I thought it was only fair that Hudson had introduction, in the form of a walk and talk chat. Although, if I’m being completely honest, convincing him to participate wasn’t easy.
Me: Hudson, people want to get to know you.
Hudson: Why?
A reasonable question, I suppose. Still not particularly helpful. Stubborn being one of his toxic traits. So, I guess, here we are. Let’s see what we can squeeze out of this brick wall of a human.
Walks with Hudson.
He arrived on time. Punctuality has never been an issue for him. He hates being late and hates it when others are late. He always has a plan, he sticks to it and will infrequently vere from it. He sees people who don’t have a plan as washy washy and unstructured, a little bit judgey or a lot depending on who he is around. There is no real in between with Hudson.
I stop the inner monologue long enough to greet him, as he approaches me. He’s wearing casual T-shirt and boat shorts with loafers.
He smiles a wry smile, and asks me how long this is going to take.
I looked at him, half smiled and said. I promise this won’t hurt much, all I… sorry not I. All we need is 10-20 minutes of your precious time, is that ok with you?
Take away coffee in hand, a look around at our surroundings.
He says, “I guess I can do that for you”. Smiling his irritatingly loveable smile.
Let’s begin.
Me: Tell everyone what you do.
Hudson: I run a consulting firm.
Me: What kind of consulting?
He goes quiet for a moment, looks at something briefly then returns to answer.
Hudson: Culture and leadership.
Me: Meaning? I press on and say, to a lay person what exactly do you do within culture and leadership?
Hudson: I help businesses figure out why their people aren’t working well together.
I wait. Say nothing…remain quiet waiting for a little more.
He looks at me.
Hudson: What?
Me: Nothing. I’m looking for a bit more than that and I’m just waiting for you to share more.
Hudson: You’re doing that thing.
Me: What thing?
Hudson: Where you’re waiting for me to say something deeper.
Me: Yes, what’s so wrong with that? If we don’t go deep how are people going to get to know you?
It seems strange to me that someone supposedly “so good” with culture and reading a room can’t seem to notice his own inabilty to know how to communicate in his personal life. Given his business is built on knowing what makes people tick – you would think he would see his ‘tick’ is not knowing how to communicate outside of a business environment.
It’s his job. It makes me wonder how good he really is at his job if he can’t even have short interview and introduce himself to the audience…
As it turns out, being able to understand everyone else doesn’t necessarily mean you understand yourself.
And Hudson isn’t entirely sure what to do with that, and it shows in his squirminess.
I decide to press on and ignore his squirm.
Me: So, how’s the new apartment?
Silence.
Hudson takes a drink of a coffee. A nervous prop or a genuine need for coffee?
Hudson: Fine.
Me: Have you unpacked yet?
Another silence.
Hudson: Mostly.
Me: Hudson!
Hudson: Somewhat.
Me: Hudson…..(he’s pushing my buttons)
He looks at me.
Hudson: Why are we talking about this?
Me: We are trying to help people get to know you and you’re not making this easy.
What Hudson isn’t telling you is, six months after moving into his apartment after his divorce, there are still boxes, there are clothes draped over chairs, There are unopened letters. And apparently, finding his phone requires searching under cushions and magazines. His apartment is a mess.
Hudson’s car, however, is immaculate.
Priorities apparently differ..
The truth is, unpacking would mean accepting that this is his life now. And maybe he’s not quite ready to do that yet.
Me: how is that pride a joy of yours?
For the first time all morning, Hudson doesn’t hesitate.
Hudson: My stang? His eyes crinkle in a wide smile
Me: I roll my eyes, he’s trying to divert again. Ugh this man.
He actually smiles. Then laughs.
Hudson: okay, okay. Harry?
Me: I raise my eyebrows and say – Yes, your son. Your other pride and joy
Okay.
Now we’ve found something he likes talking about.
Hudson: Well…he’s doing as good as could be expected. He is enjoying his university course, he’s working part time and he’s talking about moving out with his girlfriend. I’m not particularly impressed with that idea.
Then, he does it again. He stops. Goes into his head and starts to change the subject… to me
Hudson: how’s your pride and joy Kristy?
