Discovering Chapter Twelve: Part Two of Four
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Discovering Chapter Twelve
Part Two
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I have a list of contact numbers exclusive to Ryan.
Dawn's current phone number is first.
Theresa's cell is second. It's the number she gave Ryan when she moved to Atlanta.
I haven't called her since she lost the baby. I phoned her a few weeks afterwards, when she had settled in with her cousin, and listened to her cry as I told her how very sorry Kirsten and I were about her loss.
"Take care of Ryan," was the last thing she said to me.
I doubt her cell number is still valid, but I have nothing to lose, so I hope for the best and punch in the digits.
I walk to the furthest corner of the CCU waiting room and hit 'send' on my cell.
I'm more than a little shocked when I hear Theresa's voice answer a tentative, "Hello?"
"Theresa?" I ask. "Hi, this is Sandy Cohen."
"Mr. Cohen?" She asks, sounding confused. "Did something happen to Ryan? Something happened, didn't it?" she asks quickly.
Her sudden question takes me off guard.
"I….I had a dream last night," she explains. "I woke up with a bad feeling about Ryan. We were kids and I was lost and couldn't find him."
I'm still silent, processing what she just said.
My ma believes in this kind of thing.
Premonitions.
I'm too practical for it.
Then again, Theresa's dream might change my mind.
"I uh…" I stutter, "There's um…there's been an accident. Ryan had an accident. He fell. Two stories. He's in the hospital."
"I just…" Theresa stumbles, "I knew… I sensed…that something happened to him. I figured I was being ridiculous and Ryan would think I was crazy if I called him to check up on him all panicky." She pauses and then continues a little calmer, "Is he okay?"
I give her a bare minimum, brief synopsis of Ryan's medical condition.
She asks me quietly, "Did you call to tell me I should come to Newport? Is Ryan going to… Is it that bad?"
"No, no. Not at all," I say, knowing that she's concerned that Ryan might be critically injured. "No, it's not that serious, Theresa. I'm sorry if I scared you."
I'm already lying to Seth and Kirsten. What's yet another lie to someone who cares about Ryan?
I tell her, "I actually called you for another reason. I need your help with something."
She waits a few seconds before saying, "Um. Okay. But I don't know what I could help you with."
I clear my throat.
It seemed like such a good idea to call her when I was sitting in Ryan's hospital room, but now?
How the hell do I segue to what I want to ask her about Ryan's past?
What should I ask her?
Hey Theresa, can you tell me anything about when Trey shot his five-year-old brother?
"How are you doing?" I ask her randomly.
"I'm alright," she answers, sounding guarded.
More silence then, "Mr. Cohen? Are you sure Ryan's going to be okay? I appreciate you calling me, but…it's kind of unusual. I mean, thanks so much because like I said, I had a bad feeling that something may have happened to him, but you calling me is kind of unexpected."
"Yeah," I agree, distracted by what I want to ask her. "Listen, I need to ask you something, Theresa. Something that Trey or Ryan may have told you…something about before they moved to Chino."
I can hear her breathing, waiting for me to continue.
"Theresa?" I ask.
"I'm still here," she says softly.
I try and figure out how to find the words for what I need to ask.
How to come straight out and ask her, Did anyone ever tell you that Trey shot Ryan?
"Did um….did either of them ever say anything to you about something that happened in Sacramento?"
"Sacramento?" she repeats. I can hear confusion in her voice.
"Yes," I tell her. "Sacramento. They lived there for a few months when Trey was nine and Ryan was five. Something happened to Ryan….when they were living there. Something bad."
She doesn't say anything so I continue.
"Do you know what I'm talking about?" I ask her, keeping my voice calm and low.
She answers, "Ryan didn't talk about anything like that to me. He never told me anything about his life before they moved to Chino. I guess he figured I knew enough just from living next door to him."
My finger goes back to scratching my eyebrow.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I really don't know anything about them living in Sacramento."
I start to nod.
It was a pretty big stretch to think she would. I was fishing in deep waters, hoping that Theresa would know something.
"It's okay," I assure her. "I was just grasping at straws."
"Why do you need to know about them living in Sacramento?" she inquires. "Have you asked Ryan about whatever it is you want to know?"
"No," I tell her. "You said it yourself, Ryan is the last person to ask about his past."
"What do you think happened?" she asks me.
I hear an odd quality to the question, almost as if she's on her own fishing expedition.
We enter into a sort of verbal 'tag…you're it.'
"Do you think you know what I think might have happened?" I ask her.
