"About time you showed up. You couldn't even be bothered to take your own nephew's one-month party seriously?"
He was frowning and complaining before I'd even sat down.
Before I could answer, he gave a snort.
"Still, seeing as you've finally agreed to sign your fortune over to the boy."
"I won't waste my breath arguing with you today."
"Agreed to what?" I stared at him, genuinely thrown.
But it clicked fast enough.
So that was their game.
"Sis, why'd you bring such a crowd with you?"
Arlene came over with the baby in her arms, Terry and her parents trailing behind.
Behind them lumbered Darrell, big and thick as ever.
Today he'd stuffed himself into a red mandarin jacket.
Gone all festive for the occasion.
Looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
He upstaged the whole room, and not in a good way.
Next to him, Terry could almost pass for a handsome, fresh-faced young man.
Which was exactly why I couldn't make sense of what Arlene was thinking.
"They're colleagues from my company. They came to help out," I said.
Arlene rolled her eyes.
"Fine. As long as they're not here to freeload."
"Then put them to work and have them see to the guests. No standing around!"
With that she swept off, her little parade in tow.
I took a seat nearby instead, waiting for the show to start.
A little while later, the guests had all more or less arrived.
Arlene climbed onto the stage with the baby, Terry and Darrell beside her.
"Today, at my son's one-month celebration, I have an important announcement to make."
"The boy's aunt, Delia Perry, has formally agreed to give her entire fortune."
"Including her company, her houses, everything, all of it to my son!"
The moment she finished, Terry and Darrell were the first to break into eager applause.
"Wonderful!"
Plenty of guests caught the mood and joined in the clapping.
The whole room was warm and celebratory.
"I hear the boy's aunt is some big company owner."
"No kids of her own, so she's giving it all to her nephew!"
"Now that's generous!"
Some of the guests couldn't stop marveling.
When the applause died down, I stood up and raised a hand.
"When exactly did I agree to give my fortune to your son?"
I asked it flatly.
A ripple of shock went through the guests.
Arlene, though, showed no sign of panic. If anything, she smiled with perfect confidence.
"Sis, you signed the gift agreement last night."
"It's all there in black and white, with your fingerprint right on it."
She held the agreement up for everyone to see.
I smiled too, and held up the paternity test.
"All right. Then I'm revoking the gift agreement right now."
"Because the child in your arms is not my nephew!"
