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“Son.”
Edward Hosking avoided confrontation with his family where possible, which was amusing considering he’d been a senator and run to be a presidential candidate. He’d been absent a lot during their childhood, and maybe that’s why Ted always saw him as the good guy. His father had smiling blue eyes and a gentle way about him that was like Toby. He’d just got caught up in his wife’s ambitions for life.
“Dad.” He hugged his father like he had Toby. “Fancy you just dropping by like this.”
His father snorted. “You know how these things work, Edward.”
“I do. But a heads-up would have been awesome.”
“You would have gone into hiding, and it’s been a long time since we were all together, son.”
“And you want us to do that in front of cameras?”
His father sighed, which pretty much said it all.
Chapter 34
Two days later, Ted thought about walking out the doors to his beloved lodge and not looking back. He’d been confined to the place, as the cameras had multiplied outside. His mother and brother were driving him slowly mad, and his sister-in-law was running a close third.
A knock on his office door had him grunting, “It’s open.”
Mandy’s aunts walked in.
“Miss Marla, Miss Sarah.” Ted got to his feet. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk with you, Ted.”
He waved them into seats across from his desk. “What can I do for you?”
He could tell they were worried about something, because they weren’t smiling or flirting with him.
“Is Mandy okay?”
“Of course, but she hasn’t left Tea Total or the apartment since your family arrived along with the cameras.”
“Why does she hate cameras?” He sat behind his desk.
“Have you asked her?” Miss Marla asked.
“Yes. She wouldn’t tell me.”
“It’s not our story to tell you, Ted. It must come from Mandy.”
He guessed their loyalty was a good thing, but it didn’t help him know more about Mandy.
“Can we ask you a question?” Miss Sarah said.
“Of course.”
“Do you care for our niece?”
“Ah, sure. We’re friends.” He kept his hands still, folded on top of his desk, eyes on the two women.
“Just friends, nothing more?” Miss Marla asked. “Because lately we’ve come to believe there’s something deeper between you.”
He felt his forehead start to sweat.
“Why are you asking me this?”
