Page 109 of Deadly Misfortunes

"Has he been in touch with you lately?" Janie asked.

"I heard from him when the two of you broke up. He wouldn't tell me what it was about. I figured you were off sneaking around on him," Belinda said.

Real nice sister.

"Well, I wasn't. It had to do with his family and how unsupportive they've been toward him."

"He's twenty-nine years old. He needs to support himself!"

"He has supported himself. I'm talking about his family being there for him, not monetarily, but emotionally."

"He has never been easy to live with. And you know what, he's not even really my brother."

Janie glanced at Gregory. He shook his head in disbelief. And he truly did feel sorry for him.

Then Janie said, "Oh, I've got an incoming call. I'll talk to you later." She ended the conversation and said, "Brendan?”

"Hey."

"I want to see you. Can we get together today?"

"Uh, I would have to make arrangements at work."

"Can you? I really want to see you." She glanced at Gregory, looking guilty.

"I'll get back with you on that."

"All right. You know I love you."

Brendan didn't say anything for a long moment.

"Brendan?"

Gregory wondered if he could even feel love for anyone after the way he had been treated growing up.

"Yeah, me too, babe. I'm sorry about the way I treated you. I might not be able to make it today. I need to get confirmation, and if I can't, I'll see if I can get a break soon."

"All right. Thanks. Love you, honey."

"Love you." Then he ended the call.

They all sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Do you see what I mean about his sister? Total bitch. Just like his mother and rotten father," Janie said.

"What was Brendan working at before this?" Gregory asked.

"He was in the military, Army, then came home and worked at a car dealership."

"Not as dull as my job."

Sascha and Janie laughed.

"I didn't say your job was boring, but that being with you was."

Everyone laughed. Gregory knew Sascha didn't think he was boring, but he did wonder why Janie thought that.

"So what makes Brendan more fun?" Sascha asked.