Page 35 of And Then There Was Us
“Do you have another event?”
He heard the disappointment in Treat’s voice, and guilt sucked the enthusiasm from his voice. “No. No event.”
“Then why not hang out?” Treat pushed.
Hugh sighed. “I met someone here in Richmond, and I’m thinking about coming back to see her.” He closed his eyes, ready for the razzing his family had always given him.
“What’s another date with another model compared to spending time with family?” Treat’s voice had become serious.
“She’s not a model, Treat, and she’s not a fan either.” If it had been any of his other brothers, he’d have joked his way out of a serious conversation, but Treat had never steered him wrong and he was less judgmental than the others. He called Hugh on his crap, but he offered advice instead of just judgment. Right then, Hugh could use a little advice. In his brother’s silence he read disbelief.
“It’s the truth, Treat. She’s a single mom, and I like her. A lot.” Hugh sat down on the weight bench and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“A single mom.”
Maybe Hugh had given up his hand too early. He detected something akin to judgment in Treat’s voice.
“Yeah, a single mom. She has a daughter.” Hugh sat up straighter.
“Hugh, what are you thinking? Single moms have responsibilities. They can’t be out until two in the morning drinking, and I doubt she’ll want her daughter around a guy who dates a different woman every night.”
Hugh pushed to his feet. “You don’t know me that well, Treat.” Anger crept into his voice. “I haven’t dated like that in months.”
“Months?”
“Yes, months. I know how it seems to all of you. I’m the irresponsible youngest Braden, the one who you all laugh about when I leave family gatherings early because you know it’s just who I am. I get it, man. I created that image, but it’s not me any longer, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
“Months,” Treat repeated.
“Yes, months.”
“Really? Months? Well, I thought you meant, you know, a few weeks. How could I not have known that?”
“Despite what you think, you don’t know everything about all of us, Treat. Even with your ability to make a phone call and learn all the dirty details of people’s lives.”
“Hugh, I’m looking at anEnquirerfrom two months ago with my brother on the front, on the arm of a leggy model.”
He heard the smirk in Treat’s voice. “You believe those ridiculous magazines?”
“Not usually, but this sort of fits your rep, bro.”
“Yeah, it fit the rep I had. Look carefully, Treat. Do you see where it says2012Paradeon the sign behind the blue car? The idiots didn’t Photoshop very well, did they?”
He heard paper crumbling.
“Why are you reading that garbage anyway?” Hugh asked. “Don’t you have better things to do with your time?”
“I’m at a doctor’s office, and it was here on the table. Now it’s in their trash can.”
“Doctor? Is everything okay?” Hugh sat back down. His father had a heart issue a little over a year ago, and now Hugh’s chest tightened at the thought.
“Yeah. Max wasn’t feeling well. We’re waiting to see the doctor.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Hugh let out a loud breath. “I don’t mean that. I thought it was Dad. I hope Max feels better.”
“She will. It’s not Dad; don’t worry. I’d have led with that if it were. So tell me about the woman you met.”
He heard Max in the background. “Hugh met a woman?” He pictured her pulling out her cell phone and blasting a text to his entire family and their significant others:Alert! Hugh met a woman he actually likes!There were no secrets in the Braden family. Their grapevine ran strong and often.
