Page 7 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

Chapter

Six

Pulling up outside his brother’s house, Hendrix climbed out of his truck with a sack of rabbit bedding slung over his shoulder, a frantic request from his niece, Delilah, the second she found out he was at the farm supply store.

He could already hear chaos from inside.

One of his three-year-old twin nephews was crying. Or maybe screaming. Possibly both.

He knocked once, then let himself in, because that’s how small towns – and his big family – rolled.

His sister-in-law, Cassie, was crouched in the hallway, wrangling a dripping-wet toddler who had only one sock and zero remorse.

“Oh hey,” she said breathlessly, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. She had the look of a woman on the edge. “We had a milk incident.”

“I heard the banshee scream from the yard,” Hendrix said, holding up the bag. “I got the message from Delilah. Figured her rabbit might want some bedding before she goes to sleep.”

Cassie gave him a grateful smile and inclined her head at the stairs. “You’re a lifesaver. She’s in her room.”

“Good luck with…” he gestured to the puddle forming beneath the toddler, “whatever this is.”

Cassie sighed. “If you ever feel like becoming a live-in nanny, just say the word.”

Hendrix laughed and headed upstairs. His eleven-year-old niece’s door was half-open, soft light spilling into the hallway. He knocked gently before pushing it open.

The room smelled faintly of strawberries and sawdust. Posters of pop stars, planets, and one extremely dramatic horse covered the walls. In the corner, a fat white rabbit blinked at him from her hutch like she was the queen of it all.

Delilah was on the rug, painting her toenails a sparkly purple and wearing the look of someone with Very Important Things to do.

“Special delivery for Delilah Hartson,” he announced, hoisting the bag like it was pirate treasure.

She lit up, jumping to her feet and throwing her arms around him before grabbing the sack. “Thanks, Uncle Hendrix. You saved my life. And Bun Bun’s.”

“I live to serve.” He gave the rabbit a salute. “How’s Her Majesty doing?”

“She kicked all her bedding out this afternoon. Mom said she has an attitude.”

“She gets it from you,” he teased.

Delilah stuck out her tongue. “That’s rude. I’m a delight. You must be mixing me up with my brothers.” Her face suddenly turned serious. “I miss Club Solo.”

For a second, his mouth turned dry. Club Solo was the secret alliance they’d formed the week her twin brothers were born.

Just the two of them against a world suddenly obsessed with multiples.

He’d knelt beside her at the hospital, looked her in the eye, and told her he knew exactly what it felt like to be the odd one out, since he was the only brother of twins, too.

“I miss it too,” he said softly. “I’ve been a crappy president.”

She shrugged, looking delighted that he’d sworn in front of her. “You’ve been busy. Dad says you’ve been renovating your house.”

He reached out and gently tugged the end of her ponytail. “Still. I owe you at least one emergency meeting. Maybe with cupcakes.”

Her smile came slowly, but when it did, it lit up her whole face. “And a new secret handshake.” She dropped her voice. “Twins are the worst.”

“They are.”

“Too loud. Too sticky. Too twinny.”

“You said it, Vice President.” He winked.

She giggled, then gave him a sly look. “So… I have some more news.”

He sat on the edge of her bed. “I’m all ears.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I have a boyfriend.”

Hendrix arched a brow. “Do you now?” Wow. She wasn’t supposed to be growing up so fast. Pres was going to be so mad. He suppressed a smile at that thought.

“His name is Ben. He gave me half his cupcake at lunch,” she said proudly, her cheeks pinking up.

“That's practically a proposal.”

She grinned with delight. “He asked to walk me to library period. I said yes.”

He sank onto the floor beside her. “Classic boyfriend move. Does your dad know?” God, he couldn’t wait to see his brother’s face.

“God, no. He’d just be embarrassing.”

He tried not to laugh. “Okay. So what do you want from me? Uncle standard advice? Spy gear?”

She shrugged. “I just needed to tell somebody. And I knew you wouldn’t freak out.”

“I’m honored.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “Want my two cents?”

Delilah nodded.

“If Ben’s sweet, makes you laugh, and doesn’t make you feel like you have to be anyone else… then he’s a good one.”

She nodded solemnly. “He said my sneakers are cool.”

He gave her solemn nod. “Total keeper.”

She smiled, then tilted her head. “How come you don’t have a girlfriend?”

He lifted a brow. “Whoa there, kid. You’re coming in hot with the personal questions.”

“I’m just asking.” Her gaze was steady. “You’re funny, you smell good, and you’re not ugly.”

“Well, thanks,” he said, laughing under his breath. “But I’m on a break from dating.”

