Beneath the surface - Chapter 3
The moment Kirsten set her eyes upon Ryan she saw that there was something wrong with him. But it was not the flu which you could easily suspect at the first sight, being pale enough. No there was something else. She could see it in his blue eyes and she'd seen it before.
Twice.
The first time when Ryan came to live with them after he'd been left by his mother. The second time was after that time when Dawn had left him after that disastrous party where she'd made a fool out of herself as well as the whole Newport. But mostly out of Ryan. Kirsten had been so mad at that point, not for her own sake but for the young sixteen year old that deserved a better life than his mother being drunk and hitting on men. Sandy had as always been the one to calm her down and he'd told him that even if Kirsten didn't like Dawn she was still Ryan's mom and he loved her. And if she ever wanted to win his heart she had to stop acting like she owned the boy and stop trying so hard to be a mother. At first she'd refused to listen to her husbands words but as she calmed down she started to realize that he might be right. Ryan needed his old life; he needed his mom, even if that would mean that he would get hurt. Over and over again.
Even though Ryan had said nothing about the late night phone call yesterday, part of her suspected that his condition had something to do with it. She had to bit back her questions about the subject, especially since Sandy told her to do so. Her husband seemed to have a knack in getting into the young boy skin while he always seemed so uncomfortable around her. She hoped that it had to do with him not like woman but she suspected that he didn't feel at ease around her just because she was his foster mother.
Ryan was someone that needed his privacy and even if it hurt her she went along and played his game. If her son didn't feel comfortable enough to share his problems with her she had to wait until he felt fit to do so. Even if that would mean lots of time to spend.
What more had her a bit confused was that he was late from class. When Mr Crownfield had called her to pick Ryan up he hadn't said anything why her son was having a class at that time a day. Thursdays were usually the day when Ryan finished school early and now it was later that he used to be back. Upon asking him why he was late he'd answered that he had a paper to due tomorrow and just needed some help with that. Not pushing on anything further she'd left it with that even if she suspected that there were more. More than met the eye. A small noise from the teenager cut through her thoughts and turning her head she caught him just in time to see him stroke his stomach. The moves made her concerned. "Are you all right honey? Is it your stomach that is acting up again? You want me to stop?" She did her best to play along with the game that they both participated in. Not wanting to take any chances, in case it wasn't just a game, she sat her foot on the breaks, ready to hit the pedal if help was needed.
"No."
His answer was short as if she'd scared him. Instantly he put his hand away from his stomach and his gesture made her frown. He was acting out of character, almost like he was guarding something and like he was afraid she was onto his secret. Frowning she decided that she could be imagining things and that his pale appearance could be because he was actually coming down with something.
"You sure?" He hadn't sounded too convincing and she wanted to be on the safe side that everything was ok with her son, even if she suspected the opposite.
"Yeah." He nodded before turning back to look out of the window again.
"Ok if you say so." The silence in the car was so deafening that she felt like she had to do, had to say something to make it less tense. "Hun I know that you don't feel very good right now but do you think that we can stop by the drugstore so I can buy some cough medicine for Seth? His been coughing an awful lot this morning." She smiled gently at him.
"Sure." His tone was dull.
"Thank you Ryan.. I'll promise I'll be fast so that we can get you in bed when we come home. Also I can pick up some over the count medication for your stomach if you want."
"No that's Ok." He was polite as always. "I'm fine."
"OK." Kirsten sighed. She wished that there was an easy way to get through the boys mind and how much she tried she didn't seem to be able to break through his barrier. Not like Sandy. With that she parked the car, reassured him once more that she was going to be back soon again and then hurried into the drugstore. She set her steps straight to the shelves where they sold flu medication. Scanning the area a well known voice called out for her, "Kirsten! I didn't know that you had a day off!"
Turning around she was met with Mrs Audrey Blake. Newport's worst gossiper. She was the one that had spread all of the nasty, but sometimes true rumours out there and what she didn't know about you was not worth knowing. In other words she was one nasty person that you didn't want digging through your closet.
"I don't" The answer was short.
"Oh.." Mrs Blake looked surprised. "I thought you had it really busy over at the office."
