“Anyway, back to the task at hand,” Avery interrupts. “We have on good authority that Everleigh is looking to buy a house. Austin has sent her some listings and she wants to go view a few of them.”
“Ok, how does that involve me?”
“I am so glad that you asked.” Cassidy breaks in, slamming her hand on the table in excitement. “She has asked us to help her look since she has no idea what she wants, but we have all suddenly become very busy.”
Understanding dawns on Brooks and he threads his free hand through his hair as he says, “And you want me to fill in.”
“I knew you were smart,” Cassidy winks.
Bringing the attention back to herself, Avery adds, “Look, we all love Everleigh and we want her to have what we have. Love and happiness. She deserves to get married, to have kids, the white picket fence, all of it.”
Brooks chokes on his sip of water when the word married flits in the conversation. He wonders how the women would react if they knew that Everleigh already had that part of the plan nailed down, though she is determined to rip it up and toss it away.
He looks at the women again. Nikki exuding the trust she has in those she holds dear. Sydney, a woman he had helped save when Nikki and Austin had found themselves on the wrong side of a gun, presents a sense of bravery and unwavering love. And then Avery, with the pleading look on her face, a woman that has been through hell and came out with more love than she could ever imagine. She is the closest thing to a sister that he has ever had and Brooks will do anything for her and her husband Logan.
“Alright, I’ll help. What do you need me to do?”
Sydney slides a stack of papers towards him and he takes them in his hands, scanning the real estate listings and finding one that he wouldn’t mind growing a family in.
“She is scheduled to see the top three tonight, the next three tomorrow, and so forth. We need you to show up at the second one tonight unannounced.”
The house he wanted.
“Won’t she be suspicious?
“Probably, but just tell her we sent you. We will all text her after Austin leaves to pick her up.”
“And what do I do if she doesn’t want me there?”
“Improvise. You’re smart, you’ll come up with something.”
Brooks scans through the papers again and places the stack back on the diner table.
“Alright, I’m in.”
The women all hug him and thank him for agreeing to their scheme, a scheme that he knew Everleigh wouldn’t approve of.
He finishes his lunch and heads back to his office to come up with a way to get Everleigh to keep from kicking him out of the house he wants to share with her.
BROOKS ARRIVES AT THE two-story Greek revival about fifteen miles from the center of the town just after seven, when Nikki had told him to appear. He takes in the land surrounding the property; miles and miles of open grass and wheat fields. The house stands in the middle of an old plantation dating from the time Carson, North Carolina had been founded. After his research, he learned that the home had been passed through the family for generations, but the youngest owner has been offered a job across the country and doesn’t want the burden of the house.
The home isn’t as large as some of the Greek revivals he has seen in Atlanta, but it suits him just fine. The stark white exterior with three windows on the second floor and two on each side of the red front door were flanked by black shutters. The columns were only prominent on the one-story side addition which showcases an inviting porch.
He hasn’t even stepped inside and he is in love with the home.
Finally, a pair of headlights shines in his mirror alerting him to Austin and Everleigh’s arrival. She doesn’t realize his attendance at first until Austin notices him walking up and he extends his hand in greeting.
“Thank you for coming, man.”
“What are you doing here?” Everleigh seethes.
“Well, I don’t plan on renting forever so I want to get a feel for the market.”
He swallows hard as she narrows her eyes in his direction.
Spinning on her heels she jabs a finger into her brother’s shoulder.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?” she accuses.
