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She stood to one side, and in walked his little brother Toby.
“I wondered where you were hiding.”
“I told that bastard I didn’t want this here, in my home town.”
“You live in Colorado, Ted, that’s where he wants control. Therefore, he believes he’s within his rights to come here. Plus, added bonus, his big brother is here, who he’s told everyone he respects hugely and loves very much.”
“Asshole.”
“He may love you, to be fair, but he just loves himself more.”
“You’re still growing.” Ted got out of his chair and then they were hugging. “How’d they get you away from the hospital?”
“Bribery. If I come on this, then I can skip most of the others.”
Toby was younger than Ted by four years. He was the quiet Hosking. Happy to work at the hospital helping people. No one had ever really understood him, except maybe his girlfriend, Rita.
“How’s your girl?”
Toby smiled. “Really good.”
“Come out here, Teddy Bear, the coast is clear.”
“Be right out, Fin,” Ted said.
“I’m really sorry they did this to you, Edward.”
“I like Ted better.”
“Me too.” Toby smiled.
“I missed you, little brother.” The look on Toby’s face told Ted he’d never really let him know how he felt about him.
“Missed you too, big bro.”
They hugged again, and that was a first too. Hoskings weren’t usually huggers unless the cameras were rolling.
“I really am sorry,” Toby said when they’d parted. “They decided just to arrive so you couldn’t do anything about it. With the lodge, Anthony knew you wouldn’t want bad press, so they booked in under fake names.”
Ted knew what his family was capable of, so no surprise there.
“Come on, we need to head out to the tea shop, or they’ll come in.”
“Who are they?”
“Friends.”
“And the nice lady who brought me in here? Is she a friend too?”
Ted nodded. She was a nice lady… in fact, way too nice.
They walked out into the shop, and he found Joe, Fin, and Mandy there.
“Joe Trainer, Fin Hudson, and Mandy Robbins, this is my youngest brother, Toby.”
Hands were shaken, and Mandy got a kiss on the cheek. Toby had always been way better than him with people from the start. He’d not had as much pressure put on him from a young age either. He’d blended into the background with Em while Ted was made to stand beside his father.
“So your daddy is Senator Hosking. That explains a lot about you, Ted,” Fin said.