"I don't know," she says. "I mean, if you think I might know, I might, but I doubt it because like I said, Ryan never told me anything about him and Trey before they lived next door to us."
If things weren't so serious, I might be laughing as we tippie-toe around each other.
Theresa said Ryan never told her anything and even if he did, I know in my heart that she understands how precious Ryan's trust is. She knows him well enough to understand he doesn't extend trust to most people. I doubt very much that she has any intention of breaking Ryan's trust in her about anything he's ever confided to her.
I sigh and say, "I'm very sorry for calling you out of the blue like this. I'm sorry if I scared you. Ryan's doing alright, I promise. I'll have him call you as soon as he's feeling better."
Theresa tells me, "I'm glad you told me about his accident. Like I said, I already had a bad feeling something had happened to him. At least I know he's going to be okay."
There's another few seconds of silence between us before I tell her, "Well, I hope things continue to go well for you. Next time you're at your mother's house, please stop by for dinner. I'm sure Ryan would love to see you."
"That'd be nice," she says quietly. "I miss him."
I say goodbye to her and flip my phone shut.
I'm still missing something.
I need to concentrate.
Think, Sandy.
Think.
There are dots that need connecting.
"Mr. C?" I hear someone say.
I turn around and Summer is standing in the doorway of the waiting room
"Hey," she says with a small wave.
She's carrying a white delicatessen bag.
She holds it up and tells me, "Pastrami on rye. Lots of mayo."
I smile. "You are an angel."
She smiles shyly back and points to a chair.
We sit down together and she gives me the bag.
"I didn't bring a drink."
"This is fine," I tell her. "I've been freebasing coffee. I don't need anymore free flowing fluid in my system."
God, the food she's brought me smells delicious. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until she showed up carrying this manna from heaven.
"My dad is coming by in a few hours," she says, settling into her chair.
I unwrap the sandwich.
The bread is toasted.
I love this girl.
She looks over to me, "How're you doing?"
I tell her in-between bites and chewing that I'm okay. Ryan is doing a little better. I assume that Neil hasn't told her any specifics, that he has protected Ryan's right to confidentiality. I tell her basically the same information I've shared with Kirsten and Seth.
Summer asks me, "Can I see Ryan?"
I put what's left of the sandwich down on the empty chair beside me and wipe my fingers with a napkin.
"Summer, I know that Ryan appreciates you being here, but he's really not in any shape for visitors."
"I understand that," she says. "My dad told me the same thing."
She looks up at me and asks, "Can I see him anyway?"
I stare at her.
Seth I would expect this insistence from.
Summer?
Not so much.
"Summer, I'm not trying to be mean."
"I know," she agrees eagerly. "And I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass. But I want to see Ryan."
"I just don't think it's appropriate," I tell her. "Ryan's very sick. He's…I don't feel comfortable with you seeing him right now. As soon as he's out of the CCU, you and Marissa can come for a visit."
Summer chews on the inside of her cheek, maybe mulling over what I just told her.
Then she twirls her finger at me and tells me, "See…um…I agree with you totally on Coop not seeing him. That would be like…totally counterproductive considering how sucky they've been together lately. I mean, all they do is fight and miscommunicate and whatever. But um…I don't think Atwood would care if I saw him."
She nods once and adds confidently, "No. He definitely wouldn't care."
I squirm a little in my seat, not sure how to defend my position.
Why am I finding it so difficult to just tell her no and end the discussion?
Seth says Summer can be scary.
I have to admit she does have an ability to make you stumble around a bit.
"Summer, I just…I believe you when you say Ryan might not care, but still…I'm…It's my job to make sure he's protected and I just don't think it's in his best interest for anyone but me to see him."
"Don't you trust me?" she asks, cocking her head slightly, somehow managing to look innocently sweet while simultaneously appearing to stare me down. "I would never do or say anything to hurt Ryan. And besides, I think it'll be good for him. No offense, but if I was stuck with just my dad for all this time, I'd be going a little nuts. I mean, I love my dad but…come on…"
I look at my toasted sandwich.
It was a Trojan horse.
Summer's the Greek army and she's storming my city's gates.
"Please ," she says quietly. "I just…every time I talk to Cohen, he sounds so completely freaked. I've never heard him sound like he does right now. I promised him I would see Ryan and make sure he's okay. I'm not stupid; I know I have to lie to Seth and make things seem better than they probably are, but…I'm a little freaked too…and I know Ryan wouldn't care if Seth saw him and we're all friends. I'm Ryan's friend too and…I want to see him. Please? Please."
Damn pastrami on rye sandwich.
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Yep...there's still more....keep reading...Part Three is posted.
