"I was afraid. What if I didn't like you?" He took in a long, deep breath and started to cry. "What if you didn't like me?"
Steve had been searching for me for over a year before he found Mocha Daze. He'd gone through my old college transcripts and the alumni group at the college, traced me to San Francisco where he found out about Charley and from there to WeHo. He'd found Charley's children before he found me and that's where he'd met Barbra.
He left quickly. I had just opened up shop and already I was stressed out. I knew it was going to be a busy day.
"Yes, he is very talented, but I don't know." I tried not to look at Fran while she talked about Greg and his paintings. If I didn't see her eyes, it'd be easier for me to say no.
"He's your friend, Hugo."
"Shit, Fran, what planet are you on? Greg is not my 'friend.' I haven't talked to him for two months."
She shook her head and wagged a finger at me. "You talked to him a few weeks back."
"A long, long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away."
She laughed at that. It was nice to hear it. She didn't seem to laugh very much lately.
I continued, "I hardly said a word. I just listened. He did all the talking."
I did not want to talk about this with her. Not with Steve in my picture. There were enough stresses and strains with that by itself.
"I know things are messed up between you, but come on. You need your friends."
"Okay, damn it. Tell him he can hang the paintings, but do not, I repeat, do not tell Steve that they're Greg's pictures. Bring them in and you and I can hang them ourselves."
"If Steve asks, they're mine." She leaned over the bar and kissed me. "Thanks. You won't regret it."
"Your life is like some kind of stupid soap opera," said Kurt, over lunch. "Who came up with this plot twist?"
"God knows," I said. "Thing is, Steve's my flesh and blood, but he's a bit of prick. I'm not even sure I like him all that much."
"Because of Barbra?"
"Oh, god, yes. Having that woman as my daughter-in-law just makes my blood run cold," I sighed. "That and the double cross at the coffee shop."
Kurt nudged my leg with his foot under the table. "No one says you have to like your in-laws."
"I have a sneaking feeling that the Indians are circling," I said. "and I'm going to get scalped."
Kurt ran the palm of his hand over the few bristles of hair left on my head. "They're not going to get much if they try."
