Colin and Drew made the trip to the airport to pick up the children.
During the trip the two men discussed the situation and how best to handle it.
Drew's short fingers gripped the wheel tightly..."You know the money isn't the problem here, Col, It's the principal of the matter.
She's just using this whole thing to cash in a little more and she's going to keep on doing it. There is absolutely no reason that she needed to fly over here with the kids. She did it just to see if we would hand cash over to her. If it weren't for Ryan and the kids, I would just burn the money in front of her and tell her to blow it out of her ass."
Next to him in the passenger seat, Colin sighed. "I know, Drew...I know. But what can we do? Right now, we're just going to have to let her get away with it. If not, she's just going to put them back on that plane and bring them back home. We can't do that to Ryan."
Drew's hands tightened even more on the wheel as he mumbled "I know we can't. I just can't stand to let her do this to us...to him. It's not right."
The rest of the ride was taken in silence while each man turned their thoughts over in their heads.
"Where in the hell is she? Dammit! She better not of brought them back!". Colin ran his hand over his head.
Tired and aggravated, Drew and Colin had been wondering around in the airport for 45 minutes looking for Pat and the kids.
"Calm down and try her cell again." Drew spoke behind him, placing a calming hand on the other man's shoulder, even though his own blood was at the boiling point.
"I tried the cell 10 times, Drew. She's got it turned off or she's out of range."
Drew gave a heavy sigh. "Well, I don't think she'd take them back knowing we were coming and had agreed to give her the cash, plus you said she reminded you that we promised to pay for the plane tickets. No way would she leave without her money."
Colin stopped to try the cell agian, nodding in agreement. "You're right...you're right. But where could she be?"
As Colin was getting ready to try Pat's number again, his own cell rang.
"There she is!"
"Hello"...the annoyance showed bright and clear in his voice.
"You're telling me that we've been walking around in this airport for a damn hour and you're not even here. You couldn't have called?
And why did you need a motel to wait for us for two hours?"
Silence on Colin's end as his face reddened and the fingers tightened around the small device.
"Well isn't that shit surprising. Yes, I will pay for the motel room. What is the room number. Okay, we'll be there in 15 minutes."
Drew stared at him in astonishment as he hung up the phone and met the eyes of his friend.
"She said the kids had to rest after the airplane ride so she got a room at the Hilton across the street. She said we would have to pay that if we wanted to bring the kids with us, she also made sure to remind me once again about the price of the tickets and the extra $200."
Drew just shook his head sadly...his voice laced with anger and a bit of sadness "That's okay, like I said, her day will come. But for right now, let's just go pick up the kids and get back to the house. We'll give her a piece of our minds before leaving, see if we can't scare a little sense into her. Obviously compassion or humanity isn't in her vocabulary, so we'll try another route."
Fifteen minutes later they were knocking at the door of the Hilton room. Pat was quick to open the door and let them inside.
She didn't bother with greetings, her only words were..."Their bags are by the door." ..handing Drew the receipts for the plane tickets and the receipt for the room as she talked.
Ignoring her, Drew and Colin immediately went to the kids who were sitting on the bed. All three children greeted them eagerly,
the youngest jumped into Colin's arms. He swung her around as she giggled in delight.
Setting her down, he ruffled her hair..."Ready to go see your daddy? Because I know he is ready to see you guys!".
Nodding her head and grinning, she threw her little arms around his legs.
Drew was busy hugging the two older children, who were just as delighted to see their dad's friends.
"Why don't you guys be putting your stuff in the car and we'll be out in just a minute."
All three kids gave their mom a quick hug before dragging their luggage to Drew's SUV.
As soon as the kids were out the door and safely out of ear shot Drew turned to Pat.
"I don't know what in the hell you think you are pulling here, but this is it."
He threw the handful of money on the floor and kicked it in her direction.
"We're not going to play this shit anymore, do you understand that?"
She glared at him, then over at Colin who was at the window making sure the kids weren't coming back inside yet. He turned to meet her gaze."
"I don't know when you turned into the monster you've become, Pat. But we'll get a lawyer if we need to and we will win. Ryan may not get full custody but Drew has the receipts, I have your demands recorded on my cell, flat out demanding money for Ryan to see his own children. This is the last time this will happen. I promise you that."
Pat's glare went from one red faced man to the other before speaking.
"Isn't Ryan worth some of your million's Drew?" Her tone was laced with a biting sarcasm.
Drew only glared at her in disgust. "Ryan is worth whatever it takes to see him happy and healthy again, as are his children.
I will happily hire the best lawyer this country has to offer to make sure he has, if not custody, at least partial custody.
He will see his kids on a regular basis. He is worth whatever it takes to make that happen.
You, on the hand, you're not worth a red penny, and I will not give you any more money."
"We'll see about that. Ryan is handicapped, he can't take care of himself, what judge is going to give him partial custody?"
Colin spoke up from his watch at the window. "He has plenty of help and support. That won't be a problem."
Pat only glared at each man once more before angrily demanding that they leave and to have the kids back at the airport on Sunday. She would call with the time.
As they left she was bent, greedily gathering the crumbled and scattered money off the floor.
During the long ride back to Drew's house, the kids happily chattered about seeing their dad again.
All three quickly jumped from the vehicle upon reaching the house and raced to the door, followed closely by Drew and Colin. They were met by Wayne.
"Wow, heard you guys a mile away!" He grinned, amused by the excitement of the three children.
"Yea, they're a little excited"..grinned Colin who was now holding the little girl in his arms..."Something tells me they want to see their daddy."