"Well, that's good to know." Ernie said with a small sigh. "I would hate to find out that this was all an elaborate plan that you came up with to get me to start dating you." So maybe the joke wasn't in the best of timing, but it seemed like they could both use something to laugh about.
"Me too." Ernie said, "But I'm not so much worried about the inheritance. Its just money, I could make money, I'd only get a third of it anyway unless my brothers suddenly die off. I'm more worried about loosing my family." His family wasn't the closest of people, but he still loved them dearly.
"Well, do you think the Terry thing would work long enough for them to break whatever deal they have going on?" He asked.