Illicit Affairs

Chapter 37

I let myself into Ryan's house with a heavy heart and an even heavier sigh. I could have gone home but I really needed a hug right now. Sure I got plenty of hugs and reassurances from Jimmie earlier when I explained how my most recently found family had rejected me, but it wasn't the same. Now I had even more drama to unpack and was once again feeling needy.

As I stepped into the foyer, I was greeted by the spicy aroma of Mexican spices, and despite my heavy mood, my stomach rumbled.

I followed the scent to the kitchen where I found my love standing at the stove stirring a pot of seasoned meat as he sipped on a Margarita.

"Taco Tuesday?" I asked with a forced chuckle.

"Every day should be a taco day." He grinned at me, but then his smile began to gradually fade as he looked me up and down. I guess I'm wearing my emotions.

He turned the fire off and pushed the pot off of the burner. He then took my hand and led me to the kitchen table. "What happened baby?"

"Pour me one of those margaritas and I'll tell you all about it." I replied with a sigh.

He poured me a drink from the pitcher in the fridge and garnished it with a lime wedge before handing it to me. I took a sip, relishing the potent tequila. The drink was strong, which was just what I needed.

He sat down across from me. "Talk to me babe."

"I don't even know where to begin." I sighed. He knew that I was meeting with Mary Ellen today, but I didn't get a chance to tell him about the call from Jimmie that had me racing, no pun intended, to SHR.

"I found out today that I have an aunt. I also have multiple cousins, including William." Might as well just throw all of that out there. I then relayed the entire visit with Monica while he listened intently, his eyes growing wide when I revealed that William was Natalie's son and possibly Jeff's. His eyes turned sympathetic when I told him that Monica had no desire for a relationship with me.

He nodded for me to go on with my story, so I did, my mind scrambling to put the events into place. "Before I could even fully process the fact that I'm unwanted, Jimmie called me to meet him at our office because his guy was able to get his hands on William's original birth certificate. Take one guess on who is listed as his father?"

"Jeff?"

"Bingo. Of course this still isn't concrete proof...it's just a name typed into a box, but I think the fact that William believes it and Jeff caters to him says a lot because you know Jeff would not have William around if it were not true. Knowing Jeff, he probably had a DNA test, and if that test didn't prove what we've all suspected then Jeff would have kicked William to the curb once he used him up. I really wish I had more backstory, other than what was in Natalie's journal. Like did Jeff know all along or did William seek him out once he became of age and his adoption records were accessible?"

Ryan looked deep in thought. "If you look at the timeline, it makes sense that William sought him out. William was right around eighteen when he joined JRM. It would make sense that when Jeff learned William was his son that he convinced your grandfather to put him in a car. I may have done some digging on my own for North Carolina adoption laws, and records can be unsealed once the adopted party reaches the age of eighteen. That actually makes a lot of sense. It also makes so much sense as to why Jeff pushed so hard to get William in the 24, even making it a point to get the 9 for Chase and making it look like he was doing Chase a huge favor."

Oh how I loved this man. How many other men would have thought I was crazy for buying into conspiracy theories? Not him. Not only did he believe me, but he even did his own research and had his own theories. Theories that made perfect sense.