Chapter 35: Passages

Six Months Later

REID

Reid Sawyer stood outside the door of the modest home in in Clontarf, a quaint coastal city outside of Dublin and knocked several times. He heard the footsteps on the other side and then the door opened.

"Mr. Sawyer…come in. Come in. Nice to finally meet you." Alistair O'Brien opened the door wide and firmly shook Reid's hand. Reid smiled at the resemblance between Alistair and his daughter Ansley. She had the same green eyes as her father and they had the same smile. He was a tall man with a small pouch on his belly. He reached out and shook Reid's hand with a gripping vigor.

"Please sir, call me Reid."

"Okay Reid. Come in. Come in. Colleen…Colleen…Ansley's lad is here." He yelled up to the stone stairs of the old house and motioned for Reid to follow him. He gestured to the chair next to a fireplace. "What can I get ya? A pint? My brother makes it…best damn beer that will ever pass your lips." Before Reid could decline, Alistair poured him a dark stout out of a pitcher. He then poured himself a glass and sat down on the couch. A few seconds later, a woman with the same auburn hair as Ansley came into the room. She was a stunning woman for her age and immediately Reid saw an older version of the woman he was in love with. Reid stood up.

"Mrs. O'Brien, it's nice to meet you."

Colleen O'Brien grabbed both of Reid's arms and smiled from ear to ear. "Oh lordy…you are a handsome strapping lad. Ansley said you were a monument of a lad…and you are." She kept holding onto Reid's arms staring in awe. "What can I get ya? Bisquit…chips?"

"I'm good. I had a bite to eat before I came over." Reid was nervous. He had called the O'Brien's yesterday and asked if he could stop by. He didn't tell them he had flown on a private jet from Seattle just to see them.

Reid and Ansley had FaceTime with her parents several times over the past few months. They had Facetimed from a vineyard in Napa, from Disneyland, New York City and the Empire State Building. They had gotten to know each other a little bit that way, but this was the first time they had met in person. They had enjoyed seeing all the places Reid had taken their daughter and grandson.

The past seven months had been the happiest of Reid's life. He was in love with Ansley and she loved him. The month that Finn was away with his paternal grandparents, Reid and Ansley spent every day and night together. He wined and dined her and gave her a month of bliss. She had never been happier. When the summer was over and the school year began, Reid convinced Ansley to move to Seattle. He moved Ansley and Finn to a nice condo and enrolled Finn in the same school that Grey, Charlotte and Steele attended. Ansley went to work for Gabe Beeson, Phoebe's cousin who had a pediatric practice. Life was great. And now Reid wanted to make it permanent. But he was a traditional guy and even though Ansley had been married before, Reid wanted the O'Brien's to know he loved their daughter and grandson, and he would take care of them forever…with their blessing.

"So…what brings you to Dublin?" Alistair winked at Reid. He had a good idea…but he would make the handsome, confident American worked for it.

Reid smiled and took another sip out of his stout. He tried not to shiver. The beer was the strongest beer he had ever tasted. It was heavy and had a lingering finish. "I am a to the point kind of guy. So…I love Ansley…and Finn. I want to marry her and take care of them. I wanted to meet you so that I could answer any questions or concerns you may or may not have." Reid stood firm and confident. He knew he loved Ansley and Finn and that they all belonged together as a family.

"Well…I am quite aware that my daughter feels deeply for you. But there is much more than love at stake. I don't want my daughter to go through any more pain. Are you a healthy bloke?"

"Yes. I take excellent care of myself, I have a yearly physical and I am perfectly healthy." Reid knew this was an important issue.

"Well…your job is high risk is it not? I understand you are in high end security."

"I am the Chief Security Officer for one of the largest corporations in the world. I don't provide one on one security. I deal with the security of all the corporate locations. I rarely am exposed to risky situations. But with that said I am highly trained."

"Where did you attend college?" Reid smiled. He wasn't expected to be grilled to this level. But he could handle it.

"University of Arizona. After I graduated I attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. I was trained in corporate espionage. I worked for the FBI for four years before going to Grey Enterprise Holdings where I have worked for 10 years. I am highly compensated and I want to share what I have with your daughter and grandson. They mean everything to me." Alistair nodded and went to the cabinet and pulled out an envelope.

