AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are still my family. They just aren’t part of my life here,” he interrupted her.
His eyes were on her again.
“You know what, it doesn’t matter.” She took a step back. “Your life is none of my concern.
Ted followed her as she took another step and grabbed her shoulders, halting her progress.
“You’ve never told me the truth either, Mandy.”
She hadn’t, but then her past could destroy her.
“That’s different.”
He gave her a small shake.
“No, it’s not. We’re both hiding.”
“Okay, I like to see you guys communicating, but I’m thinking now is not the time unless you’re planning to hide in here all day,” Joe said. “So let’s shelve this until you’re alone, because now we have to go and meet Ted’s family.”
“I’m killing my brother,” Ted gritted out.
Mandy drew in a deep breath as he looked away from her.
“All along, I just thought it was you and your sister who passed away,” Joe said.
“I suppose you’re angry with me now too?”
“Me?” Joe touched his chest. “Nah. I knew you came from money. There’s those shoes with the Velcro you wear, and your shorts have creases in them.” He moved back to the window.
“I didn’t tell anyone about my past, Mandy.”
She needed to stay calm. Not making a scene had always been her mantra. Stay in the shadows. Why then did she suddenly want to yell at him?Take a breath. Inhale, exhale.
“And that makes it right, does it!” She lost the battle, the words exploding out of her mouth in an angry hiss. “I told you things, and you told me nothing. I even asked if your family had a lot of money, and you said—”
“I don’t like talking about my family or my past,” he interrupted her again.
“Me either. Maybe in future you’ll respect that,” she snapped back. “I don’t like liars, Ted.”
And yet even your name is a lie. Mandy pushed the thought aside.
“I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you the exact truth. That photo shoot was good for the lodge, and I thought it was all Anthony wanted from me. Turns out I was wrong. The fucker,” he snarled.
“They’re your family, right. I mean, how bad can they be?” Joe said. “Go meet them, bud.”
“They want the entire reunion caught on film,” Ted growled. “I’ll catch up with them, but not like this.”
Mandy did not want to feel sorry for him. He looked so different from the confident man she knew right now. She absolutely did not feel any pity. The rat.
Fin, who was wandering by, eyes on the people and newsman, saw Joe in the window. Raising his aviators, he strolled into the store.
“If my memory serves me well, which it usually does,” the ranger said, “that’s Senator Hosking out there with his family and a news crew. Family of yours, Teddy?”
“Yes.” The reply was clipped.
“You look a bit pale there, bud. Need me to create a diversion so you can make a run for it?”
Ted grunted something no one understood.
