With a sigh that made Brantley grin, Reese pivoted around and stormed across the room. That was when he realized Reese lived in a studio apartment. One big room with a separate bathroom. There was no bed, only the couch. There was a small kitchenette that didn’t look big enough to make a sandwich in. Didn’t stop Brantley from snooping. He strolled to the refrigerator, opened it. Half gallon of milk, half-empty jar of mayo, small bottle of mustard, and a few slices of processed cheese were all that occupied the interior. He flipped open what passed for a freezer but found only two empty plastic ice trays.
He wondered if this meant Reese was rarely home or if the guy preferred to eat out.
“How long have you lived here?” he shouted, opening the cabinet doors for a peek.
He found a couple of plastic plates, one glass, two red Solo cups, and a handful of plastic utensils still wrapped in plastic from whatever fast-food joint he’d picked them up at.
“A few years,” came the muffled response.
Interesting.
Well, Brantley figured the interesting part was that the actual apartment was in great shape. The counters were some form of manmade rock, the sink stainless, the refrigerator as well. The cabinets didn’t look bottom-of-the-line cheap. The floor was engineered hardwood in a grayish color, designed to look rustic, the walls a light gray, trim bright white. And the blinds covering the single window at the front of the space were two-inch faux wood slats.
All in all, it was a nice space, with the exception of the furniture, which appeared to be older than Reese.
It was actually similar in layout to the design Brantley had for the loft in the barn. He’d originally intended to move into that space rather than the house but decided against it when his sisters and brothers started dropping by. Last thing he needed was for them to give him shit because he didn’t make his bed every day and the damn thing was the focal point of the space. So rather than experience loft living, he’d decided on fixing up the house. There was still plenty of work to be done, but for now it worked for him.
Reese appeared wearing jeans and a T-shirt, his feet bare. He wandered over to the TV stand, pulled out a drawer, and retrieved a pair of socks. He flopped on the couch, tugged them on along with his boots before getting to his feet. The man seemed put out by the idea of having dinner with the Walkers, but Brantley didn’t much care. He wanted to spend some time with the guy, and he figured this was the best way to do that. No temptation for either of them.
“You ready?”
“I’ll follow you?”
“You’ll get in the truck,” he countered, not waiting for Reese to argue.
He heard some mumbling and smiled.
An hour later, they were in the middle of Grand Central Station at the height of rush hour.
Or at least Brantley figured that was very much like what he was experiencing. There were so many people crowded into Lorrie and Curtis’s two-story farmhouse, taking up all available seating, some spilling out on the back porch, others standing on the front. A lot of talking, laughter, and hugs, everyone expressing their sincere gratitude to have Kate back in their clutches.
When they’d first come in, they’d been greeted as family was. Smiles, handshakes, hugs. Before dinner was served and food and drink consumed, Curtis had said a prayer, all heads bowed, amens to follow. Brantley had never been much into prayers, but even he had bowed his head out of respect and, yes, a deep gratitude that they’d been able to bring Kate home where she belonged.
As for the little girl … one wouldn’t even know anything had happened based on the way she was running around, giggling with her cousins. Brantley had accepted her neck-squeezing hug when she’d greeted them upon their arrival, calling out to Uncle Brantley and Uncle Reese with delight. He found it amusing that all the kids seemed to refer to them as uncle, though that wasn’t the case. Then again, it didn’t really matter, it was merely a way of acknowledging them as family.
His gaze swung to Reese, who was currently talking to Zane and Kaleb, laughing at something that was said. He’d been silent on the drive over, clearly not eager to come, but now that he was here, it was as though he was exactly where he belonged. And Brantley suspected the rest of Curtis Walker’s family agreed.
It made him want to introduce Reese to his own parents. He knew Iris and Frank would like him. And if he knew the small town as well as he thought he did, they likely knew more about Reese than Brantley did. Considering the man was a vital part of Travis’s world, running things for Walker Demolition, he seemed to be very well known in this circle.
