Hugh's Pain - 8. Chapter 8

Hugh didn’t let it be known that he knew anything. He still didn’t know what had happened to Jonathan or who was responsible for his injuries. Deep inside, Hugh felt that Gary could be trusted… but there was still that little doubt. He kept his expression neutral as Gary continued.

“Jon and Jason were twins. They weren’t identical but I know they looked close enough that people used to joke about it when Jason came to visit. The boys would act it up too. I think they wanted to be brothers, at least Jason did. He used to talk about how much it sucked to be an only child. Looking back, I think that growing up here, his only light in life was you.”

The knife in Hugh’s heart managed to sink in deeper. He could feel the sharp edge twist as he thought again about how he’d left the café, left his best friend, in silence.

“Hugh, where did you go?”

“Home. I told you.”

“No. I mean afterward. I know you were here in town for a few months, but then, Jason said that you disappeared. As far as I know, you were gone until a week before Jason died.”

Hugh flinched. “How do you know that?”

“When Jason refused to come out west, Nathan hired some people to watch over him. I guess news got out that Jason was his, and the threats started to grow. From what I understand, a lot of them were directed toward Jason.”

“Why?”

“Not an easy question, Hugh.” Gary started to pick his coffee up, but seemed to change his mind and pushed the cup away. “At first, we figured it was because he was so far away from the rest of the family. But then, I saw one of the notes. The things, horrid, hateful things that were written there…. Somehow these people found out that Jason was gay. So now, not only was he convenient, but they could also vent their hatred on a living target.

“Jason didn’t like it but Nathan had a couple of his security guys move into the house after Jason’s parents split up and moved away. The house belonged solely to his mother and she put it into Jason’s name before she left. We all got the feeling that her husband, rather ex-husband wasn’t a very happy camper with the way things went for him. I guess he thought the house was in both names since it had been a wedding present to them from his brother.”

“Nathan.”

“Yeah. That’s why no one really questioned the boys looking so much alike. Jason’s dad and Nathan are twins, so sure, it made sense that they would.”

“Oh, man,” Hugh said as he shook his head. “And I thought my life was fucked up. I wish I’d known all this back then.”

Gary’s voice was quiet when he asked, “Would it have made a difference?”

Hugh sighed and gripped his mug hard. “I don’t know. I’d like to think….” He looked out the window and finally shook his head. “No, I don’t guess it would have. I was so afraid back then. Scared of losing my mom, afraid of disappointing my big brother… petrified of my father; I think I probably would have acted the same way. I was a coward.”

The sound of an engine drew Gary’s attention and he moved over to the outside door.

“Ellen’s here with the boys. Our conversation will have to be postponed for a while.”

Hugh got up and took his cup to the kitchen sink.

“I should be on my way then.”

“No. Why don’t you wait a minute and meet everyone. I’m sure Ellen will want you to stay for supper.”

Not when she finds out who I am, Hugh thought. But he waited with his butt perched back against the counter, forcing himself to relax.

The one in the door was Gary’s son. Hugh remembered him well from the diner. He watched as the boy pulled up short when he noticed Hugh in the kitchen. The other boy, Toby, bumped into him as he froze.

“Hey, what gives? Oh.” Toby moved around Gary’s son and pulled him away from the door so Ellen could get inside.

“You.” Hugh could hear the scorn in the boy’s voice and cocked his head in curiosity. Did this kid know him? He didn’t think so.

“Rick, don’t be rude.”

Hugh glanced over at the woman as she stood next to the table. The look in her eyes was indecipherable to him. It was neither warm nor cold. He couldn’t tell whether she was calm or angry. She just stood there, looking at him.

“Ellen,” Gary said and stepped in front of her, blocking her view. “I found Hugh this afternoon when I went to visit with Jason.”

She said something, but it was too quiet for Hugh to hear.

He switched his attention back to the boys. Rick looked furious while Toby stood calmly at his side with a hand resting gently but firmly on Rick’s shoulder.

“I’m guessing you know who I am,” Hugh stated.

Rick gave a sharp nod.

“Then you know how close you came to committing the same crime.”

“Crime?” Ellen’s voice screeched from behind Gary’s body. She pushed him away and glared between Hugh and Rick. “What crime?”

Rick’s gaze dropped to the floor as Hugh answered.

“The crime of abandonment.” He glanced at Gary and pushed away from the counter. “I think I’d better go.” He stopped Gary from responding with a raised hand. “No. Gary, I appreciate the talk, the way you’ve tried to understand, but there are demons out there that I need to face. And I need to face them alone.”

As he moved around the boys to leave, Hugh felt a feathery light touch on his arm. He glanced over into the shining, light blue eyes of young Toby.

“You’d have stopped him if his dad hadn’t.”

It was a statement, not a question. And the boy’s eyes showed his gratitude when Hugh nodded.

“You’re a lucky kid, Toby. But him…” Hugh gestured to Rick with his head. “He’s even luckier.”

He left the house that held so many good memories and started his walk back to the graveyard, back to his truck, and back to the pit he had called home.