ch 3
Ryan had a surprisingly good time with Michael at the game, and their home team won. Michael wanted to stop off for drinks, but Ryan looked at his cell phone time."Na, I'd better not. I think Kelly has plans," he replied.
"Ooh, I think someone's getting lucky," Michael grinned.
"Michael…"
"That's okay. Holly and I have plans too you know. You're not the only one with a life. Can you believe it- us-married?" Michael laughed. "Well, not to each other. But if we were, would that have been such a bad thing?"
Ryan had to smile, as Michael made the turn towards his house. It was kind of funny, he had to admit. They were both, other than Kevin, least likely to marry, and now they were they happiest. Everything was perfect. Maybe he didn't tell Kelly enough how happy she made him. Starting tonight he would change that. He was going to tell her just how much she meant to him.
"Wow, Ryan, I don't think I can get you to your house. Your road is blocked off. You're going to have to hoof it," Michael commented as he got stuck behind traffic. "There's a fire or an accident or something."
"It has to be a fire. You can see the smoke. Man roll up your window. It's smelling up your car," Ryan complained.
"I sure hope it's not your house. Wouldn't that be terrible if Kelly burned down your house while you were gone?" Michael laughed and looked over at Ryan.
Ryan didn't laugh. His eyes widened as all sorts of possibilities flashed through his mind. The baby. Kelly. The house. Without saying another word he got out of the car and ran the few blocks to make sure his family was okay. Michael pulled over and locked his door and ran behind him, hoping that he hadn't said the wrong thing.
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Ryan was stunned when he got to his home. Part of it was gutted, and there were fire trucks and ambulances everywhere. He ran up to the first police officer he could.
"Please…this is my home. Where's my wife and my baby?" he asked, out of breath.
"I'm sorry…there's no baby in there. We looked everywhere," the officer said sadly.
Ryan felt sick to his stomach. Bailey…was gone. His daughter was gone. And she didn't even stand a chance. She was so defenseless. Tears filled his eyes as Michael caught up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"And my wife?"
"She's going to be okay. She suffered burns on about 40 percent of her body, mostly her chest and her face, and is being treated for inhalation and is being given oxygen. She's going to the hospital on Main; you can see her there, where they will be able to tell you more."
Ryan spun around, unable to believe what he had just heard. His wife, burned, and his daughter was missing? This couldn't be. This was a nightmare. Only worse… The image of his house burning played through his mind and he could only imagine what his family had been through while he was at a stupid game. He knew he could never forgive himself now, even if thing turned out okay. There would never be an okay, ever again.
"You have to help me find my daughter…" he ordered the officer. "Where is she?"
"How old is she?"
"Two..here is her picture…" Ryan pulled out her wallet.
"Do you have any friends that your wife might have left her with? Maybe she was planning on surprising you with a special evening with a special meal. According to the fire chief, your wife was in the bath tub while the fire started in the kitchen. Maybe she wanted a romantic night with you and had your friends babysit?" the officer suggested.
"That's Kelly," Michael interrupted. "That's so Kelly. She told me she was going to have Jim and Pam watch her because she was going to make her first meal from her cooking lessons Ryan got her tonight. You should have seen her officer. She was so excited. She couldn't wait to show off for him!"
Ryan stared at Michael, wishing, as usual, that he would be quiet. This was all Ryan's fault. If he hadn't gotten her those stupid classes than none of this would have ever happened. He wouldn't be here wondering if his daughter was alive or dead and Kelly wouldn't be in the hospital fighting for her life. Houses could be replaced; thankfully, they had insurance. But nothing could replace his family, and he hated himself for what he did to them. All because he was selfish and wanted to change her.
Ryan pulled out his cell phone, and sure enough Bailey was at Jim and Pam's. He explained to them what had happened, and they were just as mortified as he was. They were definitely happy to keep her so that Ryan could go to the hospital, and he could go to pick her up whenever he wanted.
"I want you to know," Michael said as they drove to the hospital, "that mi casa is your casa. Holly and I have plenty of space in our castle for you and your daughter. It would be our privilege if you decided to stay with us until you got back on your feet."
Ryan didn't want to think about that, but he knew that he didn't have many other options. That would probably be the best thing, even though it wasn't really what he wanted. Michael was all right, especially after he and Holly married, but it wouldn't be home, especially not without Kelly. He would get through it; he just didn't see how.
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At the hospital, he asked if he could see his wife. The nurse looked at him sympathetically.
"Right now she's unconscious, and it's probably better that way. She's on a lot of morphine so she can't really feel anything, but she'll probably wake up soon. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you. It will be quite a shock for her to realize where she's at so be prepared to be at the blunt end for a wide range of emotions from her. It's going to be a very difficult time and she's going to need all of the support she can get. She may ask for a mirror but I don't think she's ready for one yet, but I'll let you be the judge of that. You know her better than anyone. Or she may not want to see a mirror for some time. The doctor will explain to you her injuries better than I can. But right now you can see her for a few minutes, then the best thing you could do is wait, wait for her to wake up, or wait for the doctor, just wait for anything," she explained.
If Ryan wasn't scared before, he was now. He really wasn't sure what to expect, and truth be told, he didn't know if he could handle it. He wasn't good at the difficult stuff; that's why he had Kelly. Once he walked in the room and saw the bandages and the scars and her eyes all puffy and closed he had to look away, it was too much. That wasn't his wife. His wife was cute and happy and perky. She was the one he loved to watch sleep, not the one who frightened him just by being in the same room. He took a deep breath, and whispered, "I love you Kel," then stepped back outside to the waiting room where he took a seat next to Michael. This would be even harder than what he signed up for.
