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Bradley winced. That...well maybe he hadn't completely thought that through. He sighed and ran his
hand through his hair. "About that-"
"Lunch," his mother said, cutting him off. "That's why I stopped by. Why don't you join me? I think
we have a lot to talk about."
Bradley thought of making excuses, but like he told his mother he had no reason to run. He nodded.
"That's fine with me."
With a precise, elegant turn, his mother stepped out of the clinic. Bradley followed behind her, hearing
the voices of his employees muttering about Dr. Lotters and bar fights. He followed his mother back to
the house where lunch was already set up for them in the backroom next to the patio. Once the meal
was served, only then did his mother speak.
"I'm sure you can imagine our surprise to hear that you were in a bar fight and right after what you
said last night. I have to admit I'm a bit concerned."
Bradley took a bite of his Panini. "You don't need to worry, mother. I'm an adult. I can handle my
own problems."
His mother frowned. "I see, but your father has taken care of the incident, regardless. After all this
doesn't simply reflect on you, but on your father as well. He is, after all, a politician."
Bradley stiffened. "I'm aware what father is. I admit that maybe the bar fight was an unfortunate
incident, but only the bar fight."
"I see," his mother said and sipped her wine. "Your father thinks you're going through a phase."
Bradley rolled his eyes. "Seriously? Don't you think I'm a bit too old for that?"
His mother glared at him. "I thought you were too old for bar fights, but that didn't seem to stop you
from starting one."
"Fine. Then I'll make it clear and we can stop beating around the bush." He met his mother's eyes.
"I'm gay. That isn't going away and I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not."
His mother dug her nails into the tablecloth. "All these years and suddenly you're gay? How can you
be sure?"
"Because I never felt this way about anyone except for him."
His mother studied him and then sighed. "Your father isn't going to be happy."
"And you?" Bradley said.
"I wanted grandchildren," she said with a shrug.
He had expected that response, but there was still a twinge of hurt. He had hoped...
"Oh, don't look so disappointed," she said and took another sip of her wine. "It'll take some getting
used to, but I'm your mother after all. As all mothers, I want my child to be happy foremost. Besides,
there's always adoption."
It took Bradley a moment to get what his mother was saying, but when he did he couldn't help
grinning. "Thank you."
She made a soft clucking sound. "Don't think it'll be so easy with your father."
"Things are never easy with him."
"As long as you are aware. So tell me more about Sidney."
Bradley's eyes widened in surprise. "How?"
His mother gave him a sly smile. "I have a sharp eye. After all, I'm the mayor's wife."
Bradley laughed. After that he managed to waylay his mother's questions about Sid. He didn't want to
get into any detail, not until he officially had something going with Sid beyond a couple of one-night
stands. So he made his excuses and promised his mother that he would get back to her about Sid once
he was back from his vacation.
His mother had been surprised to hear about his impromptu vacation, which set off another set of
inquires before Bradley admitted he was going to Woodcutter Valley. She didn't press him further than
that. Though his mother had, in her own way, accepted he was serious about Sid he knew she was still
trying to come to terms with her son's sexuality.
He left his mother's house soon after and went to his own to pack a bag. He was on the road in no
time, but going to Woodcutter Valley was more complicated than he had originally expected. He had to
turn around twice before he spotted the carport and took a chance it might have something to do with
the town. He pulled inside, surprised to see more than a dozen cars inside and space for more. Parking,
he stepped out and glanced over the cars, looking for some sign the carport was to Woodcutter Valley
or at least that one of the cars was Sidney's. The problem was he had never seen what car Sidney had
ridden in and there was not even a Woodcutter Valley High bumper sticker on any of the cars.
Frustrated, Bradley was set to get back in his car and drive away when he spotted a trail. Curious
and a little hopeful, he grabbed his duffle bag and began following the trail into the woods. He wasn't on
the trail long before the sense of being watched began to climb over his skin. The further he went on the
trail the quieter the woods became around him. If it was just a nature trail then he silently hoped he'd run
into someone soon. They could at least point him in the direction of Woodcutter Valley. Bradley took
another step forward, but froze as he heard movement to his right. He whipped around, searching, but
there was nothing there. It sounded big. A deer? He tried to remember if there were black bears in the
area and really hoped there weren't.
He turned back to the trail and froze. Standing in front of him was a thin man with long brown hair and
a cold stare. Bradley hadn't even heard him coming.
"Um, hi?" Bradley said.
The man simply frowned at him. "This is private property. I suggest you turn back."
Bradley frowned and tried to not be bothered by the man's attitude. "Sorry, there were no signs. Hey,
can you tell me where Woodcutter Valley is? I've been driving down the road, but I can't seem to spot it
anywhere."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Why are you looking for Woodcutter Valley?"
Bradley bristled. "That's my business."
"Then I've got nothing to say to you," the man said.
Bradley started to protest when another man stepped out of the woods. This man was bigger, bigger
than even Bradley, and had wild auburn hair that spilled from a messy ponytail. A feral grin spread
across his face.
"Well now, it looks like we have a visitor," the stranger said.
Something about the man put Bradley on alert, but at the same time he felt excitement bubble up in
him at the sight of the man. The man might not have had the slender build of Sidney, but there was
definitely a resemblance. The man had to be some sort of family member.
"You wouldn't happen to know Sidney, would you?" Bradley quickly asked.
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," the auburn haired stranger said, his gaze sliding over Bradley with a
predatory gleam. "Who's asking?"
The man with the cold eyes glared at the new arrival, but didn't say anything, simply waited.
Bradley hesitated. Sidney might have specifically told people he wanted to avoid him, but Bradley
didn't have many options at the moment, so he just went for it. "I'm Bradley Lotters. I'm a friend of his."
The man laughed loudly and stepped forward. "Bradley Lotters. You're much more than a friend from
what I heard." He slapped Bradley's shoulder. "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Chase. Sid is my brother."
Bradley nodded, taking note about the more than friends bit. Maybe Sidney wasn't as against him as
he'd first thought. "I figured as much. You two look a lot alike."
"I'm handsomer," Chase said with a wink then pointed to the other man who was looking annoyed.
"That's Xavier."
Xavier gave a clipped nod, before turning to Chase. "A word."
Chase sighed dramatically then winked at Bradley. "Give me a minute. Xavier's a bit of a stickler for
rules."
Bradley nodded slowly and watched Chase saunter off into the woods with Xavier. Bradley rubbed
the back of his neck and wondered what he had just gotten himself into. Xavier and Chase seemed to be
some sort of guards, but if so what were they protecting? What exactly was Woodcutter Valley? All [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]