"We are."Kirsten said shortly while picking up a bottle of Nyquil as well as a bottle of cough syrup and a box of Tylenol. "Seth is at home sick with the flu." That was all the explanation she was going to give away. While picking a bottle a Pepto Bismol and putting it in her basket Audrey's hawk eyes took notice of her actions.
""It looks like he is not well at all." The woman nodded towards the basket. "My sister's daughter had it and she was sick for almost two weeks. I hope he is doing better soon since I've heard that the flu bug is kind of rough this year." A fake concerned expression was plastered on her face. "Did that boy from Chino that you have staying at your house catch it too?" She scratched her head like she was thinking. "Ra…Ry…No I never seem to remember his name." There were a light chuckle.
"Ryan you mean? " Mrs Audrey Blake was so annoying that all Kirsten aimed for was this shopping to be over and done with so she could join Ryan in the car. She'd never liked nosy people and this woman was starting to cross the line. "And no answer your question; No he hasn't." Kirsten wasn't about to tell the fact that Ryan had left class earlier on due to an alleged flu bug, besides this woman was starting to get on her nerves.
"Oh!" The woman acted surprised. "Then George most have mistaken…"
"Huh?" What did the woman's son have to do with anything?
There was something vicious gleaming in her eyes, like she was searching for more gossip to spread around in the neighbourhood. "Oh it's probably nothing." The woman smiled smugly like she knew something that could stir up Kirsten's world.
"What is it? What do you mean?" Kirsten's curiosity had been sparkled and if it wasn't for the fact that Mrs Blake often helped her out with charity she would have told the woman what she thought of her so instead she settled to find out what the woman was aiming for. Beside more gossip.
. "I was just.." the older woman stopped herself. "No it's probably wrong anyway." Mrs Blake pretended not being able to say what was on her mind but she had already revealed too much not to wake up the curiosity. And that she knew.
"Audrey," Kirsten said. "If you know something that you think that I should know I would appreciate if you told me so." She wanted to add the words "otherwise keep your mouth shut" but being the polite and well mannered person she was she refrained from saying anything more. It would only bring more fuel to everything.
"I'm just wondering since George, my son, said he saw him at the mall an hour or so ago and he said he looked like he was in an awful hurry." She was dragging out her words like she'd expected some kind of reaction from Kirsten. But all the younger woman showed was a stone face. "And?" If that was all the information it was not much to come up with. Kirsten was about to leave when Mrs Blake added quickly the words that made the situation turn around all of a sudden.
"You don't see..George told me that Ryan got an detention and that he was suppose to be in class at the same time as he was seen in the mall. Talking with a woman outside Starbucks." The woman talked slowly like she was sucking on a sweet, wanting to see a result of what her words may do to Mrs Cohen.
So that was what the woman was aiming for!!!!
Kirsten would be lying if she said that the words didn't affect her. First she realised that Ryan had been in for a detention and that was why they were late at class. Her foster son had told her that the reason for him being late was that he had some stuff he had to do and therefore had decided to sit and work on math. A twitch of anger came over her, mainly because he'd lied to her. But it was the last words that had her temper rising as well as her heart pounding. Ryan had been seen with a woman outside Starbucks. Talking. In her mind that could only mean that he was seeing his mom and even if she didn't want to admit it this hurt her. The fact that he'd been lying to her.
"Was it an older woman?" Kirsten felt her tone go weak and she had to clarify her throat so that Mrs Blake wouldn't hear how upset she felt.
"George didn't say." Mrs Blake said. "But if you want I can ask him and then I can give you a call."
"No that's ok." Kirsten forced a smile back to the woman. She'd heard enough. "I have to get going. Seth needs his medicine." Suddenly she just had to get out off the drugstore. Get away from the curious woman.
"I hope he is getting well soon." There was a false concern as Mrs Blake moved along. Kirsten had no doubt that the gossipy woman would soon be on the phone, telling each and everyone that wanted to hear that the Cohen's foster son was lying to them and was no doubt dealing drugs or something similar like that.
It didn't bother her as much as the fact that Ryan had been lying to her.