Page 41 of Loving Trent (Love in the Bootheel #5)

Twenty-Five

SHAWN

“So, how was everything this morning?” Dad asks, hitting his blinker and moving into the right lane of the interstate.

My face heats at the thought of Nana using the spare key Trent hid to let herself in. I’m not sure how long she was there, but it doesn’t really matter. She heard some of what Trent and I did this morning. “It was interesting, to say the least,” I finally say.

“The school didn’t give you guys any issues getting Harley settled?”

“Nope.” Trent had all the documents they needed—documents that not only had his name on them but mine as well. That was a shock, but a good one. Harley is a fantastic girl, and I’m honored to be her guardian, no matter how crazy it sounds to anyone else. Some members of my family think it’s crazy.

My phone pings with another incoming message, and when I look down, I see evidence of some of their apprehension.

Sammy

Parker, at one point, you were someone that half the people in this chat didn’t know. So why are you so suspicious of Trent?

Levi

Dude, Sammy’s right. There, for a while, you looked like the bad guy to all of us. Minus Zak, Sammy, and Shawn.

Parker

Yeah, and if you remember, we almost fought because of it. But this guy, everyone is welcoming him with open arms.

Adam

No one is welcoming him with open arms.

Parker

Bullshit, for fuck’s sake, he lived at Nana’s for a couple of days, and we all got talked into moving him in.

Me

Stayed, not lived. But Parker, give it a rest. Leon and Dad have looked into him. Do you really think they would sign off on anyone if they believed them to be lying about anything?

Emilee

Are we still doing this? Fighting because Shawn is falling for someone?

Parker

It’s not because he is falling for someone, but because apparently, he is not only moving in with a complete stranger, but is going to raise a teenager with him. What do we really know about him?

I close out of the group message and bring up mine and Trent’s.

Me

Hey, can I give Parker your number? He is freaking out about well… everything, and I don’t want to tell him your story, nor do I want you to feel pressured into telling him, but maybe if he talks to you, he will get off my ass.

Trent

I’ll do better than texting him. I was planning on having them look at the truck I’m going to be buying, so I’ll talk to him then.

Me

Thank you.

Trent

No need to thank me, Baby Boy. Are you and Sonny sure you don’t need my help?

Me

No, we have this. I’ll call you once we are done.

Trent

You better.

I switch back over and ignore all the messages that came in while I was texting Trent.

Me

Parker, Trent, is going to swing by the shop in a few.

Talk to him, and for the love of all that is holy, listen to him.

I’m telling you that he’s a good guy. Even if he wasn’t, this is my life, and I will do whatever I want.

I love you for wanting to protect me, but I’m a grown-ass adult, and nothing you or anyone says will change my decision about him.

You became obsessed with Emilee from the moment you looked at her, so don’t try to act innocent with all of us.

Sliding my phone into my pocket, I turn up the radio to drown out the message alerts.

The pancakes I ate this morning tumble around, threatening to reappear.

Not because of Parker’s worry over my sanity, but because I lied to Trent this morning.

When Dad showed up, telling me that Jackson had found something we could use against Trent’s parents and located Trent’s sister, I agreed it was best to act sooner rather than later.

I told Trent that Dad was taking me to check on the progress of my apartment building and grab more clothes.

After we were honest about our fears, lying to him feels horrible. However, no matter what today brings, I’m going to tell him what I did when I get back. I’m going with the ask for forgiveness instead of permission strategy. “What’s the deal with Trent’s sister?” I ask when a commercial comes on.

“Her name’s Betty. She’s two years younger than Trent, and from what Jackson found out, she hasn’t been in contact with her parents since she turned seventeen.

” Dad grabs a folder from the backseat and hands it to me.

“At seventeen, she petitioned the court for emancipation from her parents. She had the written support of her best friend’s parents.

They cosigned for her apartment, gave her a job at their business, and said they would be there for her. ”

I open the folder and find all the court documents. My eyes scan the papers and see a list of accusations of abuse along with evidence. “How the hell did the courts not look into her parents after all the evidence. I mean, she is claiming that they were abusing her.”

