Chapter 2 - THE MARRIAGE THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN
Julian called his attorney.
A woman named Margaret Ellis answered immediately.
“Julian?”
“Tell me there's a way.”
A pause.
Then:
“There isn't.”
I watched his face change.
Margaret continued.
“New York doesn't allow a legal marriage to appear out of nowhere because you have a deadline. You need a valid license, a proper ceremony, and the required legal formalities.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“What about an emergency court order?”
“Not in eight minutes.”
Silence.
Then Margaret said:
“Julian, listen to me. The trust clause may have another interpretation.”
He opened his eyes.
“What interpretation?”
“The language doesn't say you must marry by midnight.”
Julian froze.
“What?”
“It says you must establish a legally recognized family beneficiary.”
I stared.
Julian looked toward me.
Margaret continued.
“That could include a spouse. But it could also include another qualifying beneficiary under the trust's definition.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“Who?”
A pause.
Then:
“Your brother's daughter.”
Silence.
Julian stared at the phone.
“Nicholas doesn't have a daughter.”
Margaret hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Julian, that's what we need to discuss.”
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The clock struck 11:53.
And suddenly, the marriage proposal was no longer the strangest thing happening in that room.
