Letting Go Read Online Free Page A

You relate to everyday people, I need to see more of that.”
    Dean’s shoulders relaxed and he released a long breath.
    Grant looked at him and found an outlet for his frustration. “What’s the matter with you, Dean? Why are you so worried about all this?”
    His brother glanced at him and then looked at his dad. Grant followed his lead and saw the subtle shake of his dad’s head. His uncle turned away and Dean gave Grant one of his patented fake smiles.
    “Nothing, I just want to make sure you get everything you deserve, that’s all. You’ve wanted to help people since you were a kid. Now you have a chance. I’m happy for you.” He turned away before Grant could see his eyes or read his expression.
    One thing for sure, his brother and the word happy were enemies; something big must have happened for him to bother lying.
    “Yeah, sure.” His dry tone went unchallenged.
    “The next event, on Saturday, you have a date?” his uncle asked.
    Dean sat back and took a long drink.
    They all knew Grant had no tolerance for intrusions into his personal life. It had been a deal breaker when the two elders asked him to run for office. “No. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
    “If you keep showing up to these events alone, people will get the idea you’re gay,” his uncle said in a low voice, leaning forward as if quiet words lessened the insult.
    “I’m not.” His voice held an edge.
    “We know that, but they don’t know you. You need to start bringing a female to these events to prevent talk.”
    Grant met his uncle’s challenging stare. “Are you saying people are talking about me and my sexual orientation?”
    The man’s face tightened at the implication. “No, not yet. But it’s just a matter of time. Look at me. Your Aunt Wanda and I don’t even live in the same house, but we understand appearances must be kept in public. When we need to come together for the common good, we put all else aside. You must do this as well.”
    “So telling me that I don’t need to be happy with a woman, to use her for the common good, your definition of common good, is supposed to bring me on-board. Really?” He shook his head at the arrogance. “You expect me to do that after what I went through with Priscilla? I can’t believe you said that.” He placed his hand on the table to push off and leave. “Before we started this I told you what I refused to do, you agreed. I meant it then and I mean it now. Stay out of my personal life, once was enough.”
    No one spoke. His uncle’s cheeks reddened until he threw his balled napkin on the table. “Stubborn. I’m trying to help you.” He tapped his forehead. “I know how these old bastards think, I’m one of them.”
    “That’s enough, Ray,” his dad said without raising his voice. “I told you to leave it alone. If the time comes when Grant needs to make changes to win the race, he’ll do what any one of us would do. We are all in this together, one hundred percent behind you, Grant.”
    The undercurrent of the threat jumped at him. He leaned forward in his chair and met his dad’s hard gaze. “Let’s be clear on a couple of things, shall we?”
    His dad sat back, unbuttoned his coat, and nodded. “Let’s.”
    “At no time will I turn into a whore or a pimp for this family. I’ve done that before and it didn’t end pretty. I am not going to drag a woman into my life at this time for any reason, family or political. Something is going on, I can see that. You don’t want to tell me, not my problem. But I am not running for office as your puppet. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. We need to be real clear on that fact.”
    His uncle shook his head and looked away. Silence greeted his declaration, but his father’s clenched jaw spoke loud and clear. He glanced at his watch, time to leave.
    “Some things you said are correct, others wrong. But that does not surprise me. You were always an ungrateful child.”
    Grant stood, the scrape of the