“Once the house repairs are finished, it will be offered at public auction. At that time, the executor will turn over all the receipts for the costs he has incurred in the repair of said house, and they will be held by me until the house sells. No matter what the house brings, Hunt is to receive full compensation for cost of the repairs off the top, plus the sum of eight thousand dollars, and after that, the proceeds will be divided five ways. This is in your mother’s will, which she made right after your father’s passing. So she was of sound mind and body when all of this was decided. Do you have any questions?”

“What about Mama’s personal things? Her jewelry…her clothes?” Birdie asked.

“I think that should be settled between the five of you,” Peanut said. “It’s the property and truck that are in question.”

Birdie was crying now.

“Don’t cry, Birdie,” Hunt said. “As far as I’m concerned, all that stuff should belong to you and Emma. You have my vote to do what you want with her clothes and jewelry. As for the pictures in the house, all of you take what you want. I’m not in any of them, so it appears I ceased to exist in this family after my college money disappeared. And the way you’re all acting, one might think I’m the criminal in the room.”

Chapter 4

Hunt’s comments took them aback. It was the first thing he’d said since they sat down, and neither Emma nor her brothers could bring themselves to look at Peanut, or each other.

“Thank you, Hunt,” Birdie said.

“No problem, kid. I don’t need earrings to fly choppers,” he said.

Emma gasped, her eyes widening as she and her brothers exchanged glances. He can fly helicopters?

“Where did you learn to do that?” Junior asked.

“In the army,” Hunt said.

“Were you ever in a war zone?” Emma asked.

“Seven years of it,” Hunt said. “But we’re not talking about me.”

Peanut felt the need to speak for him. They needed to know what Hunt had gone through.

“He flew Apaches…the attack choppers,” Peanut said. “And he forever has my appreciation for having served, and he is truly blessed for surviving being shot down.”

Birdie’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God,” Emma whispered, and then covered her face. Junior was speechless.

Ray couldn’t look at Hunt.

But they were all thinking the same thing. If it hadn’t been for what happened and the lie they all hid, he would have gone to college, not to war, and they would have still been family.

“Is there anything else?” Emma finally said.