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They really didn’t care, Ted realized with relief. For so long, he’d not wanted anyone to know who he was or where he’d come from. When he’d left home, he’d needed to be known as simply Ted Hosking, not the senator’s son. Wanted to live and fall on his own merits. He knew now he’d done that and more. Knew these people who he called friends liked him because of who he was, not where he’d come from.
“Looks to me like your brother’s pretty persistent,” Fin said, taking the scone Mandy handed him. She then gave one to Toby.
She’d been quiet, listening and watching, but Ted was aware of her, like he always was. He’d gone to the bank because he wanted to help, and because it was important to her she got the loan. If she was pissed about that, fine, but he was still standing as her guarantor.
“These are good,” Toby said. “Really good. We have this cafeteria at the hospital that makes lemon ones, but these are better.”
“Thanks. I like lemon ones too, but I think the blueberries add something.” Most people were comfortable with Toby.
“I like the date ones,” Joe said before he took another bite.
“So, Ted, we need to go to the lodge now and face the music. They’ll hunt you down otherwise.”
“Yeah, I’m just about ready. I just need six shots of whiskey and a whiskey chaser,” he told Toby.
“Did you just make a joke, Hosking?” Joe asked.
“I make jokes.”
“He’s always been the serious Hosking,” Toby said. “The responsible one, the strong, silent type.”
“Nothing’s changed there then,” Fin added.
Mandy was behind the counter looking busy, but he knew she was listening to every word.
“I need you to know they’re going to ask about Emily, Ted.” He tried not to stiffen as Toby mentioned their sister.
“That your sister?” Fin asked.
“It is. She was fourteen when she was murdered,” Toby said. Unlike Ted, he could talk about her and had likely dealt with it way better.
“I’m sorry.” Joe touched Ted’s shoulder. “That has to be rough.”
“It was. Really rough,” Toby added, shooting Ted a look as if to say “why haven’t you told these people about her?”
“Ted’s what you’d call a closed book,” Fin said, intercepting the look. “We don’t know much about him.”
“Not everyone likes to talk,” Mandy said. The surprise to Ted was that she was defending him.
“True, and let’s face it, you two are gold medalists at that.”
“Okay, let’s go and get this done,” Ted said, deciding he couldn’t hide in here forever no matter how much he wanted to.
“I’ll drive you, I’m heading to the station,” Fin said.
Ted let Toby follow Fin but hung back to speak to Mandy.
“I’m sorry about all this.”
“You can’t hide who your family is forever, Ted.”
He touched her cheek; she pulled away. “I know, I guess old habits die hard.”
“About the bank—”
“I’m not changing what I did, so you need to live with that.” Ted left before she could argue with him.
The drive was completed in silence while Ted grappled with what he would be facing when he reached the lodge.
