Page 19 of Sugar
KASEY
It wasn’t hard to convince Rhett to take my shift tonight, not after I told him why I needed the night off. I thought he might put up more of a fight, but it seems he’s eager to see how all of this plays out. Probably just as eager to watch it blow up in my face, but I get it. Rhett and Brooks saw the worst of the fall out when Ava left. I’m sure I’d have similar feelings if our roles were reversed.
Wells already finished working the horses on the schedule for today, so after I wrap up all the barn chores I decide to use some of my spare time to visit Brooks. Now that this plan with Ava’s in motion, I don’t feel right moving forward without talking to him about it. He’s just as affected by this bullshit with Uncle Huck, and even though it’s not the most important thing going on in his life right now, he still should know I’m working on a solution.
I close up the second barn and trail the path that leads to his house. There’s a small bike turned over in the front yard, a handful of plastic animal figurines scattered about. I pick up the bike and carry it to the porch, setting it on its wheels off to the side. There’s broken pieces of chalk in front of the door, a wiggly drawing of a tree and a sun. I can hear the boys playing inside,and for a moment I stand still and listen to it, thanking the universe for their resilience.
A smile spreads across my face. Those kids are three of the bravest, strongest humans I know, the way they’re still able to find reasons to play and laugh despite how hard things have been. I swear, we could learn so much from them.
When I finally knock, their little voices get louder, no doubt excited with having a visitor. It takes a couple minutes, but eventually Brooks opens the door, and I get a good look at my brother for the first time in weeks. His dark hair is disheveled, a beard growing across his face. He’s got on a black tee and a pair of pajama pants that have seen better days. But all things considered, he doesn’t look as bad as I expected.
“Brooks,” I say, my throat thick. I reach out and step into him, wrapping my arms tight around his body. “How you doing, brother?”
Brooks returns the hug. “I’m hanging in there,” he says.
I squeeze his shoulder as I pull away. “Is it okay if I come in for a sec? I have some things I want to talk to you about if you’re up for it.”
He nods, moving back to make space. The house is a disaster: toys are all over the floor, there’s dirty dishes on the coffee table—including a cereal bowl with old milk that looks questionable as fuck—and at least half a dozen empty bottles of beer. Brooks starts picking things up. “Sorry it’s such a mess.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I assure him, just as all three boys come barreling down the hall. Is it possible that Liam’s grown two inches? “Hey, boys,” I say, smiling. “Who wants to make twenty bucks?”
The two little ones jump up and down, but Liam’s smart. “What do we have to do?” he asks, eyeing me.
I nod to the coffee table. “Dishes. And toys.”
Liam considers. And then he looks at his younger brothers. “You guys put all the toys away, and then come meet me in the kitchen.” Just like that, all three are in motion, working around the living room with focused expressions.
“I’ll throw in another twenty if you guys get your rooms cleaned too. I can only imagine what they look like.”
Liam nods. “Deal.”
Brooks shakes his head, the ghost of a smile on his lips. “Shoulda known money would talk.”
I laugh. “How about we head out back while these boys get busy?”
Brooks heads for the door and leads us out onto the back half of the wraparound porch, where more bikes and scooters lie in disarray. It looks like a tornado came through. “Guess I should bribe them to cover out here next,” Brooks mutters.
“Nah,” I say, sitting in one of two reclining patio chairs. “Let ’em be wild outside.”
Brooks gruffs and sits down in the seat beside me. “So,” he says. “What’s going on?”
I look at him. “First, I want to see how you’re doing. You need anything?”
He shakes his head. “Mom comes over nearly every day. Takes care of groceries and meals. We’re doing all right.”
“What about mentally?” I ask quietly. “Emotionally?”
“Some days are worse than others. But I think that’s just life now.”
I nod, blowing out a breath. “You know I’m here, right? Say the word, and I’ll drop everything.”
Brooks sighs. “I know, Kasey.”
We let the words settle over us. Eventually, I say, “So, there’s some shit going on with the ranch that I don’t want you to worry about. All you need to know is I’ve got it handled.”
Brooks turns toward me. “I know about the inheritance trust,” he says. “Mom told me.”
Relief spikes through me. I figured he knew about it already, but a part of me worried I’d have to be the one to tell him. That I’d have to somehow explain how we might lose the ranch because he didn’t file some stupid fucking paperwork while his wife was still alive. “I’m going to make sure Uncle Huck doesn’t so much as step foot on this ranch.”