"Take this letter Reid, look it over. We will give you some privacy and then if you are willing to meet the request of the author, we will talk." Reid took the envelope and felt perplexed. What was this about? He had hoped Alistair and Colleen would have been more welcoming. But so far Alistair grilled him and Colleen hadn't said more than a few words.

Reid left the beer on the kitchen counter and went back in to the sitting room and opened the letter. It was dated Christmas day three years earlier.

To the Man that Loves My Ansley;

I have come to accept that I won't survive this terrible disease. If you are reading this letter, then I have passed away and left my beautiful wife and son. You wouldn't be reading this letter if you weren't serious about Ansley. I want her to be happy and move on. I trust her judgment and know she loved me with all she had and believe she wouldn't move on unless she found a good person to spend her life with.

I have asked Alistair to pass this on if he believed that Ansley found the right man to marry. Like I said, I trust Ansley. She was a wonderful wife, a beautiful woman and I robbed her of a normal life when I was diagnosed and she never left my side. You are the luckiest man in the world to have found her. Please love her every minute of every day. Give her what we lost. I sit here not in pain thinking of my Ansley having new love…but in pure joy that the woman I love so very much will be happy again. I pray for this as I sit here resigned that I won't be here with her to give her the happiness she deserves.

But this isn't about Ansley. It is about Finn. My greatest sorrow is that Finn won't have someone to call Dad. He won't have someone to play ball with, or go fishing. He won't have me, but he will have you.

I can't imagine anything more painful than for Finn to watch you and Ansley have a child together and that child calling you Dad. He should have that too. At father son events…he should have a dad there to support him. So what I am asking is…will you let him call you dad? Will you give him your name so he doesn't stand out as the one that doesn't belong?

I know this request is unconventional. But Finn has never had normal. I want him to have normal. I only ask that you allow him to keep my memory alive and love him like he is your own son. He needs that. He needs a dad…not a stepfather. I know my own parents will find this painful. They won't understand how I could give his name away…and ask another man to love my son. But this is done straight from the heart.

I thank you with the deepest gratitude for taking Finn on as your own. If you are willing to do that, you have my blessing and eternal support. If you are willing to do this…than you are a good man…and I approve. I know it isn't an easy task to ask that you take on. But my little guy needs a real dad…please consider this and love Ansley like she deserves.

Patrick Daniels

Reid read the note several times before folding it and putting it in his pocket. He was numb and stunned. Was he even deserving to fill this man's shoes? He knew Ansley deeply loved Patrick and Patrick had been denied the opportunity to be a real father to Finn. But to be so compassionate and trusting of a man he didn't know and to give him his blessing to be a father to his son. He was amazed and respected the man he had never met more than he could even say. He wanted to be that man and wondered if he was worthy of such a gift. He loved Ansley and he loved Finn. And yes…he wanted to be a father to the little boy. He had become very close to Finn and felt paternal to him anyway. And he desperately wanted children with Ansley…that was true. Would Finn feel like an outsider? Was this a way to make him feel whole and part of the family they were creating. Reid knew he had no reservations. He loved Ansley and Finn and would do anything for them. He just sat stunned that Patrick was such a loving man that he could make this request. He didn't move for over an hour.

He finally picked up the phone and called his own father. He wanted to have confirmation that he was indeed a good enough man to meet such an honorable request.

"Dad…hey."

"Hey Reid…you okay. Didn't it go well?" Luke knew that Reid had flown to Ireland to ask for Ansley's hand in marriage.

"I don't know yet. Dad I just scanned a letter to you. Can you read it and call me back? I am waiting right here."

Ten minutes later Reid's cell rang. "Hey…did you read it?"

"I did. Patrick sounds like a brave, honorable loving father. I am speechless."

"I know…me too."

"So…what is the problem?"

"Nothing really. I just…Dad what if I let them down? I love Finn with all my heart. And I am willing and so honored to meet Patrick's request. Hell, I thought of asking Ansley at one point if I could legally adopt Finn because I love him so much but I didn't think that would go over well. I just wow…you know I am in my late 30's dad and I haven't had kids and I want to honor this request to its fullest."

"You will Reid. You're a stellar young man. You have always done the right thing and you have waited a long time for this. You will be an amazing father to Finn…if you are calling me to re-affirm what we both already know than…consider it done. You are the son every man wants and you will be the father every child cherishes. I love you…so will Finn. Do the right thing and honor Patrick's request with pride."

