Down A Rabbit Hole We Go – Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own the OC or any of its characters.
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The drive from Chino to Newport was silent with Caleb driving and Sandy riding shotgun. Ryan sat dosing in the seat behind Sandy with his head leaning against the window. He finally roused as they stopped at the guard house to Caleb's neighborhood. As they passed through the gate, Ryan leaned forward and questioned Sandy. "What's going to happen to Trey?"
"Trey is over 18, stole a car, had a gun in his pants, had some pot in his jacket, and has a couple of priors. Trey's probably looking at 3-5 years," Sandy answered honestly.
"I've hired one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the area to represent Trey, Ryan," Caleb added.
"Really?" Ryan quizzed. "Thanks," he added softly, and leaned back in his seat with a sigh. Ryan was surprised that his father was helping Trey. There was no love lost between the two. When they were younger Trey had been jealous of Ryan's rich dad and his jealousy got worse after Frank Atwood was arrested. This issue led to several fights between the boys. But if there was one thing that could unite the brothers it was Dawn's endless stream of alcoholic, drug addicted, and abusive boyfriends. Although the knowledge that Caleb would be around with some regularity kept most of them from getting too rough with Ryan, especially if they knew Caleb was scheduled to pick Ryan up for a weekend or holiday, Trey had a mouth on him and seemed to inevitably get under their skin. During a time when things were really bad, Ryan asked Caleb if Trey could join them on a few weekend trips. But Trey knew how to push all of Caleb's buttons and when Caleb caught a 15-year-old Trey smoking weed with a pre-teen Ryan, Caleb had written the older boy off. Ryan and Trey's relationship suffered from the fall out. And, although Ryan generally tried to stay out of trouble, Trey seemed to find it at every turn. Dawn, unable to control him, kicked Trey out the day he turned 18. The boys had maintained a volatile relationship since then. In fact, a part of Ryan was surprised that Trey didn't try to take Ryan down with him over the stolen car. But he had to give Trey credit. He'd picked Ryan up when AJ became unbearable and he'd admitted to the police that Ryan didn't know the car was stolen. Ryan hoped that the lawyer Caleb hired was as good as his dad said he was.
Ryan didn't realize the car had stopped until Caleb tapped his knee causing him to flinch. "I don't want you to worry about Trey, son. Now, let's get you inside."
Ryan eased himself out of Caleb's car, pulling his bags along with him. He stood staring, dumbfounded, at the mansion in front of him. He knew that Caleb was rich, but this was surreal. He was spurred forward by Caleb's hand on his shoulder.
"Welcome home, son," Caleb intoned.
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Sandy saw the look of wonder on Ryan's face as the boy took in Caleb's mansion. Caleb's neighborhood was two neighborhoods over from the Cohen's and even more elite. His house had a large circular driveway in the front. A fountain stood at the bottom of a set of tall marble steps. It was built on a bluff overlooking a private beach. From the boy's reaction, Sandy assumed that Caleb had never brought Ryan home with him, even secretly. He followed the two into Caleb's large open foyer.
"Let's get you comfortable in the den for now, Ryan." Caleb said as he ushered the boy into the next room. "Neil should be here any minute to check you over and then we'll get you up to bed."
Sandy's mouth dropped open. Caleb had assured Jill Haggerty that he'd have his private physician evaluate Ryan's injuries once they got to Newport. That promise had allowed them to skip a visit to the ER. But Sandy hadn't realized that Caleb was referring to Neil Roberts. And from the way he'd mentioned him so casually to Ryan, it sounded as if the kid should know who Neil was. Sandy's face must have shown his confusion when Caleb returned from the den.
"Sanford, what's wrong?"
Sandy looked indignantly at his father-in-law. "Neil Roberts knows you have a son, but Kirsten doesn't, and you ask me what's wrong? Really, Cal."
Caleb's reply was cut off by the ringing doorbell. He didn't have a chance to answer the door as Summer Roberts burst in with a chagrinned Neil following in her wake.
"Where's Chino?" Summer huffed, her hands on her hips.
"He's in the den, Summer." Caleb answered, before looking questioningly at Neil as the girl made a beeline to the den.
"I'm sorry, Cal. She was apparently having trouble sleeping and heard me talking to you. Once she realized that Ryan was hurt, I couldn't convince her to stay at home."
Caleb just nodded and Neil made his way to the den.
Sandy cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow once he had Caleb's attention.
"Don't look at me like that Sandy. I didn't intend for Neil Roberts to meet Ryan while keeping him a secret from my family. They met when Ryan was around four. Rose was still alive. I told her about the affair shortly after it happened. Somehow, she managed to forgive me. But by the time I found out about Ryan, Rose had been diagnosed with cancer. I just couldn't tell her about him. It was one thing for her to forgive me for a one-night affair. But to have to see the evidence of that affair in the flesh, I couldn't do that to her. I thought about telling her during her first remission, but I just didn't have the nerve. Anyway, when Ryan was around four years old, I had him for the day, and he fell off the slide at the park and cut his chin. He was screaming and there was blood everywhere. I knew he was going to need stitches, but I was afraid that somehow Rose would find out if I took him to the ER. Neil and I were friends, and I knew I could count on him to be discrete. Besides that, he's the best at what he does. The scar is barely noticeable," Caleb explained.
