Only Just Begun

by Vella, Wendy

  He felt differently about her, but wasn’t willing to do anything about it. She scared him, that was the fact, plain and simple. Everything about his feelings for her were not comfortable, so he’d done what he always did when a person got too close and pushed her away.

  He heard the bell on the door of Tea Total, and then there she was. Mandy, looking sweet in a knee-length skirt and white T-shirt. Her hair was up in a messy bun. She’d schooled her face into that emotionless facade he now knew she hid behind when she was unsure.

  So sweet. He wanted to grab her and hold her, and this time he wouldn’t let her go. He felt it again, the burning indigestion in his gut.

  “Ted, someone is here to see you.”

  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.

  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.

  He had famous people stay often, and sometimes paparazzi, but rarely did they realize who he was.

  “Pretty busy,” Fin said, pulling up as close as he could get to the entrance. “Need me to come in and run interference, Ted?”

  “No. We’ve got this, but thanks, Fin. Seriously.”

  Ted gripped his friend’s hand hard.

  “All good, bud. Friends, remember.”

  “Yeah, I think I may be finally understanding that concept.”

  “He always been a slow learner, Toby?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Ted cuffed Toby over the head, then got out of the car.

  “Okay let’s do this,” Ted said walking beside his bother up the steps to the lodge. Entering he found mayhem in his lobby.

  “Ted!” Lenny came forward looking harassed, which wasn’t comfortable on a man who was usually anything but.

  “It’s okay, Lenny.” He placed a hand on his manager’s shoulder. “I’ve got this. These people are my family, for better or worse,” he muttered.

  “Senator Hosking is your dad?”

  “He is, and this is Toby, my youngest brother.”

  “Hi.” Lenny held out a hand, and Toby shook it.

  “I’ll go and deal with my family now, Lenny. Thanks.”

  They were chatting,
smiling, and doing what they did best. Putting on a facade. A cameraman was filming every move, and cameras were clicking.

  “Edward, how wonderful to see you.” Anthony came forward with his wife, Melinda. They were cut from the exact same cloth. Ted stuck out his hand, opening his fist so he didn’t plant it in his brother’s face.

  “You better get this done and get out of my town soon, or I’m causing a scene that will ensure you don’t get elected,” Ted whispered in his brother’s ear before they parted.

  Anthony didn’t look quite so confident when he pulled back.

  “Hello, Edward.” Melinda made a show of greeting him. He released her as soon as he could.

  “No cameras or filming inside the lodge.” Ted turned to face the press. “My guests come here for privacy. I’m afraid on this, I insist.”

  “Oh come now, Edward.” Elizabeth Hosking walked forward. “Surely you can allow a few family snaps?”

  “Mother,” Ted greeted her. She had a few more lines, but that was the only thing that had changed in the years since he’d seen her. Tall, elegant, with style written all over her perfectly made-up features, she greeted her eldest son with a peck on the cheek. No one watching them would realize they hadn’t seen each other in years. “And yes, I can, but outside.”

  Ted turned to face the press. “Leave, please, now.”

  One of them lifted a camera and snapped. Ted smiled, then came forward slowly. “I can call the police in if you want.”

  “No need for that, Edward. They are here to take some campaign shots, nothing more.” Anthony moved in front of him and dealt with it. Minutes later, the press were outside the lodge doors.

  “There was no need for the heavy hand,” Anthony said.

  “This is my hotel; I make the rules. If you don’t like them, then leave.”

  Anthony and their mother were the same people. Self-obsessed and arrogant. Neither had been to see Ted, just as he’d not returned to their home since Emily’s death.

  “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?”

  “Because Mandy has suffered in her life. She’s a gentle soul, but lately she’s been growing a spine. We like it and want that to continue,” Miss Marla said. “We think you could be good for her, but also bad if you are not serious.”

  This is not happening.

  “I would never hurt Mandy.” Liar, you already have.

  “Perhaps not, but you’re a man of the world. Mandy is someone who has experienced very little of life. We think if she falls for someone it will be hard, and we don’t want her hurt.”

  “So what, you’re warning me off?” Ted’s words sounded gruff.

