Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️

nine

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Lydia hovered over the send button before pressing. She really had no idea why she was sending Ryan these pictures other than hoping to extinguish whatever anger Ryan had left -- or at least that was what she was telling herself.

She couldn't kid herself that a weight had been lifted off of her chest now that Ryan knew about Caroline. She felt free of the secret that she had been keeping. No more looking over her shoulder when she went out with Caroline in fear that they would bump into Ryan, no need to avoid NASCAR races now.

Lydia stared at her phone, wondering if Ryan was going to respond to her or not when an incoming call rang through

Ryan.

"Hello?" She answered, unsure of what to expect from him.

"Hey." He breathed on the other end. "I wanted to thank you for the pictures. They mean a lot to me."

"Of course." Her eyes drifted to Caroline, engrossed in an imaginary world with her dolls. "I have more, I didn't want to overwhelm you any more than you probably already are."

Ryan chuckled a little, "I appreciate that. I'm really looking forward to Monday. What times were you thinking?"

"I honestly haven't thought that far. Maybe we'll just pick a time to meet and see how things go?" Lydia suggested.

"What about nine? Maybe we could get breakfast before we head to the shop?" Lydia couldn't help but hear the hopefulness in Ryan's voice. "Or is that too early or too much? I have no idea what I'm doing but I just really want to get to know Caroline..." Ryan's voice trailed off.

"Nine sounds perfect. Caroline loves to go to IHOP, I think there's one in Mooresville." Lydia glanced back over at Caroline. "You were all she could talk about on the way home."

"I love IHOP." Ryan laughed. "I haven't been in forever..." His voice trailed off and Lydia couldn't help but notice the sadness in his voice. She wanted to ask but who was she to? She was the woman that kept his daughter from him, she had been the one that snuck out of the hotel room.

And yet she heard herself ask, "Is everything alright?"

On the other end, she could hear Ryan shift and then let out a sigh. "Not really."

"I'm really sorry, Ryan. You just found out that you have a daughter, I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right n --" Guilt washed over Lydia.

Ryan let out a bitter chuckle, "Would you believe me if I told you that finding out about Caroline is the best thing to happen in my life, in a really long time?"

It was Lydia's turn to shift. "Ryan, what's going on?"

"Things with Stacy — my girlfriend — are not good. They haven't been good for a really long time and I just..." His voice trailed off a little. "I just let her do whatever she wanted but I can't do that anymore. I stood up to her when I got home and she threw a vase at my head and stormed out, threatening to expose me as a liar and cheater and ruin my career."

Lydia's stomach dropped at Ryan's confession but her mind flipped into attorney mode. "Did you have her sign a non-disclosure agreement when you started dating?"

"What? No." Ryan answered, confusion evident in his voice.

"I'm an attorney, Ryan." Lydia laughed. "I deal with things like this all the time. I have to ask, please don't get upset -- have you cheated on Stacy?"

"I have not," Ryan confirmed. "Why?"

"How sure are you that she's going to expose you, Ryan?" Lydia had already leaned over and grabbed her laptop off the coffee table. "I can have a cease and desist letter written and printed to give to her within the hour."

"You'd do that for me?" Lydia could almost hear the awe in his voice. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Ryan, she had been in that position before. But Lydia blinked back the memories that were threatening to spill from her eyes, keeping her focus on helping Ryan, to be the help that she wished she had.

"I would and I will, you just need to give me the word," Lydia reassured Ryan.

"Do you think you could help me get Stacy off of my bank account and house deed?" Ryan asked curiously.

"I'd have to do a little research and see what your options are. Do I have a green light on the cease and desist letter?" Lydia flipped open the lid of her laptop.

"Wait, hold on. My sister is calling me. I will call you back."

Before Lydia could say anything, Ryan ended the call. Lydia sat back against the sofa. Part of her couldn't believe what had just happened and what she had just gotten herself into. Lydia starting thinking of reasons to justify it -- to keep Ryan happy and from pursuing custody, because Ryan was her co-parent now and Stacy didn't really sound like somebody that she wanted Caroline around.

A text buzzed through from Ryan:

The situation has been handled.

"Momma," Caroline set her dolls down and made her way over to the sofa where Lydia sat. "Are you Ryan's lawyer?"

"I guess I am, yes," Lydia answered, thankful that now they had a reason to have Ryan in their life. "Why Caro?"

Caroline shrugged, "I heard you talking to him and you had your lawyer voice on," Her nose crinkled at the observation. "Are you guys going to talk about lawyer things on Monday?"

Lydia chuckled, "I promise we will keep lawyer talk to a minimum, okay? I think it's time for you to put your PJs on."

"Okay!" Caroline turned, hurrying up the stairs toward her bedroom.

Lydia closed her eyes, letting her memories wash over her. Lydia knew exactly what Ryan was feeling right now, the helplessness he must be feeling. She knew how much courage it was taking to take steps to leave. Even though she barely knew the man, she was compelled to help him.

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