Reid sat speechless. His father, Luke Sawyer was never one to express his affection. He was a tough guy and one who was unbending in his belief that men needed to be men. Reid wasn't sure he ever remembered his father sharing such affection. He almost felt silly needing his Dad's affirmation, because he would do anything for the little boy and Ansley. But it felt good none the less.

"Okay dad…thanks…I appreciate your support. I won't let anyone down. I will let that little boy know every day that his father, Patrick, gave us this gift to us to be a true father and son. He will be raised one hundred percent as my own. Thanks Dad…for showing me the kind of father to be. I love you man."

"Yea…I know now enough of this mushy shit…complete the mission, and get home and ask the woman to marry you. I can't keep this little secret of yours from your mother much longer."

Reid hung up the phone and started to get up but saw Alistair in the doorway.

"He was a brilliant, wonderful man Reid. He told me what the letter said. He asked me to deliver it only if I knew the man coming into my daughter's life was truly a good man deserving of his wife and child. I see how Ansley looks at you when we Facetime…how she talks about you. She is happier than she has been in years. And my grandson tells me all the wonderful things you do together. It wasn't easy…Patrick cried when he talked to me about it and gave me the letter. But Patrick wanted to do right by his son. Tell me…are you prepared to honor his request?" Reid looked up at Alistair who still stood in the doorway. He stood up and put his hands in his pocket.

"Does Ansley know? I can't help think she won't want to do this. I mean she will be okay with me stepping in and taking on the role of Finn's father…but the name change…having him call me Dad…I don't see her accepting this."

"Show her the letter. She will understand. But look me in the eyes son…and tell me you will honor Patrick's request and love my grandson as your own and you have my blessing to marry them and make a family. They are a package…you marry my daughter you marry her son."

Reid nodded his head. "I am honored and I won't let you down…or Patrick. We will celebrate his life and his memory. I will make sure Finn knows his father loved him so much that he was willing to actually give him to me. Yes sir…I will be all that Patrick would have wanted and more."

"Okay then…what's the plan?" Alistair O'Brien looked at Reid pointedly and Reid wasn't sure what he was looking for. He had a confused look on his face making the older man shake his head. "Oh for the love of all things holy boy….how ye going to ask her? When you planning this event? Where you marrying my girl? The proof is in the details lad."

Reid shook his head laughing. "Oh…sorry. Yes, I have a ring. Would you like to see it?" Ansley's mom jumped up.

"I would. Do you have it with you?"

"Actually, I do." Reid walked over to the coat rack and grabbed his suit jacket and reached into the breast coat pocket. He pulled out the blue velvet box and opened the lid making Colleen O'Brien gasp then swear, something she rarely did.

"Will that large stone cover her entire finger? It is fucking amazin!" The pear shape diamond was a perfect 5 carat stone set in a platinum setting. Reid had spared no expense. He had waited a long time to put a ring on a woman's finger. And he wanted it to be the ring of rings.

Reid shyly looked down at Ansley's mother. "Do you think she will like it?"

"Of course it's beautiful." Colleen smiled and looked up at the young man that would soon be her son-in-law. She softly touched his hand. "You really love my girl don't you Reid? I can tell by the way you smile when you say her name."

"I am hopelessly and madly in love with her. I want to make her and Finn happy and take care of them. I would like to get married over Christmas."

"So soon? That is just a few weeks away."

"I know…but we love each other and want this. I thought we could all fly somewhere warm and get married."

"No…bring your family here. Marry my girl here in Ireland. We will show you how it's done."

"Can you arrange everything by Christmas?" Reid wasn't sure how that would work out with his family, but he didn't want to argue with Ansley's parents. "Tell you what. Let me propose and see how she feels about getting married with such a short time to plan. I also want to fly to Maryland and talk to Patrick's parents. I am not asking their permission but I want them to know that I love Finn and that they will always be welcome in our home."

"That is the right thing to do. They have been in great pain. Good on you for thinking of them. Although they are not the easiest people to please…the gesture is the right one. Although I suspect when they find out about Patrick's wishes…they will be heartbroken. Patrick gave me a letter for them as well. He explains it to them…although I doubt they will take it well."