  “Only if you are not serious about Mandy,” Miss Sarah said. “We love you, as we do all our youngsters in Ryker Falls, but I won’t let her be hurt, Ted. We can’t allow that when she’s only just starting to spread her wings.”

  “So we want you to promise us you won’t,” Miss Marla added.

  Too late.

  “Maybe you’ve been overprotective of her and that’s the problem.”

  Both women sighed.

  “There’s little doubt there’s truth in that, but we could do nothing else, considering,” Miss Marla said.

  “Considering?”

  “Again, that’s not our story to tell,” Miss Sarah added.

  “We want both you and Mandy to be happy, Ted. Just so we’re clear on that. If it can’t be together, then I want you to experience that with other people.”

  The thought of Mandy with another man was like a punch to the gut.

  He got out of his chair as they got out of theirs.

  “Don’t for one moment think this is about you being unsuitable for Mandy, Ted, because Marla and I don’t feel that way at all. In fact, we think you would be perfect for each other. Both of you are contained in your own way and have secrets that have made you the way you are. Love would make you stronger together.”

  “Love!” Ted took a step back. “Where did that come from? Surely not Mandy.”

  “Our niece has never even spoken about you to us, so you can relax there. But we have eyes and ears and know what lies between you both. Whether you’re brave enough to do something about that is another matter entirely,” Miss Sarah said.

  They then kissed and hugged him before leaving, closing the door softly behind them.

  Ted fell back into his chair feeling like he’d been attacked by a loofa sponge, disturbing but not painful. Staring at his blank computer screen, thoughts churned around and around inside his head. An hour later, he’d done no work, so he decided on a walk to clear his head.

  Arriving at the front desk, he found his mother.

  “I thought you and dad were out enjoying the scenery today?” Ted said.

  “We need another photo shoot outside later, Edward. One as the sun starts to set behind mountains. I’ve been trying to get your staff to organize a table and chairs in the perfect place, but they’re extremely unaccommodating. You should really train them better.”

  His mother had an end goal in sight for Anthony, and that was to live in the White House. Her husband had failed; she would make sure her son did not, and she didn’t care who she stomped over to get him there.

  “My staff are the best there is, and I won’t have you upsetting them, Mother. I hope I’m clear on that, because if you have a problem with them, then it’s you who will be leaving.”

  The muffled sounds behind him sugge
sted some of his staff had overheard that.

  “How dare you put your staff ahead of family!” Elizabeth Hosking may be attractive on the outside, but inside she was ugly. Her mouth twisted into a snarl. “Your lack of loyalty toward your family is a disgrace. How can you not want to support Anthony?”

  “Just so we’re clear, Mother, I don’t give a damn if Anthony succeeds or not. He’s my brother, therefore I love him, just as I do you, but I sure as hell don’t like him.” Or you.

  Her mouth opened, then snapped closed.

  “You don’t deserve the name Hosking!”

  “Unlucky for you then that I have it.”

  She stormed away from him, and he turned to find several of his staff pretending they had not overheard the entire conversation.

  “You don’t take any of her crap,” he said. “In fact, come and find me if any of my family start in on you.”

  They nodded, smiled. Then Lena answered the phone. Ted listened as he wandered behind the desk and looked through the computer bookings.

  “Yes, Mandy Robbins, that’s right.”

  Ted waited until Lena finished the call before speaking.

  “Who was asking after Mandy?”

  “Some press guy, but it’s the second call I’ve taken. The first was a few days after the photographer was here. Both times they’ve just wanted the names of the people in the photo.” She looked a bit nervous now. “Shouldn’t I have given them?”

  “Which photos are they talking about?” Ted moved looked over her shoulder at the computer she was on.

  “Well, I mean we weren’t being nosey, but the guy said it was in the paper, and we looked it up.”

  “I’m not angry, I just want to see the photo.”

  She brought it up, and Ted felt his stomach drop and wasn’t entirely sure why. It was one taken outside here the day he’d told Mandy the photographers were doing a Lodge promo. She was looking at him, and he her. You could see her face clearly. The second one wasn’t as clear.

  Shit.

  “No problem, Lena. Just don’t give out any more names in the future.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll have my phone if anyone needs me. I need to head out.”