Saving Ryder

Ryder

Honestly, I never expected to see my son sitting in front of me at that table. There's no denying he's my son. He has the same black hair that I have, and the light ocean blue eyes. I never once thought I'd see my son again. I expected Shaleigh to hate me, and run away, but I would have had to choose my son. I helped make him, and I want to raise him, and make up for the time I lost. When Shaleigh went up to Silas and started interacting with him I fell completely in love with her. The part of me that I was afraid to give to her was given to her tonight. When she stepped up and said Silas could stay with us I couldn't contain my smile. "Thank you for that." I say looking at Shaleigh and gesturing to Silas.
"Don't thank me. He's your son. I wouldn't want you to abandon him. We just need to have a talk later tonight." She says giving me a smile that doesn't match her eyes.
"So you're staying the night tonight?" I ask grinning.
"Depending on how our conversation goes later." She says giving no indication of what this is even going to be about.
"So Silas what would you like to do buddy? We can do anything you want." I tell him. I want to spend as much time with my son as possible, and the fact Shaleigh is here with us makes it even better.
"Can we go to the zoo daddy?" He asks hopeful.
"Of course. Is the zoo fine with you baby?" I ask turning to my girlfriend.
"It's fine with me." She says with a half-smile. I can tell something is wrong with her, but she's not revealing anything. Usually I can read people, but lately I've been really bad at that. I have a bad feeling about our relationship. I feel like part of her doesn't want to be with me, but the best way to find out is to see how she reacts to things. I reach over and interlock my right hand with her left. It takes her a minute, but her fingers enclose over top of mine. I take my thumb and glide it over top of hers over and over again. I don't bother looking over at her because honestly I'm afraid to see the expression on her face. I should have told her what had happened in my past, but I was scared of losing her. Now that someone else told her she has more of a reason to be pissed.
After forty minutes of driving we arrive at the zoo. Silas couldn't contain his excitement. Part of me wants to know what happened to him when he got kidnapped, but he's only four, and the chances of him remembering everything is slim. "Daddy I want to go see the bears. Please daddy." Silas begs.
"I have to use the bathroom first. Why don't you and Shaleigh go ahead and I'll meet y'all there." I say already walking in the direction of the bathroom. Truth is I don't have to go to the bathroom. I just need to clear my head for a second before I go having fun with my son. I pull out my iPhone 5s and realize I have a missed call, and it's not by someone I want it to be. I dial the number again, and it rings and rings, then finally they pick up.
"Hello."
"Why'd you call me Siege?" I ask.
"I was just checking up on Silas." She replies.
"Silas is fine Siege. Did you really have to do all that in front of Shaleigh? You couldn't have met up with me privately?" I ask pissed.
"I miss you Ryder. Where are you?" She responds.
"At the zoo with my son and Shaleigh, why?" I ask.
"I'm on the way. I'll see you in ten minutes." She says and hangs up.
FUCK!