Reid took the O'Brien's to dinner then headed back to Seattle close to midnight. He planned to ask Ansley and Finn as soon as he arrived back in Seattle. He was excited and wanted to share the news with someone so he took his phone out of his pocket right before the private jet taxied down the runway.

"Mom…I'm headed home."

"Where are you Reid?"

"On the jet heading home. I was in Ireland. I asked Ansley's parents if I could marry her. They are on board. I'm coming home and asking her as soon as I land. Mom…Mom are you there? Mom are you crying?"

"Oh Reid…I never thought this day would happen. I'm so happy for you…she is lovely and Finn is wonderful. How are you going to ask her…tell me everything…oh stop it Luke. I'm crying because I'm happy. Your dad is laughing at me."

Reid smiled…he had never been happier.

Lainey

Lainey paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. She was confused and getting frustrated with Caleb. She had been back from her European tour for several months and until a month ago, life had been blissful.

Lainey smiled when she thought about the sweet wonderful reunions when Caleb had come to Europe to visit her. The first trip Caleb brought Vivi and the nanny. They would sightsee by day then Caleb would come to her performances and watch the European crowds chant her name in adoration. He loved seeing her get the attention she deserved as the world's top female skater. They were sold out for every performance and the schedule was demanding. However, Lainey made time for Caleb and Vivi and together the three of them chalked up wonderful memories of Scandinavia.

The second trip was several weeks later and Caleb came alone on that trip. At first there was some tension because Caleb had been so busy working on a project with Evangeline he had missed many calls with Lainey. But after a few hours and make up sex…they were back on track and spent a long weekend that Lainey had off in the French Rivera. They counted the days for her return to Seattle and the end of her tour. They were ready to start their lives together and take their relationship to the next level.

Lainey came back in September and they spent two days alone in her penthouse making love, raw fucking and never leaving bed other than for a few meals here and there. A week after her arrival home, Lainey skated in a magnificent benefit show for the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Association. She had convinced her dearest skating colleagues to join her and Caleb's Aunt Mia hosted the event raising over four million dollars. Seattle's finest had come to see Lainey skate in person and she was stunning in her beautiful skating attire. Her performances had never been better as she performed in front of her home town with standing ovations and chants of 'Lainey…Lainey' at the end of the performance. The night was a smashing success. At the end of the benefit dinner, Caleb called Lainey onto the stage and got down on one knee in front of the entire 500 paid guests and donors, and asked Lainey to marry him. The crowd cooed when Lainey said yes and Vivi came out from behind the stage with two dozen roses for Lainey running into her arms more excited than she had ever been in her life to be getting her own mommy. They were blissfully happy and both the Grey's and the Montgomery families seemed excited about the engagement. Lainey had spent hours on end with Phoebe, Ana and her Mama Jean planning the wedding which was going to take place the following June at Christian and Ana Grey's home. Everything was like a fairytale until about a month ago, right after Halloween. Caleb just shut down and would neither acknowledge or tell Lainey was wrong. For the past month, he had been distant, working late and going into the office on weekends. The entire family had noticed the sudden change.

At first the family thought it might have something to do with Benito Peredia being released from federal prison. The United States had decided they did not have enough reason to hold him and released him. They refused to allow him to stay in the United States. Brazil and Colombia refused to allow him back home as well. So he had run off to Canada upon his release, where he was in hiding for almost two weeks. This had caused Mike to increase security ten-fold until two weeks after his release when he was found dead in his hotel room from an apparent drug overdose. Caleb told Lainey he never wanted to hear his name mentioned again and locked himself in his office. Where he should have been relieved he just distanced himself even more.

It was time to resolve this. She was tired of being put off by Caleb. They had moved into one of Caleb's spec homes while their dream home was being built. Caleb's crew had broken ground a month earlier but he seemed to be barely interested in their home, instead immersing himself on several other projects that he told her very little about. She knew he had been working closely with Evangeline on a significant project, but when she asked him how it was going he only said it was the most difficult project he had ever taken on, and it had to be perfect. He was adamant that it had to be the best project he ever worked on and there was no room for short cuts or error. He was obsessed with this special project to the point he would often come home for dinner, put Vivi to bed then go back to the office. Sometimes he would wake Lainey when he got home, they would have intense sex, then he would quietly hold her until they fell asleep. He would tell her he loved her so much he couldn't bare it if anything happened to her…yet he seemed so distant. She knew there was something he was hiding from her. She had broken down to Phoebe crying and of course Phoebe went to Caleb ripping him apart for acting like an ass. When he had come home that night, he laid into Lainey for going to his sister and slept in the guest room. They hadn't spoken much since. Lainey looked at her watch. It was 8:00 pm. She sent Caleb a text.

