Billionaire's Second Chance (Billionaires #16) - Jennifer Hartley Page 0,26

bills, I hoped. Maybe I could even get the television turned back on for Scott. I didn’t think he knew yet that it had been shut off right after that football game he was watching. At least he had gotten to watch the game. Honestly, television was way down the list of priorities. With this money, I’d be able to get the phone turned back on and maybe even get caught up with the water bill. That was about it, though. We needed so much more than this to get current with everything and have a shot at keeping the farm afloat through winter. Winter was only a couple of months away, and it was always the most expensive season. Even though we used the raw firewood for heat as much as possible, the stables and barn still needed to be insulated, and the animals took in more food during the winter months. Not to mention that it seemed like the pipes always froze when it got too cold, and there were always unexpected upkeeps during the freezing months.

I was going to stay at the market today until the very last minute and try to squeeze out as many sales as I could. Whatever didn’t sell would get loaded back up into the car, and I would use it to make things for the next market date. Twice a month helped, but a daily way to sell some of this stuff would be better.

“Surprised to see you here, Mister Groves,” a man said as he walked up to the stand. “I would have thought you’d be at your parents’ house today.”

I looked to see who the man was. He was wearing khakis and a button-down shirt. He looked like a businessman who was trying to have a casual day off but kind of failing at the casual part.

“I haven’t forgotten about it,” DeShawn said to the man. He seemed uncomfortable and like he didn’t want to be having the conversation that the other guy was trying to have with him. DeShawn acted like there were things being discussed that he didn’t feel comfortable having out in the open.

“Yes, I wouldn’t think that you’d forget about it,” the guy said. “Especially since it’s the one thing keeping you here.” The man paused and looked over at me, and smiled. “Or perhaps I’m mistaken, and there are other things keeping you here as well?”

“I’ll take care of it, and I’ll let you know when it’s ready,” DeShawn said.

“Okay,” the man said. “But just remember that the longer it takes you to get done, the longer everything else will be held up.”

I kept eyeing the both of them, and I hadn’t seen DeShawn look this ill at ease before. It was apparent that he didn’t want to be hassled by this guy. Which then made it my mission to shoo him away.

“Unless you’re going to buy something,” I said in a pleasantly contrived voice. “Then I’m going to have to ask you to step away from the stand so that other people can look.”

“My apologies,” he said politely. He told DeShawn goodbye and that he would “talk to him soon,” and then the man left.

DeShawn looked relieved when he left but also a little stressed.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“That was my estate attorney,” he answered with a slow sigh. “He’s helping me take care of the probate for my parents’ estate.”

“What was he talking about? That part about being at your parents’ house?”

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” he said as he started rearranging the jars on the table in front of us.

“Not fair,” I said. “You try to have this deep conversation with me before we even get out of the car here, about how I’m not alone and all that bullshit, but then you won’t tell me what’s going on with you?” I wasn’t trying to lay in on him, but he needed to know that if he was trying to knock my wall down, then he needed to open up to me, too.

“You’re right,” he sighed. “I wasn’t trying to be hypocritical; it’s just that I don’t like talking about it. You know how my parents were and how my childhood was. It’s not something that I like to think about. But the truth is that I haven’t even gone through my parents’ shit yet.”

“But it’s been—”

“Yeah, I know,” he interrupted. “I should have done it a while ago. I’ve just been dreading it and haven’t wanted to.