Ryan tried to smile when Taylor came into the room, holding Matt, who was snuggled up against her shoulder sucking his thumb. Taylor was obviously struggling as she held him above her swollen belly.
"Hey," Ryan swooped in on her as soon as she walked in the door, giving her a peck on the forehead, and taking Matt from her. Matt didn't seem to notice the transfer.
"Hi," She said, "I had to pick him up from preschool, he has an ear infection, I think. He has a doctor's appointment in an hour."
"Not feeling good Mattie, huh?" Ryan said, jiggling his son, who shook his blonde head and tried to snuggle himself deeper into his father's strong arms.
"So this is my little nephew..." Trey said turning around in his chair.
"You're not Seth." Taylor said, bluntly, staring at him.
"Ah... Taylor... This is Trey, my... other brother. Trey, this is Taylor, my wife."
"Nice to meet you," Trey eased himself to his feet and stuck out his hand to the petite woman.
"You too..." Taylor said, she had a firm grip Trey noticed, but she kept glancing back at Ryan as if for some sign of reassurance or an explanation.
"Trey just got into town today, but he's not staying very long."
"No... I guess not..." Trey said, looking at his brother, who was holding his son's head to his shoulder, as if to sheild the boy from the negative energy in the room.
"Oh, well, are you coming over for dinner Trey?" Taylor glanced pointedly at Ryan.
"I don't know, am I?" Trey looked at Ryan, challenging him to negate his wife's hospitality.
Ryan siged, "Yeah sure, see you at seven. Ask Jenny for the address on your way out. Do you need a ride or anything? I can call you a taxi."
"Nah man, I'm good." Trey could see he had over-stayed his welcome and he had scored the dinner inivte. There was no reason to hang around any longer. "See you at dinner," And then he was gone.
Ryan waited a few beats, even though he knew that if the door was closed his office was almost sound proof. "So... That was Trey, huh?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah..."
"What did he want?" Taylor knew the whole Trey saga. Ryan had honestly been a little surprise when she had invited him to dinner at their home.
"I dunno... He just sort of showed up here." Ryan said. "Why did you invite him to dinner?"
"Because he's your brother, Ryan."
"He's trouble..." Ryan said.
Taylor sighed, "Maybe, but it's been how long?"
"A long time..." He admitted. 15-16 years? Maybe longer, he realized.
"Maybe he's changed." Taylor said.
"Not likely..."
"No..." Taylor agreed, "Not likely, but... Well, he's here... Better have him at our house where we can keep an eye on him."
"Right, so he can case the place..." Then Ryan remebered Kirsten once admitting that she'd had the same fear of Ryan when Sandy had first brought him home. "Yeah, honey, you're right. As always..."
"Glad we agree... By the way, would you mind taking Matt to the doctor?"
"What?" Ryan asked, the question had blind-sided him.
"I need to go to court this afternoon." Ryan groaned, so that was the real reason Taylor had come by, to give him their sick son.
"Where's Lisa?" Their babysitter and housekeeper was supposed to do this kind of stuff.
"Ryan, he's sick, he needs a parent. That's what all the books say... When the kid is sick it's important that a parent be the one who..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Ryan sighed, he really was going to get no work done today. Well, guess Jenny was just going to have to foward any really important calls to his cell phone. "What time was the appointment?"
"2:00, thanks honey. See you at home tonight." She stood up on tip-toes and kissed his cheek, then dissappeared out the door. Ryan couldn't help but notice that her backside had filled out slightly with her pregancy. She looked good. Ryan sat down, still holding Matt, who seemed like he had fallen asleep, and called Lisa to tell her to set an extra plate at the dinner table.
