Kirsten and Seth were eating Chinese food at the dining room table when Sandy returned from the poolhouse. Sandy hadn't said anything to her about the phone calls he had made but she knew that it was serious. He had walked right past her a few minutes earlier, clearly on a mission to talk to Ryan. Sandy had an urgent expression on his face, like he couldn't wait any longer before talking to the kid. She was worried.
"Sandy?" Kirsten called.
"He's coming," He replied tersely.
Seth was glancing back and forth between his parents as if considering whether or not to ask any questions.
"What's going on?" Kirsten asked.
"We'll talk after Ryan's back in bed," Sandy replied. It must be serious if Sandy won't say it in front of Seth. He usually knew the gossip before we did, he was always hiding somewhere gathering information from Kirsten and Sandy's conversations. Secrets were a rare thing in the Cohen house.
"Whatever it is, can you guys wipe those gloomy faces off? I mean, here he comes and it looks like he's got enough gloom on his own," Seth nodded toward the windows. Ryan was walking slowly toward the house, not bothering to shield himself from the rain. His eyes were lowered and he was already soaked.
"He's already sick, I should have left the umbrella for him," Kirsten said. She hadn't thought that he would just walk through the rain like that, she thought that he would at least sprint for the house. She should have realized that he was sick, that he didn't feel like running, he was tired and feverish and she was forcing him to celebrate. What kind of mother was she?
"Hey," Ryan murmured as he walked in.
Seth burst into an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday and didn't stop when Ryan glared at him. Instead, Seth got up from the table and handed Ryan a dishtowel from the sink to dry off. Ryan averted his eyes from the small stack of wrapped gifts on the counter.
"Next year, you're getting an umbrella," Sandy joked when Seth was done.
Ryan dried his face and handed the rag back to Seth. "How about next year you just promise not to let Seth sing?"
Kirsten allowed herself a small smile at Ryan's attempt at humor. Sandy and Seth were standing beside him and had relaxed after his comment. It was so easy for them to just forget about the tension and use the small joke to raise the mood. She couldn't forget about the look in Ryan's eyes, though. He was humoring them. Something was wrong. Something more than his father, more than his birthday, something big.
"You look like hell, Ryan," Seth said as Ryan sat down at the counter. Sandy set the birthday cake in front of him.
"Thanks, Seth," Ryan replied.
Kirsten got up and went to stand beside Sandy. "You sure you feel up to this?"
Ryan glanced at her with a flash of emotion in his eyes. She regretted her question immediately, of course he didn't feel up to this, he was sick as hell but he was doing this because they had asked him to.
"Come on, Mom, light the candles," Seth urged. The tension had thickened again.
"Let me find a lighter," She said. She went to a drawer behind her and opened it. She didn't see the lighter that she usually kept there for lighting scented candles in the house.
"What do you think I should do, Sandy?" Ryan asked. She had her back to them but she could tell that Sandy was stunned by Ryan's question by his silence.
"About what?" Seth asked.
I turned around with the lighter Sandy used to light the barbecue.
"You didn't tell them?" Ryan asked.
"About what?" Seth repeated.
"I was going to wait until after you had opened your presents, Ryan," Sandy responded. Ryan nodded. Sandy wouldn't meet her gaze. He was hiding something big. Ryan and Sandy both seemed stricken by whatever they weren't saying.
"Yeah, too late. What's up?" Seth asked.
Kirsten started lighting the candles as the kitchen went quiet. "Happy birthday, Ryan," She said. He smiled at her. Not a birthday smile, but a genuine one.
"Thanks," He said.
*****