"And Summer?" Sandy asked incredulously.
"When Ryan was twelve, I picked him up one Friday and he had a cut on his cheek. He said he was roughhousing with Trey and fell into the corner of a cabinet. Knowing what I know now, I might question that explanation. I called Neil and he told me that he'd have to bring Summer. It was a few months after Neil's first wife left and Summer wasn't handling it well. Neil didn't want to leave her at home alone. He swore her to secrecy, but we weren't really worried about her telling anyone. Summer was barely speaking to anyone back then. She and Ryan met, and they hit it off. We thought a friendship would be good for both of them, so Neil and Summer would occasionally drop by when I had Ryan for a long weekend. Over time, they started joining us for a few days during holidays or summer break. In fact, since the kids have only a few weeks of summer left, we were supposed to leave tomorrow to go to Neil's lakeside cabin for a week. It looks like that will have to be put on hold."
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"Chino!" Summer's near shout made Ryan jump. Summer almost felt guilty for that. "I knew something was going to happen. I just knew it!" She exclaimed, seeing the bruising on Ryan's face and the cut near his hairline.
"I'm fine, Summer."
"Uh huh," Summer snarked. "Lemme see," she insisted as she pulled at the bottom of his shirt.
"Summer, stop. Get off me." Ryan's words lacked any real bite as he tried unsuccessfully to push her hands away. He knew once Summer had made her mind up about something there was no stopping her.
"You stop!" she spat as she batted at his hand that was fighting her. When she finally succeeded in pulling his shirt up, she went deathly quiet for a moment and then launched into a tirade. "That monster! Ryan! How could you let him do this?" Ryan looked away, shame coloring his face red.
Neil Roberts entered Caleb's den to find his daughter looking like she might have one of her "rage blackouts." "Honey?"
"Daddy, look! Look what that…beast…did to him!"
"Summer, stop it!" Ryan insisted, attempting once again to pull his shirt back down.
"Just look, Daddy!" Summer was now on the verge of tears.
Neil Roberts scanned Ryan's form, noting the cut near his hairline, the bruising on his face and exposed torso, and his pallor. "Sweetheart, why don't you go to the kitchen and get Ryan a glass of juice and a snack while I examine him. Then you can help me stitch up that cut. Those steri strips just won't do," Neil prompted and received a grateful look from Ryan.
"But…" Summer started but relented at her father's stern look. "Hmph…. I won't be long and then you and I are going to have a serious talk, Chino."
With that warning, Summer exited the room back into the foyer. Her anger rose again when she saw Caleb Nichol talking with Sandy Cohen. "Mr. Nichol," she interrupted.
Caleb Nichol turned around to see what Summer Roberts needed, only to be slapped full force across the face.
"How dare you let them do that to him!" She shouted as her tears started to flow. "I've kept your secret, but no more! I'm going to make sure this never happens again if I have to tell every gossiping skank that I know in Newport that Ryan is your son! You are not going to send him back to Chino to that sorry excuse for a mother and that barbarian to get beat up again!"
"Summer," Caleb held his hands up trying to calm the girl. "You don't have to worry. Ryan is never going back to Chino or to his mother if I have any say in the matter. If I had known that this was happening, I'd have never let him stay this long."
Summer deflated somewhat at the conviction in Caleb's voice. "It's just…I've been so worried. I just knew that AJ was going to do something before our trip. I begged Ryan to tell you what was happening."
"I don't understand, Summer," Caleb replied.
Summer bit her lip then sighed. "AJ is twisted, Mr. Nichol, and he hates Ryan. Every time you picked Ryan up for longer than a weekend AJ wanted to make sure he was miserable. The first time was at Thanksgiving. AJ beat Ryan up, but all the evidence was hidden under Ryan's clothes. Once he realized that Ryan didn't tell you about it, it was like a game to him. At Christmas, Ryan was sure that AJ had cracked a couple of his ribs. That's why he wouldn't go skiing until the end of our week in Vail. And during spring break, Ryan said the water was too cold to swim, but the truth is he wouldn't take his shirt off because he was hiding more bruises."
"Summer, if you knew this was happening, why didn't you tell me?" Caleb asked, astonished at the girl's revelation.
"Because Ryan made me promise not to."
"But why? Why didn't he tell me?"
"Because he's proud and stubborn like his father." At Caleb's questioning look, Summer explained. "Ryan didn't want you to bring him home out of pity, Mr. Nichol. He wanted you to accept him as your son because you love him."
"I do love him, Summer. I've loved him since the moment I laid eyes on him. Surely he knows that." Caleb protested.
"What he knows is that for 15 years you've refused to acknowledge him to the rest of your family, Mr. Nichol. He's basically resigned himself to being your dirty little secret."
Caleb closed his eyes and rubbed a hand across his brow wearily before looking back at the girl. "I've made some terrible mistakes, Summer. But I promise you, I'm going to make things right."
"I hope you can Mr. Nichol. And I'm..ahh…sorry about the…little rage incident." Summer motioned to Caleb's red cheek.
"That's alright, dear. I deserved that and a lot more." Caleb admitted. "And, considering that I've asked Sandy to bring Kirsten over this evening so I can tell her everything, I wouldn't be surprised if I get slapped again before the day is over."
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Note: For all of you anxiously waiting, the Kirsten should make an appearance soon.