*pets* patient flisty flist....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Discovering Chapter Twelve
Part Two
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have a list of contact numbers exclusive to Ryan.
Dawn's current phone number is first.
Theresa's cell is second. It's the number she gave Ryan when she moved to Atlanta.
I haven't called her since she lost the baby. I phoned her a few weeks afterwards, when she had settled in with her cousin, and listened to her cry as I told her how very sorry Kirsten and I were about her loss.
"Take care of Ryan," was the last thing she said to me.
I doubt her cell number is still valid, but I have nothing to lose, so I hope for the best and punch in the digits.
I walk to the furthest corner of the CCU waiting room and hit 'send' on my cell.
I'm more than a little shocked when I hear Theresa's voice answer a tentative, "Hello?"
"Theresa?" I ask. "Hi, this is Sandy Cohen."
"Mr. Cohen?" She asks, sounding confused. "Did something happen to Ryan? Something happened, didn't it?" she asks quickly.
Her sudden question takes me off guard.
"I….I had a dream last night," she explains. "I woke up with a bad feeling about Ryan. We were kids and I was lost and couldn't find him."
I'm still silent, processing what she just said.
My ma believes in this kind of thing.
Premonitions.
I'm too practical for it.
Then again, Theresa's dream might change my mind.
"I uh…" I stutter, "There's um…there's been an accident. Ryan had an accident. He fell. Two stories. He's in the hospital."
"I just…" Theresa stumbles, "I knew… I sensed…that something happened to him. I figured I was being ridiculous and Ryan would think I was crazy if I called him to check up on him all panicky." She pauses and then continues a little calmer, "Is he okay?"
I give her a bare minimum, brief synopsis of Ryan's medical condition.
She asks me quietly, "Did you call to tell me I should come to Newport? Is Ryan going to… Is it that bad?"
"No, no. Not at all," I say, knowing that she's concerned that Ryan might be critically injured. "No, it's not that serious, Theresa. I'm sorry if I scared you."
I'm already lying to Seth and Kirsten. What's yet another lie to someone who cares about Ryan?
I tell her, "I actually called you for another reason. I need your help with something."
She waits a few seconds before saying, "Um. Okay. But I don't know what I could help you with."
I clear my throat.
It seemed like such a good idea to call her when I was sitting in Ryan's hospital room, but now?
How the hell do I segue to what I want to ask her about Ryan's past?
What should I ask her?
Hey Theresa, can you tell me anything about when Trey shot his five-year-old brother?
"How are you doing?" I ask her randomly.
"I'm alright," she answers, sounding guarded.
More silence then, "Mr. Cohen? Are you sure Ryan's going to be okay? I appreciate you calling me, but…it's kind of unusual. I mean, thanks so much because like I said, I had a bad feeling that something may have happened to him, but you calling me is kind of unexpected."
"Yeah," I agree, distracted by what I want to ask her. "Listen, I need to ask you something, Theresa. Something that Trey or Ryan may have told you…something about before they moved to Chino."
I can hear her breathing, waiting for me to continue.
"Theresa?" I ask.
"I'm still here," she says softly.
I try and figure out how to find the words for what I need to ask.
How to come straight out and ask her, Did anyone ever tell you that Trey shot Ryan?
"Did um….did either of them ever say anything to you about something that happened in Sacramento?"
"Sacramento?" she repeats. I can hear confusion in her voice.
"Yes," I tell her. "Sacramento. They lived there for a few months when Trey was nine and Ryan was five. Something happened to Ryan….when they were living there. Something bad."
She doesn't say anything so I continue.
"Do you know what I'm talking about?" I ask her, keeping my voice calm and low.
She answers, "Ryan didn't talk about anything like that to me. He never told me anything about his life before they moved to Chino. I guess he figured I knew enough just from living next door to him."
My finger goes back to scratching my eyebrow.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I really don't know anything about them living in Sacramento."
I start to nod.
It was a pretty big stretch to think she would. I was fishing in deep waters, hoping that Theresa would know something.
"It's okay," I assure her. "I was just grasping at straws."
"Why do you need to know about them living in Sacramento?" she inquires. "Have you asked Ryan about whatever it is you want to know?"
"No," I tell her. "You said it yourself, Ryan is the last person to ask about his past."
"What do you think happened?" she asks me.
I hear an odd quality to the question, almost as if she's on her own fishing expedition.
We enter into a sort of verbal 'tag…you're it.'
"Do you think you know what I think might have happened?" I ask her.
"I don't know," she says. "I mean, if you think I might know, I might, but I doubt it because like I said, Ryan never told me anything about him and Trey before they lived next door to us."
