Chapter 11
"Don't." Derrick's voice was still level but something underneath it had gone very hard.
"Don't tell me what marriage involves."
Raymond stood up from his chair.
"Gerald," Raymond said calmly.
"Put the lawyer away."
Gerald looked at Raymond.
"I don't believe this concerns you."
"Derrick is my nephew.
So yes, it concerns me." Raymond folded his arms.
He was a big man, Raymond.
Unhurried in the way of someone who had long ago stopped trying to impress anyone.
"This is not a boardroom.
This is a family matter.
And you're using a lawyer like a weapon in front of people who just came here to witness a wedding.
That tells me everything I need to know about you."
Several guests nearest to them had gone completely silent, listening without pretending otherwise.
Arthur Breen glanced at Gerald.
Gerald's jaw shifted.
"This discussion isn't finished."
"It is for today," Derrick said.
"I'll have my own attorney contact you Monday morning.
If there's something in that agreement that requires reviewing, we'll review it properly." He paused.
"And Gerald — I'd strongly suggest you have a very honest conversation with your daughter before then."
Gerald stared at him.
Then he snapped the document folder shut himself, turned, and walked back toward the corridor.
Arthur Breen followed quietly, document folder under his arm, not looking at anyone.
Celestine had watched all of it without speaking.
Now she looked at her son.
"You have a good attorney?" she asked.
"I'll find one by Monday."
She nodded slowly.
"What about the girl?"
"Vanessa is still in the corridor."
"She's been in there a long time."
Derrick glanced toward the corridor doors.
They were closed.
Through them, nothing.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
It was a text from an unsaved number.
Three words.
*Check the agreement.*
He stared at the message.
"Who is that?" Celestine asked, reading his face again.
"I don't know," he said.
May you like
He looked up at the corridor doors.
They stayed closed.
