Page 25 of Broken Chains

He lit up like a child on Christmas morning. “They’re going to be amazing when I’m done with them.”

I grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that. Now look over there, to the left,” I said.

“That building? What is it?”

“A very old greenhouse we can work on restoring once the house is in order.”

“You mean it, Peyton? You’re gonna keep me around that long?” he asked hopefully.

“Kenneth, what would I do without you? Of course I plan on keeping you around.”

He hugged me. “Thanks for taking a chance on a kid like me.”

“A kid like you, huh? You mean a super smart, hardworking, not to mention attractive, young man?” He blushed at my compliments. “Don’t you know I have to shoo away the local Collier girls on a regular basis because of you?”

“Get out,” he said.

“I’m not even kidding. You are amazing, Kenneth, and there’s nothing you can’t do in life. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”

It was starting to become an emotional moment, but we both heard the motorcycles beginning to arrive, and it lightened the air as we went out to meet his brothers.

Brady and Tim pulled up on their bikes, while my favorite black minivan pulled in behind them.

Brady turned off his engine and slowly got off the bike. He took off his helmet and then his sunglasses as he looked up at the house.

“Are we at the right place?” Tim asked.

“This is the address he sent,” Brady confirmed as Kenneth and I stepped out on the porch.

Oliver came up behind them carrying Eve as they walked towards us, trying to take it all in.

“This is the money pit you bought yesterday?” Oliver asked.

“You bought this place?” Tim asked. “Damn, I thought you were rich. This place is a dump. You could have just moved into the trailer next to ours and saved yourself a little money.”

Brady elbowed him and told him to be quiet.

Kenneth confessed it looked and smelled a lot better now.

Oliver otherwise stayed quiet. He passed me the baby as he walked around, signaling Brady to check out a few things as he assessed the house. It felt like forever before he came back to the foyer. Meanwhile, Eve and I were starting to doze off on the air mattress.

“Well?” Kenneth asked.

“The foundation and bones of the place are solid. The floor’s in surprisingly good condition. There’s some drywall damage upstairs, but most of it is just cosmetic.

“We can definitely work with this,” Brady assured him.

“Seriously?” Tim asked, looking around.

“Seriously,” Brady said.

I knew Brady the least of the three of them, but he had stopped by the greenhouse a few times and I’d had a chance to talk to him. I think he was in a confusing time in his life, but mostly because he desperately wanted something better for all of them.

“I’ll take this project on one condition, Peyton,” Brady said.

“Let’s hear it,” I replied.

“I get the room in the back corner and I get to live here rent free while I do the work. Oh, and you’re paying for all the supplies, and food.”

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