Chapter 2: All We Have Is Each Other

After Ryan is fully dressed he runs downstairs, as he reaches the bottom Micki and Jack enter with their groceries. Micki laughs.

"And then after that, I hit that golf ball clear off the course and...Ryan?" Jack pauses. Micki turns and looks up at him.

"Oh...Ryan, did you just get up?"

"Yeah...where have you two been?" Ryan replies and folds his arms.

"Didn't you find our note?" Micki says losing her smile.

"Yeah, I found it...said you went out with Jack to buy milk."

"Oh darn...Jack we bought all this stuff and forgot the milk!" Micki says astonished.

"I knew we were forgetting something." Jack answers her trying to play along.

"We have a whole carton in the fridge." Ryan blurts out. Micki and Jack exchange glances.

"What'd you buy?" Ryan asks as he walks over to Micki.

"Nothing really...just a few things for us around here, we were out of lots of-" Micki pauses as Ryan pulls a bag of streamers out of one of the sacks in her arms. Micki sighs. Jack looks down in dismay.

"I told you both I didn't want a party."

"It's not a party." Micki exclaims sternly and snatches the bag from Ryan. Ryan looks at her then at Jack. Micki brushes past him and places the bags on the counter. Jack sighs heavily as he walks over to the desk to put down his sack of groceries. Ryan walks over to Micki as she begins to empty a bag.

"Then what is it then?"

"It's...a celebration of your life..."

"A celebration of my life?"

"Yes," Micki replies without looking at him and continues to empty the bags. Ryan glares at her.

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to celebrate my life?"

Micki slams down a box of cake mix and looks at him.

"Well, why not?!" She shouts. Ryan looks down. "Ryan...you have lived through a lot...and you're turning 26, doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

"26 years and nothing to show for it!" Ryan shouts over her. "And been through a lot?" He questions. "You don't even know the half of it."

Ryan walks over to the stairs.

"Ryan..." Micki begins.

Ryan turns sharply.

"Don't presume to know me, Micki!" You don't know everything!"

"Why are you getting so upset about this, and if I don't then help me too, don't shut me out, explain it to me!"

"I shouldn't have to...and just stay out of my life Micki alright!"

Micki frowns and turns away. Ryan sighs.

"Look Micki..."

Jack looks up at him before speaking.

"Ryan..."

"I've outlived my father...my mother and my brother and I'm only 26, why should I celebrate that!"

"We understand Ryan, it's just...we love you and we want to celebrate your life because it means so much to us." Jack explains. "Your mother and father...and Jimmy would have wanted you to be happy on your birthday."

"I don't know what they would have wanted Jack, but I'd like it if I never had another birthday again."

"Ryan!" Micki squeaks through her tears. Ryan runs upstairs. Jack sighs. Micki hugs herself and turns away. Jack looks up the stairwell and presumes to follow Ryan. Muttering softly to Micki;

"I'll talk to him."

As Jack reaches the top floor and enters the kitchen, Ryan sits on his bed with his head in his hands.

"Ryan..."

"Go away Jack. Ryan mutters softly. Jack sighs heavily.

"I can't."

Ryan sniffles and looks up at Jack with tears in his eyes. He then turns away.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do...Do what?" Ryan answers and clears his throat.

"Why is it, when your hurt or scared...or even crying, you turn away?"

Ryan clears his throat again.

I...can't...I can't face people...especially you and Micki."

"Why is that?" Jack asks and slowly sits at the kitchen table.

"I...I don't know I...I just...I always want to be strong for you and Micki..."

Jack smiles shyly.

"Ryan, Micki and I are proud of you...and as nice as that is...you don't have to do that...it can be hard to do."

Ryan nods slowly and more tears come to his eyes. Jack stares hard at him.

"I know..." Ryan suddenly chokes out and lets out a small sob into his hand. He turns away from Jack again. Jack only stares as Ryan sobs in small airy high-pitched sobs. Jack could take no more and walks over to him. He slowly sits down on the bed and touches Ryan's shoulder.

"Ryan, you are one of the bravest souls I ever met...and the funniest too."

Ryan sniffles and looks at him.

