Dragging his feet he shouldered his school bag and sloped off across the hall into the study. Later, his homework completed, he sat at the dinner tabl... quietly eating his evening meal. Despite his parents attempts to engage him in conversation, Brandon refrained from talking, instead his mind filled with other thoughts. His demeanour had become more and more withdrawn in recent months, despite his parents best attempts he had become, much to their chagrin, distant and introspective, almost. 'Besides, that was pretty tame compared to the birth of you two.''Tame how?' Jade asked.Susan looked at her oldest child. 'Well, with you we were young and everything was new. We were typical first time parents, we read anything and everything about having kids and we followed all of the rules. Both of us were deeply in love and we dearly wanted you. The day you were born was a Wednesday, which was payday back then for your dad, a wet, cold day in the middle of winter, so I was out doing the. It was just a business loan. Mason turned him down flat, but wished him luck. He couldn’t even recommend him to anyone, or do anything at all to help him, because of what would happen. I know that it hurt him at the time, but it was for the best. But when your children came to him, he ... saw what would happen if he didn’t help, and felt he had to, even with what could happen,” Bethany explained.“My father? But you can’t be more than twenty-two or -three! How could you... ?”“I’m older than I. "Good morning, my love." Good morning." Coffee?" Tea?" Comin' up!" He pours from the hot water carafe and offers you a choice of teas. You choose one and drop the bag into your cup.There is an envelope on the cover of your plate. You open it, looking at him slyly. It's a certificate for a full day at the hotel spa. "I promised this to you a long time ago, and I wouldn't want the chat room police to get the wrong idea," he says.You walk over and kiss him on the cheek. "Oh My God, thank you!" My.