My Brother's Keeper

CHAPTER ONE

Jared tapped his fingers against his thigh and glanced around the room, "This is a really nice restaurant" he stated softly.

"Yes, his mom replied. We haven't gone out for a while so I thought it appropriate considering the occasion. We've been here before you know, it was while ago and you were much younger."

"Was Daddy with us?" he asked now curious.

"Yes, it was actually his birthday, his 30th if I recall, so you would have been 7 at the time." Eva stated and then glanced around the room nervously.

"Why are you nervous mom?"

"Well, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Colin because he lives with his mother. So yes I am bit nervous and you should be also you haven't met Joseph or Colin it would be natural you know."

"Well, the fact that I've met either isn't quite my fault now is it mom? I mean sending me off to boarding school after Dad died pretty much meant I was not around for much and that includes you falling in love with the man of your dreams." His tone was condescending and he was not trying to hide how he felt about the situation. He didn't know anything about this man that she'd spent enough time with to now want to marry him. All he knew is that when his flight landed yesterday she picked him up and on the drive to their home she told him the short version of the man. Now here he sat in a posh restaurant waiting to meet him and the elusive son that currently lived with his mother and stepfather, hence the reason his mom had yet to met him.

"Attitude Jared, I'll not have you making a scene because you are not happy with the decisions I've made and in your best interest I might add. Foley Preparatory Academy was-no, is the best in the country and we had the means so it was right that you should attend. Not to mention that 98% of their graduates go on to attend Harvard, Yale or Princeton.

"How ironic" Jared interrupted "because all of it was for me to attend ASU in the fall. I'm graduating and coming home Mom, no question and no debating the issue, " he stated barely hiding his anger.

"Ok." she stated barely above a whisper. "I've tried to give you the best of everything and you just want to squander my efforts and settle but you're 18 now and graduating so it's your decision" she huffed.

"Settle?" He could barely contain his anger.  "ASU has one of the best journalism and media programs in the country. Hello, the Walter Cronkite School there is none better...."

Eva interrupted him. "That's another thing journalism and media," she huffed. Why not a prestigious career like your father had in medicine or his father before him for that matter? You are breaking tradition."

"Tradition!" This time, he was loud enough to get the attention of the patrons at tables nearby. "It was also my father that died of a heart attack while in the bed of a woman more than half his age or should I follow his dear dad, Grandpa William that fathered 3 children outside of his marriage with a 20 something. Are these the men that I should aspire to be like" he growled.

"Will you please lower your voice?" Eva snapped.

Jared watched as Eva took a calming breath. "Look I don't want to argue; I don't want you to have an attitude when they arrive. First impressions only happen once."

Jared chuckled. "Mom, this may shock you, but I could care less what they think of me."

"Jared I'm begging you please don't embarrass me, please be on your best behavior for once." She pleaded.

"Well maybe it wasn't such a good idea to arrive 30 minutes early, then we could have avoided this bonding time altogether." Excuse me, Jared growled and stood up.