Page 105 of Theirs

It wasn’t my place to say a lot of things, but I knew Luke didn’t like confrontations, and I wondered if I needed to get this conversation over with or at the very least set it in motion.

“I know we have to sell the farm, but it doesn’t make it any easier to have to do it,” she said sniffling.

I put the sponge down, drying my hands, pushing aside my own uneasiness to help her. Iris was young and sheltered and I think her brothers forgot that.

“I just hate that everything I know is going to get sold to someone who is going to demolish everything or put some fancy ass hotel or ranch getaway,” she said, as I pulled her in for a hug.“But I also know it's not fair to make everyone stay in a home that they have no good memories in.”

“Iris, its?—”

“I knew what they were doing, but I wasn’t strong enough to say anything,” she cried. “It was easier to pretend I didn’t know than to face the reality that my parents were shitty people to my brothers.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just held her while she let it out. When her cries became hiccups, I pulled away to look at her face.

“Maybe we can figure out a way for you to keep it,” I said, feeling bad for her.

“No, I called a man who has been coming around for years continuously asking for my parents to sell it to him,” she said. “I want to hear what he has to offer.”

“Iris, maybe you should wait,” I said, hating that she was making a rash decision.

“No, I can’t take care of this place and I can’t ask them to stay here.” She pulled away, wiping her eyes.

“Are you going to talk to your brothers about it?” I leaned against the counter looking out the window to see the guys putting away some tools.

“I’m not going to ask them, we all know no one wants this,” she sighed, looking over her shoulders to see them. “We can decide what we need to do with the money.”

“Sounds like your mind's made up,” I said, feeling a little relieved, but also a tad worried. “If you need to talk about it you can always talk to me. I know it must not be easy with three older brothers especially with such a big age difference between you and Luke.”

“It’s… I think we all have different views,” she said, biting her lower lip. “I've never left this environment, and I’m thinking maybe it's time I do.”

“You can come to Denver and visit us anytime,” I said, wondering about Genevieve again. “You are always welcome.”

She nodded absentmindedly. “I’d like that.”

“I think Luke would too,” I said, feeling even more uneasy.

“Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I actually need to make a phone call,” I said. “Tell them your plan and stick to your guns.”

I went to the living room to look for my phone and saw it on the coffee table. I picked it up to send Genevieve a message.

Me: Hey, are you still going to make it today?

I waited for the icon to say it was delivered, but as I waited it never came. Uneasiness hit me, as fear also took root. Genevieve was many things, but I didn’t think she would bail on us. I also didn't think she would ignore us like she did.

Me: Please call me or text me. I’m worried.

My emotions were running wild as I decided what to do or what I might be forced to do. Wait. I hated waiting so I stretched my neck side to side, and rolled my shoulders hoping to relieve some tension.

I went back to cleaning the dishes trying to keep my mind off Genevieve, but the later it got the more I worried until I couldn’t take it anymore. There was only one person who I knew could get ahold of Genevieve and that was Vincent. I dialed his number, hoping he answered because for all I knew he was on his honeymoon.

“Hello.” The person who answered wasn’t Vincent.

“Vincent?”

“He’s not available at the moment,” the man said, and I knew who it was.

“Easton?” I hoped I was right. “Hi, this is Camila, and I need a favor.”

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