If things weren't so serious, I might be laughing as we tippie-toe around each other.
Theresa said Ryan never told her anything and even if he did, I know in my heart that she understands how precious Ryan's trust is. She knows him well enough to understand he doesn't extend trust to most people. I doubt very much that she has any intention of breaking Ryan's trust in her about anything he's ever confided to her.
I sigh and say, "I'm very sorry for calling you out of the blue like this. I'm sorry if I scared you. Ryan's doing alright, I promise. I'll have him call you as soon as he's feeling better."
Theresa tells me, "I'm glad you told me about his accident. Like I said, I already had a bad feeling something had happened to him. At least I know he's going to be okay."
There's another few seconds of silence between us before I tell her, "Well, I hope things continue to go well for you. Next time you're at your mother's house, please stop by for dinner. I'm sure Ryan would love to see you."
"That'd be nice," she says quietly. "I miss him."
I say goodbye to her and flip my phone shut.
I'm still missing something.
I need to concentrate.
Think, Sandy.
Think.
There are dots that need connecting.
"Mr. C?" I hear someone say.
I turn around and Summer is standing in the doorway of the waiting room
"Hey," she says with a small wave.
She's carrying a white delicatessen bag.
She holds it up and tells me, "Pastrami on rye. Lots of mayo."
I smile. "You are an angel."
She smiles shyly back and points to a chair.
We sit down together and she gives me the bag.
"I didn't bring a drink."
"This is fine," I tell her. "I've been freebasing coffee. I don't need anymore free flowing fluid in my system."
God, the food she's brought me smells delicious. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until she showed up carrying this manna from heaven.
"My dad is coming by in a few hours," she says, settling into her chair.
I unwrap the sandwich.
The bread is toasted.
I love this girl.
She looks over to me, "How're you doing?"
I tell her in-between bites and chewing that I'm okay. Ryan is doing a little better. I assume that Neil hasn't told her any specifics, that he has protected Ryan's right to confidentiality. I tell her basically the same information I've shared with Kirsten and Seth.
Summer asks me, "Can I see Ryan?"
I put what's left of the sandwich down on the empty chair beside me and wipe my fingers with a napkin.
"Summer, I know that Ryan appreciates you being here, but he's really not in any shape for visitors."
"I understand that," she says. "My dad told me the same thing."
She looks up at me and asks, "Can I see him anyway?"
I stare at her.
Seth I would expect this insistence from.
Summer?
Not so much.
"Summer, I'm not trying to be mean."
"I know," she agrees eagerly. "And I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass. But I want to see Ryan."
"I just don't think it's appropriate," I tell her. "Ryan's very sick. He's…I don't feel comfortable with you seeing him right now. As soon as he's out of the CCU, you and Marissa can come for a visit."
Summer chews on the inside of her cheek, maybe mulling over what I just told her.
Then she twirls her finger at me and tells me, "See…um…I agree with you totally on Coop not seeing him. That would be like…totally counterproductive considering how sucky they've been together lately. I mean, all they do is fight and miscommunicate and whatever. But um…I don't think Atwood would care if I saw him."
She nods once and adds confidently, "No. He definitely wouldn't care."
I squirm a little in my seat, not sure how to defend my position.
Why am I finding it so difficult to just tell her no and end the discussion?
Seth says Summer can be scary.
I have to admit she does have an ability to make you stumble around a bit.
"Summer, I just…I believe you when you say Ryan might not care, but still…I'm…It's my job to make sure he's protected and I just don't think it's in his best interest for anyone but me to see him."
"Don't you trust me?" she asks, cocking her head slightly, somehow managing to look innocently sweet while simultaneously appearing to stare me down. "I would never do or say anything to hurt Ryan. And besides, I think it'll be good for him. No offense, but if I was stuck with just my dad for all this time, I'd be going a little nuts. I mean, I love my dad but…come on…"
I look at my toasted sandwich.
It was a Trojan horse.
Summer's the Greek army and she's storming my city's gates.
"Please ," she says quietly. "I just…every time I talk to Cohen, he sounds so completely freaked. I've never heard him sound like he does right now. I promised him I would see Ryan and make sure he's okay. I'm not stupid; I know I have to lie to Seth and make things seem better than they probably are, but…I'm a little freaked too…and I know Ryan wouldn't care if Seth saw him and we're all friends. I'm Ryan's friend too and…I want to see him. Please? Please."
Damn pastrami on rye sandwich.
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Yep...there's still more....keep reading...Part Three is posted.