“Something has come up.”
“I gathered that much.”
He must have detected that I was struggling with how to tell him everything, because he reminded me that no matter what, he would always be a calm set of ears for me. He’d always be a mentor to me because I would always need him and his words of wisdom and sound advice.
“Talk to me, Andrew. My ears are open and I’m listening.”
“Can you come to the club?” I asked.
“I can, yes. How urgent is this?”
“It’s urgent, but you don’t have to race over. Just come over when you can.”
“This is all rather cryptic. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry for being so vague. It just isn’t something that I should get into over the phone. However, I don’t want you blindsided when you get here.”
“I’m in my fifties, Andrew. Let’s reduce the chance of being blindsided.”
“It’s about Brandon.” The moment that left my mouth, James took control of the conversation. I could hear his office door close in the background, which must mean he was leaving.
“What about Brandon?”
“The rest could maybe wait until you get here.”
As soon as Brandon’s name was mentioned, James flexed his psychological adeptness and began to mobilize the protective bubble for Brandon.Yeah, Morgan will have his work cut out for him.
“You used ‘could’ and ‘maybe.’ While you’re telling me it could maybe wait until a face-to-face interaction, you’re actually indicating that you’re open to telling me now, depending upon how much I push.” I could hear cars and outside noise in the background. “Consider this me pushing.”
“I don’t want you to drive while distracted.”
“That can be easily resolved. Simply tell me what’s come up before I reach my car. Then I won’t be distracted trying to extract info from you while I’m driving.”
“It’s illegal to drive and talk on the phone,” I playfully pointed out.
“Andrew. I’m approaching my car, and I don’t give a damn about the law if it prohibits me from anything related to Brandon.”
Obsession at its best.
“Okay! Jeez, you’re terrible sometimes.”
“At least it’s not all of the time. I can live with being terrible sometimes. Talk, Andrew. I’m getting in the car.”
“I learned some information this morning about Brandon’s father,” I blurted out.
The thrumming vibration of my pulse racing filled the silence on the phone line.
In the background I could hear a seat belt being clicked into place and the car turning on.
“James?”
“I’m here. I was just picturing the blank place on Brandon’s birth certificate for the name of the father. How did you—”
“No. No more info until you get here. Drive safe and get here in one piece.”
I felt somewhat guilty when I hung up with James. At least he wouldn’t be completely taken by surprise.
9
