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"Hello?" Sandy answered the phone on the first ring.
"Hey, Dad."
"Did you find him?"
"I'm with him now…"
"Let me talk to him…"
"Hang on…"
Sandy listened as there was a slight pause. "Ryan?" He called finally.
"Hey, Sandy."
"Are you okay?" Sandy sighed in relief. He was worried about the kid. He had so much emotion that he wasn't letting out, Sandy knew that he was due for a meltdown. And Sandy wanted to be there to catch him when he finally melted.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm in Portland, just like I said…"
"You said you'd call, not leave cryptic messages on our voicemail. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine…"
Sandy could tell that he wasn't fine. "Ryan…"
"Fuck you, Seth…" Ryan muttered distantly. "Why did you send Seth after me?"
"Because he wanted to make sure you were okay. You don't sound okay. Are you drunk?" Sandy realized.
"No…"
"Ryan…"
"I'm not drunk…"
Sandy heard Seth in the background. "He's been drinking for days!"
"Ryan…"
"I…I'm sorry. How's everything there? How's Kirsten?"
"She's upset. She thinks you left because of her…"
"I want her to fix things with Hailey…"
"What about you?"
"I won't hurt her…either of them…its better if I'm out of sight for a while…"
"It's not better for you, kid…for any of us. You're a part of our family and you should be home…"
"Sandy…"
"You belong here. You don't have to leave when you mess up, we're not your mother, we're not going to kick you out…"
"Sandy…"
"No, listen to me." Sandy waited until he heard Ryan's sigh. "Come home and work through this. You're not over Teresa and the baby yet and this shit with Jimmy and Hailey…you aren't alone anymore and you don't have to do everything yourself."
"I have to go…"
"No, Ryan. Please…" Sandy needed to get Ryan home. He was drunk and in a strange place and he needed to be home with his family. Sandy was scared.
Kirsten walked into the kitchen. "Is that him?" She took the phone from him.
"Sandy…" Ryan started.
"It's Kirsten."
Ryan didn't reply immediately.
"Honey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you go. I love you. I'm not mad. Please come home."
"I…I came here because…"
"Because you thought I'd never forgive you. I'm sorry, Ryan, but I've talked to Hailey and even though I wish it hadn't happened…you guys are adults and you shouldn't have to hide your attraction…"
"Kirsten, stop. It's over between us. I swear…"
"I don't care, Ryan. I'm worried about you, Sandy's worried about you, hell, we let Seth fly up to get you…"
"I'm fine…"
"You are not fine. You don't sound fine, Sandy's looks like you slapped him so I know you're not fine…"
"I'm fine…"
"Ryan. Please. Come home."
"What about Luke? I came here because of him, too."
"I don't care about Luke, you can bring him with you for all I care, but I want you to come home. Please. You need to be here…"
"Nothing's going to change, Kirsten…"
"You have to talk to us…"
"I don't have anything to say…"
"Stop. Listen. You're hurting. You lost Teresa, you lost your child and then…then we took Hailey away from you, too. You're hurting. You know it's true. We're your family and we love you. We need you…"
"I…"
"Tell me you'll come back."
"I'm coming back, I was always coming back…"
She sighed. She didn't believe him. Even after all her convincing, she didn't believe that he was listening. She couldn't get through to him. "Ryan, please. I love you. Please come home."
"You guys are all overreacting…"
"I'm a parent, it's what I'm built for…"
"I'm fine…"
"Tell me why you won't come home…"
"I am coming home…"
"Tell me why you won't come home now. I need to know. Is it me?"
"No, Kirsten…"
"Then what?"
"I…"
"Ryan…I know it's hard…"
"I can't be there, Kirsten…I just…it's too hard…"
"What's too hard?"
"Being…being there…" He sighed. "I need to go…"
"No, honey, please, try and talk to me…"
"I can't. I'm sorry."
And the phone went dead.
"Sandy…"
"I know. He's not okay. I just hope Seth can get through to him," Sandy said, pulling his wife into a hug.
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