Instantly, I see what he’s doing. I think quickly.
Me: I’m not one of your business clients, we are trying to share with the audience a little about you and your not giving me much to work with. Stop making this about me and PLEASE cooperate, please. Just for today.
He drops his head, looks to the left toward the river.
Sighs and says fine. ‘What more do you want to know?’
I compose myself, breathe in. Think to myself why does this man need to be so difficult? What caused him to be like this I wondered.
I didn’t entertain that line of thought. I would analyse it later and pressed on. Changed the subject.
To something solid.
Me: What do you do when you’re not working?
Hudson: I spend time with Bill (his mentor)
Go for drives to random places, eat beautiful food, enjoy the wonders of the world both locally and internationally.
The quickest answer I’ve received all day.
No hesitation.
No attempt to avoid the question. Finally.
Me: What would your friends say is your best quality?
Hudson: Dependable. Loyal
Me: And your worst?
He looks at me for a moment.
Hudson: Ask them.
Me: I’m asking you.
Hudson: Then you’re not getting an answer.
Right.
Moving on.
Me: What scares you?
Hudson’s expression changes. Only slightly. But enough.
Hudson: Next question.
Me: That’s not how this works.
Hudson: It is now.
Frustration sets in for the both of us.
And perhaps that tells us enough.
Hudson has spent a long time being the person who holds everything together.
His work.
His responsibilities.
The people around him.
But there are some things you can’t solve with a strategy.
Some things can’t be analysed.
Some things just sit quietly underneath everything else until you eventually have to acknowledge they’re there.
Hudson is not quite there yet.
Me: Okay. Let’s talk about Harper.
He immediately looks suspicious.
Hudson: Why?
Me: No reason.
Hudson: That’s never true.
Me: What was your first impression of her?
He doesn’t answer straight away. Of course.
Because Hudson generally has an answer for everything.
Eventually, he obliges:
Hudson: I wanted to know who she was.
Me: That’s it?
Hudson: Yes.
Me: You followed her out of a networking event.
Hudson: She was leaving.
Me: Most people don’t follow strangers out of hotels because they’re leaving.
Hudson: I introduced myself. She walked away in a weird huff, that’s never happened to me before.
Me: After following her.
He gives me a look.
Hudson: You’re enjoying this far too much.
He’s right.
I am.
Because something about Harper clearly got underneath Hudson’s skin before he even knew her name.
He noticed her.
She left.
And despite being a man who usually seems perfectly capable of walking into a room and talking to absolutely anyone, Hudson found himself following her simply because he didn’t want her to disappear without saying hello and her responding to him the way everyone else does.
He’s still not entirely sure why she didn’t respond to him the way others normally do.
And neither am I.
Well.
I am.
But I’m not telling him yet.
Me: Final question. What do you think people misunderstand about you?
This time he takes longer.
The coffee has gone cold. He looks for the nearest bin and throws it out then stands still for a moment.
Hudson: That I have everything figured out.
And for the first time since we started our stroll, he doesn’t follow it with a joke or a why question.
I should move on to another question. But I’m exhausted and I don’t think I have another one in me.
So I don’t say anything.
Because maybe Hudson doesn’t need to explain it.
Not yet.
Maybe you will learn and see it in the boxes he hasn’t yet unpacked.
The apartment that doesn’t quite feel like home. Yet.
The way he can walk into a room full of strangers and know exactly what to say, yet becomes strangely quiet when something gets too close.
The fact that he can help other people untangle their problems while still standing in the middle of his own life wondering where to start.
One box at a time, perhaps.
So, that’s Hudson.
Successful.
Dependable.
A little irritating, sarcastic.
Good with people.
Possibly allergic to talking about himself.
A devoted dad to Harry.
A businessman who genuinely cares about what he does and the people he helps. Yet can’t seem to help himself.
And apparently incapable of unpacking a cardboard box.
There’s more to him, of course.
There always is.
But I have a feeling Hudson would prefer you to discover that for yourself.
And honestly?
I think that’s exactly how he should be introduced.
Until next time,
Kristy Anne Books 
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