"We need to talk. When are you coming home?"

She waited for 30 minutes and there wasn't a reply. She walked down the hallway and checked on Vivi and Bo-Henry. They were sleeping soundly. She contemplated having Stankey babysit while she drove over to Grey House Design to confront Caleb. But he would throw a fit if she asked the security team to babysit. The nanny who hadn't moved in full time, picked up Vivi from kindergarten and spent the afternoons with Vivi while Lainey worked at her new skating school or made appearances around the country. Lainey had been gone for two days the week before filming a commercial and she didn't even think Caleb knew she was gone. He never even called her while she was in LA. Lainey continued to pace and then picked up the phone and called Lark. It was late but she convinced her to drive over and spend the night. Mama Jean wasn't happy about this but the girls convinced her that they wouldn't stay up late as it was a school night for Lark. Less than an hour later, Lark arrived and made herself comfortable in the guest room.

Lainey knew Stankey wouldn't leave the house to follow her. He would be fired in a heartbeat if he left Vivi alone in the house with Lark. So Lainey jumped in her car and drove to Grey House Design. The buildings were mostly dark but she spotted Caleb's car in the otherwise empty parking lot. She assumed that Tongo who had returned from the Samoan Islands just a few days before was somewhere close to Caleb. She parked the car and made her way to the front door which was locked. She pulled out her passkey that Caleb had given to her months earlier and waited for the red light to turn green. She heard the lock open and pulled the door and made her way down the quiet hallway, past the designer tables and up the stairs towards Caleb's office. She could see a light on further down the hallway in the staff kitchen and lounge and assumed Tongo was in there watching TV and waiting for Caleb. She made her way to Caleb's loft office that overlooked the design floor and his usual bright office was closed off with the shades drawn and the door shut. She hesitated, getting a strange eerie fear of what she would see on the other side. She slowly opened the door and poked her head in.

"Cal…Caleb." She caught her breath and immediately felt the tears well in her eyes. "Caleb…what is this? How could you do this? How could either of you do this?" She didn't move. She was paralyzed. Caleb looked over at her sadly and closed his eyes shaking his head with tears in his eyes. She wanted to run but she remained frozen waiting for an explanation that defied what her eyes were telling her. Caleb stepped forward and the tears in his eyes were now spilling over and down his face. He came up to Lainey and took her hand.

"Come sit down…we need to talk. This hasn't been fair to you Lainey. Come in…we need to tell you what is going on." Lainey felt like she was in a dream. She pulled her hand from Caleb's and looked down at the massive engagement ring on her finger. She started to take it off and just walk away.

"Lainey this is my fault. I begged him not to tell you. Please come in and let us explain."

Lainey looked at the woman who had been in her fiancé's arms a few seconds before and stared at her in shock. But something told her to hear them out. So she walked into the room, scared, sad and mostly angry to hear what was going on between Caleb and the frightened woman standing in the dark corner of the room.

To my kind and thoughtful followers…I apologize that this has taken so long to update. I have been traveling for work…a lot. Internationally and domestically. Plus, we built a new home and it took much more time to move in and take care of business than I ever thought. I am very sorry but you know my responsibilities to my job and family come first. I don't get compensated for this and I have to prioritize.

I started out wanting to try my own writing skills on something different this go around. This story was never meant to be like the first two A&C stories I wrote. There are literally hundreds of versions of A &C on FF. There was nothing more I could contribute that hasn't been already written very well. I wanted to write something different. I have and I am happy with the story and while I have shortened it up quite a bit…it wasn't because I have run out of ideas (Bronte)…it's because I don't have time to dedicate to this story right now. No ulterior motive I promise.

Happy Holidays to everyone and thank you for the many well wishes. You are wonderful and it means so much to me that you cared enough to check on me and wish me season's greetings. I am away on vacation with my family starting tomorrow. They come first this week. I won't be writing until next week but I promise I won't leave you hanging about what was going on in that room and what is going on with Caleb.

Lilly