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“Brad will have landed at the hospital,” Ethan said.
They drove, breaking several speed limits, but still his mother remained silent. Then they were parking. Ryan got out and took his mother’s hand again and headed into the hospital.
They were directed to the fifth floor and told to go to the waiting area. Ryan didn’t want to wait; he wanted answers. The woman very calmly told him that they didn’t have any yet, but as soon as they did, he’d be the first to know. She then asked him for a selfie with her.
He growled something rude, and a large hand on his shoulder turned him.
“Not her fault, bud,” Tex said.
His mother then urged him from the reception desk to the waiting room.
When would Faith get here? Why did he need her to be here?
He’d always thought of himself as calm and together. Not much rattled Ryan. This did. He couldn’t find a single rational thought, only several crazy ones.
“Did Hope tell you she lost a baby some time ago? When she and Newman first got together.”
He looked at his mother in shock.
“They were unsure if they would suit, her and Newman, but clearly they did in some areas.” She had a tight smile on her face. “But she lost the baby the day of the Howling Boat Race.”
“Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t you tell me?” Ryan was devasted. He’s stayed away for too long, thinking everything was fine in Lake Howling. It hadn’t been.
“It wasn’t my story to tell. Clearly Hope didn’t want to worry you as you were just rising in your career.”
“She’s my sister!” The words exploded out of his mouth. “I would have come to her.”
“And that’s why she didn’t tell you,” Millicent said.
“What else hasn’t she told me? And you, for that matter?” Ryan felt unreasonably angry. Not once had either of them asked anything of him or alluded to things not going well in their lives. They’d just smiled down the screen of his phone when he’d talked to them and told him how proud they were of him. Well, Hope had; his mother had told him to do his taxes and look after his money and to make sure he didn’t become addicted to drugs and alcohol.
“Tell me!”
“Don’t speak to your mother like that,” his father said.
“You stay out of this. My family business is no concern of yours.” He could feel his control slipping. Feel the strong walls he’d built around himself when he was a child begin to crack.
“Ryan is right, Jacob,” his mother said surprising him. “You chose to be absent from their lives. You are here for Hope, but my son is an adult and can make his own decisions about whether or not he wants you in his life.”
You’re the man of the household, Ryan. You need to look after your mother and sister. Be strong.He’d heard those words so many times from people in Lake Howling, they’d become a mantra for him to live by.
He’d left to gain his freedom.
“I won’t stand by and let him speak to you like that, Millicent. You raised him when I walked away, and you deserve respect for that,” Jacob Robertson said.
“I know she raised me.” Ryan reined in his rage. “I was there. You weren’t.”
“Coffee,” a voice said from behind him. Ryan turned to watch Tex and Brad walk in carrying trays.
“Sit,” Brad said, pointing to a seat as he looked at Ryan.
He hadn’t even realized he’d got to his feet.
“Shit.” The word hissed from his mouth.
He took the coffee and sat again, wedged between the Texans.
“You need to calm the fuck down, bud. This is not helping anyone,” Ethan said. “I know this is a kind of hell you’ve probably never experienced, but you’re not the only one feeling it.”
