Page 76 of Finley

“I don’t mean about my kids and what great students they are or have been. Or even how fancy this one’s become?—”

“Ma,” Daniel said.

Brantley laughed.

Oh, now he’s having fun.Of course.

“I’m not going to kill you, for God’s sake. His father might have, but, God rest his soul, he’s no longer here to threaten you. So please, relax, would you?”

“Oh for the love of,” Daniel muttered, and shook his head. “Ma, quit.”

“No, Finn, it’s okay. Really.” And Brantley’s smile told him that it really was. “I think your mother has every right to ask me whatever she wants. And I’m happy to answer.”

When his mom rounded on Daniel and crossed her arms, he groaned.

“Is that okay withyou, son?”

“Fine. Get it over with,” he said, and then he raised his eyes to Brantley. “Just remember, she’s had four glasses of wine and I get my directness from her.”

“Good to know.” Brantley chuckled.

Well, hell. Isn’t he all calm and shit. What happened to the nervous, fumbling guy from earlier?

His mother grabbed the bottle of wine, refilled her glass, and then gestured to Brantley’s.

He held it out for her. “Why not? We’re walking home.”

“Be careful there, professor, or I’ll be dragging you home.”

“I’m quite fine, thank you. You just keep doing the dishes.”

Daniel narrowed his eyes but laughed as he did just that.

“Okay, the first thing I have to ask is, how did you get mixed up with this one?”

“Gee, thanks, Ma.”

Brantley raised his glass to his lips and then stunned the hell out of him. “I’m sure you’re aware that your son has always been rather…tenacious.”

His mother hooted out a loud laugh. “Now that’s an understatement.”

“Yes, I suppose it is, but it seemed the best way to say that he?—”

Daniel laughed. “Just say it, Brantley. Nothing’s going to shock her now.”

“Thank you for your permission, Finn,” Brantley said, aiming a look his way.

“What? It’s not. I kind of stalked him. End of story,” Daniel said, looking to his mother as he pulled the plug out of the sink.

“Finnconfided in me that he was gay early on when we first met. I tried to keep my distance…” Brantley raised his glass to his lips, and this time, he took alonggulp of his wine as he looked at Daniel across the room.

That was when his mother reached across the counter to where Brantley’s other hand was resting.

“It’s okay, Brantley.”

Brantley’s eyes left Daniel’s to slide back to his mom’s, and whatever he saw in them must have reassured him, because his shoulders relaxed.

“I don’t need all the details. Anyone with two eyes in their head can see this was more than some cheap fling between a teacher and his student. I could see it even back then. I actually think I should thank you in some ways. You were a huge factor in Finn doing so well through college. He was more focused and dedicated than I’d ever seen him, and that was due largely in part to wanting to spend his time with you. You kept him…centered.”