Kirsten, Sandy and Seth were in the kitchen when the rain finally stopped. She had just finished putting their leftover takeout away when Seth asked about Ryan.
"What did you say to him, Dad?"
Sandy glanced at her for a moment before answering. It was Sandy's decision whether or not to tell Seth about Ryan's father's calls.
"If Ryan wants to talk about it, then he'll tell you. It's…it's nothing to do with us," Sandy said quietly.
"What? What do you mean 'it has nothing to do with us'? If it has to do with Ryan then it has to do with us, right?" Seth replied after a beat. He took after his father so much.
"He's had a long day, Seth and he's really sick. I'm sure he'll fill you in first thing in the morning," She said before Sandy could respond.
Seth let out an exaggerated sigh. "Okay. I'll drop it. I'm going to my room. I have to start trying to find a real gift for Ryan's birthday."
"A real gift?" Sandy smirked.
"Yeah. Something from me. Something that will make him not hate me for missing his birthday," Seth said as he walked out of the kitchen.
Sandy and Kirsten waited until they heard his footsteps make it to the second floor. He was notorious for eavesdropping and she could tell that Sandy didn't want to say anything to him.
"So?" She asked.
"His father broke out of prison," Sandy stated.
Out of prison? Would he come for Ryan? Why would he be calling? Would Ryan go to see him? Would Ryan want to help his dad stay out of jail?
"Kirsten?"
"Was he okay? Why didn't he say anything?" Kirsten asked, pale.
"He didn't know until I told him. He didn't…he didn't say anything. You know how he is, it's like pulling teeth to get a verbal reaction out of him," Sandy sighed.
"What about nonverbal? I mean, I know that…he…he doesn't have a good relationship with his father from what I've seen of his reactions," Kirsten replied.
"I know. But…I can't force him to call the cops on his own father. We don't know where he is and Ryan didn't give me any sign that his father would come after him…"
"What if Ryan goes to him? What if Ryan tries to help him and…"
"Relax, Kirsten, he's going to be fine…" Sandy put his arms around her and she was grateful. She needed him to support her. She needed him to tell her that everything would be okay.
"I'm worried about him."
"Well, let's go check on him," Sandy said.
Kirsten took his hand and they walked across the wet patio toward the poolhouse. She waited as Sandy knocked. There was no response. She opened the door and peeked inside. The bed was empty at her first glance. Then she saw him.
He was sitting on the floor with his head leaning against his knees. He looked like he was trying to hide but he had nowhere to go.
He was in her home. He shouldn't be frightened, he shouldn't have anything to hide from. She had made a mistake somewhere. She was supposed to make a home for this child and she had left him, sick and alone with his pain. She had shut him out in the poolhouse so she wouldn't have to see his pain. She was a bad mother.
"Ryan?" Sandy had pushed past her and went to his side. He knelt beside the boy and Kirsten could sense his panic from his movements. She saw the remnants of the phone. He must have thrown it with a lot of force to break it. Something had happened.
"Ryan? Open your eyes, kid…" Sandy was saying. He glanced up at her as she settled onto the bed beside the unresponsive boy. "I think he fell asleep…"
"He should be in bed. Let's get him off the floor…" Kirsten said, relaxing a little as she was reassured by his slow breathing. She gently took one of his arms in her hands while Sandy took the other arm. Together, they lifted him off the floor and onto the bed. Kirsten pulled off his shoes and covered him with the blanket. Once he was settled, instead of waking up, he curled into the fetal position and started to shiver. He needed another blanket. She went to the linen closet to get one and when she returned, she saw Sandy cleaning up the broken phone.
"He's out cold. He's exhausted," Sandy said as he dropped the larger parts into the wastebasket.
"What do you think happened?" She asked as she draped the thicker blanket across the blond boy.
"I don't know. But you know how careful he is with our things. It must've been pretty bad for him to throw the phone like that," Sandy remarked.
"Shows how much we're different. I would have just unplugged it, but he had to break it," Kirsten said. She regretted her words when she turned to face her husband.
"He's not violent, Kirsten. He's never done anything to hurt you. Or any of us…"
"That's not what I meant…"
"What did you mean?" Sandy asked immediately.
"I just meant…" She started.
"No…please…" Ryan murmured in his sleep.
Sandy glanced at him before returning his attention to her. "I'm going to stay with him. In case he wants to talk when he wakes up…"
"I'll stay," Kirsten objected.
"I'm staying, Kirsten. Why don't you go check on your son?"
She recoiled from his words but didn't respond. Sandy wouldn't look at her so she walked back to the main house, cold from his words. She hoped he didn't mean it the way he said it.