Page 133 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

“How’s he paying the rent now that you’re gone?”

“He’s not.” She glanced down at her hands as she twisted them in her lap. “He said he’s living in Chicago.”

“Chicago?” The word came out as a whisper. “With who?”

She didn’t reply. But I didn’t need her to. Brayden wouldn’t have told her who he was there with, but it was obvious to both of us. And it scared the hell out of me.

“You don’t think he’s getting tied back up with…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence. How could he keep doing this to his family? For someone who said he cared, he didn’t seem to think about how any of his actions might affect us.

“I don’t know for sure,” Norma admitted. “But, he’s just like his father. Thinks he’s too good to get a real job. I’m afraid to even ask him what he’s doing.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I said, sounding more confident than I actually felt. “You just focus on getting healthy, Norma. Okay?”

I gave her a watery smile, and she returned it. “Okay, Brighton. I love you.”

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