“The courts deemed that what she was going through was just shy of what gave them the right to press charges against Josiah and Eve. However, the judge did grant her wishes. She moved out of her parents’ house, and from what we found, she hasn’t returned.

She’s currently living with April, the same best friend. ”

“Why did she never look for Trent?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out. Jackson never found anything to suggest that she was worried about her brother. I assume she bought the story she was told,” Dad says as he passes a slow-moving truck.

I flip to the following stack of papers. They’re all about Trent’s father. His bank statements, going back… “Holy hell, how did Jackson get statements going back twelve years?”

Dad chuckles and says, “I don’t know, and I know better than to ask.”

“Have you ever met this Jackson guy?”

“Nope, but Leon has, and that’s good enough for me.”

I close the folder because there is too much information for me to go through, and we’re almost to our turnoff. “What are the cliff notes that I need to know?”

“Twelve years ago, Trent’s father, Josiah, took out five thousand dollars around the same time Trent was sent away.

Then, around the same time that Trent was found, and the Camp was thrown into a tailspin, another big withdrawal happened.

But also, bigger deposits have been made throughout the years that don’t add up with his income as a preacher.

Along with multiple withdrawals. Jackson’s friend Nick matched some withdrawal dates with the known dates of two camps closing and relocating. ”

“Okay, so we think he paid Tom to take Trent, and then what? He funded his move after Trent was found?”

“Yes. Also, we think the big deposits are from other camps.”

“So, what, this fucker found out what a good money maker these camps were and decided to get in on the action?” Dad takes our exit, but the sights of my hometown don’t hold the same appeal as they did just days ago.

“Maybe. There’s more, though.”

“Okay,” I draw out the word. Dad’s look of disgust raises the hair on my arms and flips my stomach.

“Twelve years ago, Josiah was investigated by the police as a suspect in the kidnapping of a young boy and the attempted kidnapping of another boy. The van that was used in the kidnapping was registered to him. The kidnapping happened in a small town in Arkansas where he was for work. Josiah claimed the van was stolen the night before the kidnapping and had the police report to prove it. There was no evidence to prove he was lying.”

“Do we know what story they gave anyone about where Trent had gone?”

“Boarding school.” Our conversation ends when Dad pulls alongside a single-story brick home. “This is Betty’s house.” He shuts the truck off and turns to look at me. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

I look directly at him and open my door.

“Absolutely.” Stepping outside, I wait until he rounds the back of the truck and follow him up the walkway.

I will follow his lead with Betty, and I’m sure we will take it easy with her, but Trent’s parents…

God, I’m praying that’s a different story.

Dad raises his hand and knocks politely on the front door.

“Coming,” a feminine voice calls from inside.

The locks click, and the door opens inward to reveal a woman who looks just like Trent.

I mean more than her hair and eye color.

She has light brown hair and dark brown eyes, and she’s dressed in what looks like men’s jeans and a black men’s tank top.

Her arms are covered in black and gray tattoos.

She is shorter than Trent but still on the tall side—I’m guessing around five feet eleven inches.

She has an eyebrow ring, nose ring, and multiple ear piercings.

“Can I help you?” She asks.

“We are looking for Betty Anderson,” Dad says.

“Well, you’ve found her. What can I do for you gentlemen?” Betty asks in what I think she hopes is a polite way, but I hear the undertone of apprehension.

“Who’s at the door?” Another female voice comes from inside, but no one moves to look toward it.

Betty’s gaze bounces between Dad and me while we focus on her.

The owner of the voice comes into view, and she is the complete opposite of Trent’s sister.

She is even shorter than Betty. Where Betty’s body easily tells everyone she works out, the new woman is shapely with glorious curves.

Yes, I'm gay, but I can admit that a curvy woman is beautiful.

Her hair is dyed a light pink and hangs in long waves over her shoulders.

She is wearing a simple sky-blue flowy dress and has no tattoos or piercings, as far as I can see.

“I was just about to find that out,” Betty answers.

I step forward and extend my hand. “Nice to meet you, Betty. My name’s Shawn, and this is my dad. We’re here to talk to you about your brother.” Betty’s eyes grow wide at my statement, but she quickly cools her features before she can give anything else away. “Can we come in?”