible bachelor in town needs to get married to claim his inheritance from his deceased uncle. Title: The Inheritance Clause by Emilee Hill The scent of lemon pledge and bacon grease did not mix. I hadn’t been back to Copper Creek Haven in twenty-five years. My ankle crossed over my knee to stop the tapping of my foot. Sitting in the reception area of the law office of Royce Denton was probably the welcome I deserved. Royce’s waiting room was spacious and boasted of dark wood furnishings. I looked at the opposite end of the waiting room. A blonde woman in a green waitress dress that reminded me of actress Joanne Woodward sat with her eyes lowered to the floor brushing away tears with the sleeve of her sweater. She looked as though she worked long hours in a diner, likely the Copper Spoon if I had to guess judging by the soiled stains. She was likely the source of bacon grease. Not that I minded the scent but mixed with lemon pledge the smell was saccharine. Why was she crying and why would she need a lawyer? Before I could contemplate further, the door to Royce’s office swung open. “Evan, Lynlee,” He indicated with a sweep of his arm. “Thank you both for meeting with me on such short notice. Please come in.” He sounded like Marlon Brando in The Godfather that I half expected him to say “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” He stepped aside and allowed us to enter. We took the two chairs opposite the desk. Royce settled himself in his high back chair and cleared his throat. “I called you both here today because you are listed in Thaddeus Burkhardt’s will. I have a letter for him from you Evan, which I’ll read now. Royce put on his glasses and unfolded the letter. The paper crinkled under his hand. “To Mr. Evan Pearce, My only family member and beloved nephew, I leave the sum of twelve million dollars and the bulk of my estate on one condition… “Condition?” I echoed. “What condition?” Royce leveled a stare at me over his glasses and shuffled the papers as if he knew he had a bombshell and knew the suspense was killing us. Well not us, me. I had no idea what the petite blonde beside me whose name I already forgotten thought. “You must be legally married within thirty days of my death and remain married no less than a year. Failure to meet these requirements results in all the money and entire estate being transferred to the Historical Society of Copper Creek Haven.” You could have heard a pin drop once Royce finished reading. I blinked. Once. Twice. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” “Dead serious,” Royce said as if he was Merlin the wizard waving his magic wand. “I tried talking Thaddeus out of it. But he was adamant.” “Why? Uncle Thaddues was a bachelor his whole life. It makes no sense.” I sliced my hand through the air. “I think he wanted you to build a legacy built on love, family values and hoped that maybe a wife and possibly children would help you achieve that.” “This is…” My voice trailed off. “Insane,” Lynlee said laughing and speaking for the first time since we entered the room. It came out like a snort. I glanced at her. “Yes, it in insane. No one falls in love that fast,” I muttered the last part. Royce folded his hands over the incriminating letter. “Time isn’t on your side, Mr. Pearce. I suggest you find yourself a wife within thirty days or you’ll forfeit your inheritance.” I dragged my fingers through my hair. “Are you currently in a relationship?” Royce asked. I shook my head. “There’s a couple of more surprises.” Royce hesitated using air quotes around the word surprise. “Let me guess, my uncle has a prospective wife in mind for me?” I crossed my arms and huffed out a breath. “Who?” “Miss Lynlee Brooks,” Royce gestured to the woman beside me. “What?” Both Lynlee and I said in unison. We glanced at one another and then back at Royce. “There’s got to be a mistake.” Lynlee insisted. “There’s no mistake,” Royce echoed. He turned the paper around and slid it forward between us. “In the event that Evan is not dating I recommend Miss Lynlee Brooks as a wife for my nephew.” Satisfied, we’d seen the evidence; Royce snatched the paper back. He steepled his fingers. “There’s one more thing.” “Of course there is,” I mumbled “Uncle Thaddues up to his old tricks thinking he can run everyone’s life.” “Lynlee, it seems that Thaddeus has left you $50,000 dollars in his will. This is regardless of whether you marry Evan. If however,….” He let that last sentence hang. Melodramatic was Royce Denton’s middle name. “Fi-fifty thousand?” Lynlee’s jaw hung slack. I shot a glance at her. “Did you date my uncle? Should I be worried?” “I most certainly did not.” Her cheeks glowed red. “I served him his breakfast at the Copper Spoon.” Royce coughed dramatically like he was about to recite the Gettysburg address. “Do you want to be here all night, or do you want to find out what else is in Thaddeus’ will?” We turned back to Royce as if we were sent to the principal’s office. “If you marry Evan for one year the amount you’ll received four times the amount. $200,000.” Lynlee sat dumbfounded. “Only in Copper Creek Haven,” I grumbled. “Any other disasters you want to throw at us, Royce?” I crossed my arms. It surprised me how easily the word ‘us’ slipped off my tongue. I’d known Lynlee for all of twenty minutes and now I had less than thirty days to find a wife. “No, that’s all for now.” Royce stacked the papers tapping them on his desk. “Call me when you find a wife.” He chuckled and waved his hand, indicating the meeting was over. Lynlee and I stood awkwardly and took that as our cue to leave. Exiting the law office onto the sidewalk, I was still processing the information in my uncle’s will. “Are you okay?” I wanted to put my hand on her arm but balled my fist into my hand to stop myself. “I…I’m sad and confused.” She looked down at her shoes. “I served him breakfast six days a week for over a decade. We formed a bond over this charming tiny town and built a sweet friendship. It feels weird to be at the Copper Spoon without him.” She sniffed and pulled a tissue out of the pocket of her cardigan. “I should go. I’m sorry.” She turned and ran towards the restaurant. One thing I knew about my uncle he was a man who had keen insights into people’s character. He must have seen something special in Lynlee. I had twenty-nine and a half days to find out. I turned my feet in the direction that Lynlee ran and headed to the diner. A bell jingled above announcing my entrance. A ‘Seat yourself” sign still in near the door. The scent of bacon grease hung in the air. It was probably a part of the walls the smell was so potent. Lynlee was the source of bacon grease in Royce’s office. I chuckled to myself as the place was empty and opted for a booth near the window. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a waitress carrying a tray laden with a water glass and coffee cup and sauce, a pot of coffee in her other hand. Lynlee. “Welcome to the Copper Spoon,” She laid the beverages in front of me as if on autopilot. Tucked her tray under her arm, pen poised above an order tablet she pulled from the pocket of her apron and finally looked me in the eyes. “Evan.” Her voice stuttered. “Look Lynlee,” I started. “My uncle put us in an awkward situation. I’m still processing everything.” She nodded and looked down at the pad of paper in her hand. “What time do you get off?” “4 o’clock”. Her gaze still on the ordering pad as if she couldn’t look me in the eye. “I’d like to take you to dinner. Not here. I was thinking of The Copper Plate at 6:30 if this works for you.” I added. I’ll pick you up.” A hint of a smile lit her face. “If you don’t mind my bacon grease perfume.” “It happens to be my favorite scent.” | 
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