“Because of the California girl?”

He paused. Sharp kid. “Yeah. She wasn’t who I thought she was.”

“What happened?”

Hendrix paused. Yes, she was growing up, but there were some things above her grade level. Not that he wanted to talk about this anyway.

“Let’s just say we didn’t want the same things. I figured it out late, but better than never.”

Delilah nodded, like she understood more than she should. “Mom says the best relationships are built on friendship.”

“Your mom’s smart.”

Delilah gave him a long look. “So maybe you just need a new friend.”

He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Maybe I do.”

She leaned into him, resting her head on his arm. “You’re gonna be okay, Uncle Hendrix.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Thanks kiddo. I’m trying to be.” And that was all he could hope for right now.

Emery stared at her phone, her brows pinching. This morning she’d sent over the last of the paperwork she’d managed to find to the realtor.

Jed had helped a lot. He’d talked her through the crop schedules and helped her find the employment contracts for the farm staff, and she’d finally laid her hands on the updated title deeds and farm plans that had been drawn up after her dad had sold off the pond and the surrounding land.

She re-read the email the realtor had sent back to her, her throat tight.

Emery,

Many thanks for sending these through. I noticed there’s an agricultural lien on the livestock. Can you send the details through as no sale can proceed until this is settled?

Kind regards,

Richard Houseman

WV Country Realty

She had no idea about this lien, but it obviously wasn’t good news. Turning in her chair, she called out to her mom, who was making iced tea in the kitchen.

“Do you know anything about a lien on the livestock?”

“What dear?” Her mom didn’t turn around.

“A lien. A loan. Do you know who dad took it out with?” And more importantly, how much he took out. Why did this have to be so difficult?

“I’ve no idea, honey. Your father was in charge of the finances.” She carried over a glass of sweet tea and put it in front of Emery. But there was a strange look on her face.

“Do you know where I might find out? There’s nothing about it in the farm’s bank statement.”

Her mom let out a sigh. “Do you really need it?” she asked. “Can’t we sell the farm and sort it out later?”

“That’s not how it works, Mom. The realtor needs everything.” Emery pressed her lips together. “Would Jed know about it?”

“No. We promised we wouldn’t tell…” Her mom trailed off, realizing she’d given too much away.

“What’s going on?” A shiver snaked down Emery’s spine. “What kind of lien is it?”

Her mom stood stock straight, like she was trying to hold herself together. “Maybe you should talk to Trenton,” she finally said, like it pained her to say the words.

“What would he know about it?” Emery asked, confused. “Is he involved in the loan?”

“He asked us not to tell you. Daddy promised him. We didn’t want you to worry about the farm when you were so busy,” her mom murmured.

Emery felt her whole body tense up. “Did Trenton loan you the money?” she asked.

Her mom sighed. “Yes, I think so.”

For god’s sake. Emery winced. “How much?”

“Daddy needed to buy some new livestock,” her mom told her. “We had a bad year. Or a bad few years.” She shifted her feet. It was so obvious she was embarrassed. But why the hell did Trenton get involved?

Yes, he had money. She knew that. But it felt like control, not money.

“How much did he loan Dad?” Emery tried to keep her voice soft.

“I don’t know.” Her mom really looked like she was about to start sobbing.

“A hundred dollars? A thousand? More ?” She knew it was more. Farm equipment and livestock didn’t come cheap.

“I really have no idea.” Her mom started to cry. “And does it matter? He’s going to be your husband. He wanted to help. Family helps family. He just didn’t want to worry you. Asked us not to say a thing.”

Of course he didn’t want her to know. This was all a power play to him. Another way to show her how much control he had. “Mom, I need to find it all. The paperwork, the amounts.”

“But why?” Her mom didn’t seem to get it.

“Because we have to declare and resolve any debts on the farm before we put it on the market.”

“Trenton never told us that.”

Emery swallowed hard. “No, he probably didn’t. But you can’t sell the house without resolving this.”

“Maybe you could speak to him,” her mom said, twisting her bracelet around her wrist. “Ask him if he could sign away the debts early.”

Emery winced. Her head was starting to hurt. “I don’t think I can do that.”

“Why not?”

She had no answer to that. At least not one that wouldn’t cause more problems than it would solve. “I’ll speak to him,” Emery agreed, because right now there was no other way. “Just find me that loan agreement. Please.”

“Okay.” Her mom nodded. “I’ll look this afternoon.”

“Thank you.”

“Why did you loan my parents money without telling me?” Emery asked Trenton later that afternoon when she’d finally brought herself to call him.