"Do you remember when we first met back when you were only a child...Jimmy was still alive then-"

Ryan stares at him as Jack tells the story.

"I came over for dinner you were about 6 or 7, I believe...and you and Jimmy were outside playing."

As Jack begins the story. The thought of Jimmy brings tears to Ryan's eyes, and he looks away again, biting his thumbnail.

"It was a sunny evening." Jack continues.

Jimmy looks up from chalking on the driveway.

"Hey, Ryan?" Jimmy calls to him.

"Yeah?"

"Is this straight enough?" Jimmy asks referencing a line drawn on the concrete.

"Yeah, let's just race!" Ryan shouts with a smile.

"Okay from the porch steps to this line, the winner gets the loser's dessert!"

Ryan and Jimmy kneel down and prepare to run.

"On your mark...get set... go!" Jimmy shouts. Ryan and Jimmy take off running. Ryan smiles and grabs at Jimmy's coat.

"Don't cheat!" Jimmy says with a laugh. He then pushes on Ryan. Ryan and Jimmy topple over the line at the same time. Jimmy laughs.

"It was me, my foot touched it first!" Jimmy shouts.

"No way!" Ryan shouts back. "I did!" Ryan and Jimmy begin to scuffle and wrestle in the grass.

"Ouch!" Ryan screams. Jimmy stares at him. "Don't bite me!"

"Sorry.." Jimmy mutters. They then immediately go back into fighting.

"Excuse me, boys?" A low proper voice calls out.

They stop and look at a younger Jack.

"I'm looking for Ray and Elizabeth Dallion...is this the right address?"

"Who wants to know mister?" Jimmy asks.

"Jack...Jack Marshak."

Jimmy looks at Ryan confused, he then stares at Jack. Jack smiles. As he stares Ryan suddenly morphs into his older self and continues to stare at Jack.

"Yeah...You came to tell dad about the store...Lewis was looking for a business partner...and Dad was always looking for a big score, so you though why not ask him."

"Mm-hm."

Ryan turns away.

"Yeah, I remember."

Jack pats his shoulder.

"Micki tells me...your father once wrote you a letter..."

Ryan looks back at him.

"She told you about that?"

"Yes."

Ryan sighs and stands up. He folds his arms.

"What else did she tell you?"

"Everything, I'm afraid..."

Ryan scoffs and places his hand on his hip above his belt.

"Ryan..."

Jack stands and touches Ryan's shoulders.

"That letter...and that day I met you... I just want you to know that you've always been more than the man your father thought you were."

Ryan looks down.

"I know you don't believe me but look here..."

Jack turns Ryan to face him. Ryan looks down at his feet. Jack keeps his hand on Ryan's shoulders.

"Trying to be strong for Micki and I proves it... that's what separates a boy from a man...learning to care for someone other than yourself... you grew up a long time ago Ryan."

Ryan nods shyly.

"Look at me."

Ryan looks up at him.

"Before your father died you taught him that, he saw you Ryan, and he was proud of you."

Ryan tears up again and looks away.

"You've always cared more for others than yourself..."

"And I still care about them even though they're gone..."

Jack sighs.

"You...you've been through more than I have... how do you...how do you make the hurt go away Jack?"

"I wish I could say that in time all wounds go away but they don't... but the best way I get past it is by looking at what I've still got..."

Ryan looks up at Jack with tears streaming down his face.

"You and Micki are my whole world, Ryan."

Ryan sniffles.

"Then I look at myself, and all I have done...and all I've survived through...and there's no better reason to celebrate a life than a life that's still loved and alive."

Ryan nods.

"I...I miss him Jack...but...you...you've always been like a second father to me...and..." Ryan chokes out through his sobs.

"Ah...Ryan..." Jack mumbles. He then wraps Ryan in a hug. "Ever since I lost my little boy, you've always been like a second son to me..."

Ryan closes his eyes against Jack's hug.

"And after all you and I have been through...I'm glad we have each other...and I'm glad to have you here to celebrate your birthday...but you know..."

Jack pulls away from Ryan.

"There's someone downstairs who'd like to celebrate your life... she's certainly glad to have you in hers."

Ryan nods slowly. Jack smiles.