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I lie looking at the ceiling once more as I think about the situation. I know I am right about Ryan. And I also know that if he does not get a professional diagnosis, he will not be able to get the resources he needs. I will do what I can now but he will get to a point where he will need more.
I check my watch and get up. Ryan will soon be awake and ready to go into the second half of the day. I creep into his room and sit for a while waiting. He is so innocent. He did not ask to be brought into this world. But he is here. And he has to be taken care of no matter what. As much as Lucan may object to what I have to say, I have to get him to face the realities. Perhaps when we get back to California and he is much calmer, I can broach the topic once more, plus include the formal diagnosis.
Ryan turns and I look down to find his eyes fluttering open.
“Hello, my sweetheart. Did you have a good nap?”
“Mhmm.”
“Awesome. Let’s get you out of these jammies. What do you want to do now?”
I listen as he begins to give a specific list of activities, one of which involves some game from the day before that Nicole and Susan had started with him.
As we leave the suite, I look at Lucan’s still-closed door. So much can change in twenty-four hours. I feel awkward. But there is no turning back the hand of time.
Chapter Fourteen
Lucan
Ilookupfrommy laptop when Summer and Ryan come back to the suite to get ready for dinner. It guts me when she avoids looking at me. The few hours that I have had to myself have given me time for some introspection. While I might not have liked what Summer said, I had no right to respond the way I did.
“When you’re through with Ryan, may I have a word please?”
“Sure.”
Twenty minutes later, she emerges from his room.
“Yes?”
I look at her as she stands in the middle of the room, still avoiding looking at me.
“I’m sorry for the way I blew up on you earlier. I had no right to do that.”
“That’s okay. Ryan is your child and you have every right to respond however you choose with information regarding him.”
“Be that as it may. I could have behaved in a more rational manner and voiced my objections in a more civilized fashion.”
“Okay. Apology accepted. Now please, excuse me. I need to get out of these wet clothes.”
I watch as she goes to her room and gently closes the door.
And that is her modus operandi for the rest of the trip. When I get up most mornings, she is already with Ryan in his room. If I happen to be there when she takes him to breakfast, the conversation is polite and strained. The same goes for lunch and dinner. Finally, the night before we leave, I have had enough. When she comes up from the pool to get Ryan ready for dinner, I am waiting with Nicole and Susan.
“Summer, I’m taking you out for dinner. It’s our last night in Miami and you’ve hardly been anywhere, Nicole and Susan will take care of Ryan. We have reservations in an hour and I won’t take no for an answer.”
Before she can respond, I go to my room, trusting that she will comply. Thirty minutes later, I am in the common area waiting. A minute later, she emerges from her room and my mouth goes dry.
She has her hair piled on top of her head in a series of twists with just a few tendrils hanging. Her neck is bare and I have flashbacks to the afternoon I had my face buried there. The dress is royal blue and is a perfect complement to her skin. It brings out her eyes beautifully. The bodice fits like a second skin, showing her curves off to perfection. The dress morphs into shades of blue as it drapes over her hips. The hem ends in midnight blue just above her knees. She is wearing a pair of glittering silver kitten heels. I look up and find her staring at me.
“I hope this is fine for wherever we’re going.”
“It’s more than fine. Shall we?” I extend my arm. Wordlessly, she takes it and we leave the suite.
Dinner is a silent and formal affair. I turn on my charm but it seems to have no effect on Summer. She does not begin to loosen up until close to dessert, after her third glass of wine. By the time we get back to the hotel, I have her laughing a bit at a few corny knock-knock jokes.
She goes to check on Ryan while I pay Nicole and Susan and dismiss them with thanks. I slip my jacket off and go over to the bar. When she emerges, I have a drink waiting for her and beckon her over to the couch. She looks uncertain.
“Summer, please.”
