Page 112 of Irons

He pressed his lips to my head then spoke. “I’m concerned. She mentioned your dad and it’s something big enough that he keeps it from Heather. I don’t want him brought into my situation with Paula.”

“You don’t think she has something she holds over my dad and is willing to use it for leverage, do you?” I asked.

I felt him scratch the stubble on his face with his free hand. “It wouldn’t be much leverage if it’s something to hurt Clint.”

“I think we should meet her. She obviously knows some powerful people, and we need to know if Creed’s Lake is at risk.” I said.

“Especially if it’s something that could be negative for Clint.” He answered.

We talked and finally made the decision to meet with Paula the next day and not mention a word to my dad. He also told me about Stacy at the dinner and it was a short break from the tension radiating from him as we laughed about it. I knewTravis didn’t sleep much, he tossed and turned which stirred me a few times through the night.

He woke early and dressed for a run, I jumped up and decided to go with him. The air was cool and crisp making it the perfect morning for a long run. We stopped in at the diner and had a coffee after our run, then went back to my parents to get ready for brunch with my grandparents. My dad was leaving the same time as us, saying he had a meeting and would see us later. He wasn’t in his uniform, so I wasn’t sure exactly where he went. Probably to the school since he sometimes volunteered.

On our way to the restaurant, he wanted to stop in at the shop where Brock worked. There was a hello, but not an introduction for Brock and I because we had already met on several occasions. Not just through Matt, but through the friendship between our parents. I haven’t seen him in a few years, and I was amazed by how tall he had grown.

Brock was able to clock out for a break and his boss suggested we talk in the break room.

“She refuses to discuss the power of attorney you suggested.” Brock informed Travis.

“Then it’ll have to come down to talking with Tricia.” Travis said.

“How does that work legally? We don’t have a lease or any kind of an agreement.” Brock asked.

Travis pulled out his phone and did a Google search. “It says here that if the property sells the new owner must honor the lease agreement, but if there is no agreement the landlord has to give sixty days’ notice to vacate. I’m not sure if Tricia has an attorney, but it’s a good idea for her to consult one. I’m assuming the house was left to Tricia, is that correct?” Travis asked.

“I don’t know the specifics, but I overheard grandma once say the estate was to be divided between the living children.”

Travis looked down at his phone for just a moment but didn’t type anything before he shrugged his shoulders. “We need to talk with Tricia. I’m sure she has no desire to kick your mom out, but she has to see how the house is falling apart. That’s not good for her or the resale value. Did you look through brochures last night?”

“Yeah.” Brock rubbed his eyes like he was tired, and he actually did look tired. “I liked the one on the lake the best. I’m just confused because we need to apply for it, and I need mom to agree before it can be done. I guess we need to speak to Tricia sooner than later.”

Travis bounced his knee up and down as he sat back with his arms crossed. “Didn’t the receptionist say it takes about sixty days for the application process?”

Brock nodded. “Yep and there’s the application fee. It’s not that bad and I can swing it, but damn it seems with that kind of money the process should go faster.”

Travis leaned forward. “I’ll tell you what, call the facility and ask them if you can cash pay for the first sixty days. I’ll front you the money and we’ll try to get you to Indiana sooner than sixty days. Wrenly and I have a lot to do in the next few days and…” He paused then rubbed the back of his neck, like he had a new idea. “Scratch everything, I just said, and I’ll give you a call tonight, okay?”

Brock seemed confused. “I can’t let you cover mom’s expenses. You’re already doing enough with everything you’re doing for me.”

“Consider it a loan, and I promise it won’t break your bank to pay it back. I’m not just doing this for you and Emma, it’s somehow for me as well. In a weird way it’s like making right of something that was very wrong in my life. I should have been here a lot sooner for you, but instead you got stuck caring for our dad all alone. That shouldn’t have been the case. He might have been a shit dad, but he did have a hand in giving me life. I don’t owe him anything, but I do owe myself the opportunity to make peace with myself over not facing my past.”

I knew what Travis was thinking but too proud to say. He needed family, his own blood relation, for a very long time and he has a chance to have that now. He doesn’t know Brock, but he is his brother and feels like he owes it to the boy. Brock is not at fault for anything that Robert did that hurt Travis.

We all stood, and Travis stuck his hand out to shake Brock’s but surprised the boy when he pulled him in and gave him a dude hug with a slap on the back. “You’ve paid your dues, Brock. It’s time you start focusing on your own future.”

“Thanks man, I can’t thank you enough.”

When we got back into the Tahoe I couldn’t help myself from looking at Travis in amazement.

“What?” He asked as he put his seatbelt on.

“You amaze me. You don’t owe any of these people anything.”

He started the vehicle. “That kid could have held a lot of resentment toward me. He was innocent in all of it, yet he took on all the burden. I wasn’t here and he was, so I owe him for taking care of my dad.”

“A dad that never took care of you, Travis. It wasn’t your burden either.”

He glanced at me with a smile. “It’s what Tony would have done. He never would have let Brock suffer the way he did.”

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