Page 10 of Thrown

Toby’s raging thoughts stopped dead as he stepped out into the front hallway and spotted none other than Charles Duckworth entering the house.

Everything that had been swirling and raging inside Toby coiled together and reverted about five years to the bright-eyed, eager young uni student he’d been when he first met Duckie.Duckie had been the first man to give him a chance, the first man to truly see his potential and help him to achieve his dreams. And yeah, stupid though it had been at the time, he would have dropped to his knees and sucked Duckie’s cock as much as he wanted, if the man wasn’t definitively straight. He’d always had a thing for older men.

Seeing Duckie in the front hallway of Hawthorne House completely out of the blue, and having that moment come hard on the heels of an argument with Robbie that had nearly brought him to within inches of quitting the job Johnson, Johnson, and Inez had sent him on, even if it would have torpedoed his career, was jarring, to say the least.

“Duckie, what are you doing here?” Toby said, picking up his pace as he crossed the slightly crowded hall to shake hands with his mentor.

“Toby Tillman?” Duckie burst into a surprised smile as he accepted Toby’s hand and pumped it hard. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“I’m working,” Toby said. “I’ve been sent to assess the financial situation of the Hawthorne family, since they’ve had an offer to buy them out.”

A momentarily sharp look appeared in Duckie’s eyes. “Is that so,” he said, his smile growing as the sharp look blinked away. “And who sent you? Who are you working for these days?”

“Johnson, Johnson, and Inez,” Toby said, standing a little taller.

He hadn’t heard from his mentor during the past year. Duckie had put in a good word for him in the form of a letter of recommendation when he’d applied for his job, but once the offer had come in, he’d forgotten to touch base with Duckie to thank him.

“I always knew you’d do well, young man,” Duckie said, thumping his shoulder with a wink.

Toby didn’t even mind the slightly infantilizing feel of the gesture. He was too overjoyed at seeing the man he owed just about everything to to care. “I’m sorry I never wrote or called to thank you for the letter of recommendation,” he said, righting the past wrong. “I know that I owe everything to your good word.”

“Nonsense, my boy,” Duckie said, shifting back and standing tall. He’d gained a bit of weight in the years since Toby had last saw him, but the extra pounds just made him look more formidable. “You’ve accomplished so much, and all on your own. Your father would be proud.”

Toby’s smile faltered a little, and a gnawing feeling bit at his stomach. Duckie did remember that his father had been in prison on drug charges for eight years now and he wasn’t getting out anytime soon, didn’t he? He did know who he was, right?

There wasn’t time to ask.

“Ah, Mr. Duckworth. Welcome to Hawthorne House,” Mr. Hawthorne said in a loud voice as he and his daughter emerged from the hallway that led to the offices.

Toby was instantly curious. Did the Hawthornes know Duckie? Was that why he’d been chosen for the Hawthorne House job?

“Allow me to introduce my daughter, Rebecca,” Mr. Hawthorne went on, gesturing to Miss Hawthorne with a loving smile. “And this fine young man is Mr. Toby Tillman, from Johnson, Johnson, and Inez, who is doing some work with us.”

A strange shiver passed through Toby. Mr. Hawthorne had introduced him with the same openness and smile that he’d used while introducing his own flesh and blood. Toby didn’t want to, but he felt like the older man had wrapped a blanket around him and pulled him in for a family hug. The feeling was as foreign as it was encouraging.

“Young Tillman and I have met,” Duckie said with a smile that somehow wasn’t quite as encompassing as Mr. Hawthorne’s, even though they’d known each other infinitely longer.

“Duckie, er, that is, Mr. Duckworth, was my mentor at the end of and just out of university,” Toby said.

“Oh.” Mr. Hawthorne suddenly glanced to Toby with something other than the warmth and inclusion that he’d had just moments before. “Is that so?”

“I owe a great deal to Mr. Duckworth,” Toby said. “He taught me nearly everything I know about business. I’m convinced it was his letter of recommendation that caused Johnson, Johnson, and Inez to hire me.”

“Interesting,” Mr. Hawthorne said, colder still.

Before Toby’s confusion could get any deeper, Early joined the small circle. “Good morning, Mr. Hawthorne, Rebecca. Is this the Mr. Duckworth you were expecting?”

“It is,” Mr. Hawthorne said, smiling again.

“Welcome, Mr. Hawthorne,” Early said with all his androgynous grace and charm. “Could I take your coat? Fetch you some tea?”

Toby was momentarily struck by how easily Early could have been a butler or footman, or maybe a maid, in the house as it had been hundreds of years ago.

“Thank you,” Duckie said, removing his coat and handing it over.

No one had a chance to say more before Robbie came striding out of the side corridor where his ceramics classroom was, looking like someone had offended his honor.

After the argument the two of them had just had, Toby was certain Robbie had more than enough honor for anyone’s good.

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