Letting Go Read Online Free Page B

chair against the floor loud in the crowded restaurant. He’d heard this song so many times during his life he knew the chorus by heart. He nodded and stepped away.
    “I’m not done,” his dad snapped. One thing the old man hated, being ignored.
    “I am. Sing the ungrateful song to your background singers.” He nodded to Dean and his uncle. “I’ve heard it enough times.” He strode away from the table, out the door, and down the sidewalk toward his parked car.
    “Grant. Grant!” His Uncle Ray called.
    He stopped, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then turned to see the older man huffing toward him at a fast clip. When he reached Grant, he glared, bent forward, took a deep breath and then pointed.
    “You two are too much alike, I… I swear.”
    Since he had heard that most of his life, he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for his uncle to make his point.
    “This thing, you running for the state legislature…it’s big. Big for us. We have a lot riding on you taking that seat. It cost major bucks to get you on the ballet. We need, no, I need, you to get your head into the game and take this more seriously.”
    Grant’s brow rose and steam blew out his nose. His uncle had no idea. “More serious? Do you realize it’s after seven in the evening and I have been working the campaign since five this morning while you slept? And you want more. I have a kid at home who hasn’t seen me in two days because I work twelve and fourteen hour days to get damned elected.” He pointed at the old man. “And here I am standing on the sidewalk debating my commitment with you instead of getting six hours of undisturbed rest to re-start this insane schedule in the morning.” He threw up his arm. “I’m in this all the way, but I told you and dad when you brought this opportunity to me, I refuse to allow this to consume me. I don’t want to play dirty, I’ve done dirty, and that always comes back to kick me in the ass.”
    His uncle frowned and gave a dismissive wave. “You’re an adult. Politics is the dirtiest game in town. There’s not a politician in a high position who doesn’t owe someone for being in that spot. Everybody, from the President to the local mayor has been bought and paid for by someone. It’s the way things are, the way the game’s played.”
    “I’m not in office. The election is seven months away and you’re telling me I already owe someone. Someone who makes dad nervous.” He looked at the guilty stain on his uncle’s cheek. “You’re nervous too. What’s going on?” he asked. Getting information from his uncle required less work than from Dean or his dad. Sending his uncle had been a calculated move so he could learn what he needed to know without either of them sharing. His dad always said if you want someone to know something, tell Raymond.
    “Nothing big, a few promises have been made that we need to come through on but can’t if you don’t win. So the focus is on you winning the seat. Whatever it takes, we need to win.”
    A sliver of unease slid down Grant’s back. He’d gotten embroiled in one of his dad’s borderline ethical deals before and got burned. Never again.
    “I made a promise to my kid to stay sober and clean. I wasted years of my life after the accident and Blair paid for it. I don’t know or care what you and dad are into, but I want no part of it.” He ignored the tightening around his uncle’s eyes and lips and continued. “If I win this seat, I want to stand tall and proud with my kid at my side. If that can’t happen, find someone else. I am not going down any more rabbit holes. When it comes to the shady stuff coming out of the old man’s office, the only family I care about is me and Blair.”
    His uncle looked away. “It’s not more than the other politicians do, everyone promises favors in exchange for favors.”
    Grant nodded. “But I haven’t made any promises to anyone. You and dad are doing that behind my back and expecting