An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Fifty-Two

Daniel may have been feeling weak but his hearing was very much intact. He heard every word Christine and Trudy were saying. He heard Tim entering the house humming and walking right into the turmoil.

Oh Lord! he thought. We should have been more careful. Trudy was listening!

He wondered if their troubles were ever going to cease. It felt like life would never be the same again even if he could overcome this disease.

As Daniel was pondering how the cold and uncaring universe was wreaking so much havoc in their lives, a tearful Christine hobbled into the bedroom. She tried to form words but none came out. He raised his hand, which had become thinner in the past few days, and said, "They know."

By now Christine's eyes were awash in tears as she fell on the bed beside him and wept. Her body shook and strands of her hair became damp once it made contact with her face.

Daniel reached for her but her distress was too great for her to notice his touch.

"Christine, they had to find out at some point. It wouldn't have been fair to keep this from them. I'll do everything I can to comfort and support all three of you. I'll do everything I can."

"I've made a mess of all our lives!" she wailed. "I thought I was doing the best thing for them but it was actually the best thing for myself! I never wanted them to know what a screw-up I am! How I've been so naïve and foolish!"

Daniel moved her hair away from her face and stroked her check. He knew he couldn't say anything more. He had to let her cry it out.

***

Ryan had a long conversation with his agent. They agreed to a meeting next week. By the time they finished, he did not call his parents because he knew his voice would betray his anguish and he did not want to alarm them. Instead, he drove to Maxim's, a world-renown restaurant and ordered a steak. After all he had been through, he needed to treat himself. Besides, nothing helped him think clearer than a sumptuous meal.

The dinner crowd was not expected for another hour. He sat in a corner booth hidden from the sparsely crowded restaurant sipping a Merlot wine. The tablecloth was starched white and fine china surrounded damask napkins. Upon sinking into the plush black leather seating, he felt so comforted he wished he could remain there indefinitely. The lights were low and muted classical music was playing. Ryan dipped the warm roll in a garlic herb olive oil while waiting for his Caesar salad. The image of his son playing basketball, looking so much like him in his youth yet displaying even greater dexterity at handling the ball, warmed him inside. He chuckled thinking he could actually get a few pointers on playing from him. His daughter was a tall beauty. But then his thoughts turned bleak as a realization came upon him: he still had no idea who sent him that letter.

The waitress served him the salad and as he dug his fork in, he thought about contacting Buddy Catalano to clear up that mystery. A gnawing feeling in the back of his mind told him once he found out who sent it, a great deal would be cleared up. It may even affect when he would finally ask Christine to meet the children. He knew he didn't have the right to question her judgment about having them in secret because he knew she was spot on when she said if he knew she was pregnant eighteen years ago, he would have pushed for her to have an abortion.

Ryan couldn't pretend they didn't exist. The three of them belonged to each other.

On impulse, he checked his phone. His parents had already called eleven times. He also saw three messages from Megan.

Megan. He hadn't thought about her in days, finally admitting he'd lost interest. Why couldn't he find the woman of his dreams? Did he even want to? Was the problem his career has always been the center of his life? That and his parents. They were the only two people he relied on. Ryan had made them very proud and happy, achieving success not even he dreamed was possible. He couldn't even contemplate telling them they were already grandparents.

He shuddered at the thought of such a life change, but fortunately, his steak came cooked just the way he liked it with onions and mushrooms smothered on top. He decided to put aside all his worries and savor his meal. When he heard a commotion at the restaurant entrance. Ryan was too far back to see what was happening. Then he heard Ozzy's voice.

"Ryan Monti is here and I need to speak with him now! It's an extremely urgent matter. I know he'd agree with me."

Ryan felt nausea well up in his stomach. He couldn't even look at the meal now, much less eat it. He reluctantly got up from the table and walked toward the entrance. He saw Ozzy with his tight-fitting clothes and stained tie arguing with the host. When he turned to Ryan, he blurted out, "I need to talk to you!"

"What's wrong?" he immediately recognized the man who saved him from choking. "Sit down, please."

The host released him. Ozzy straightened his jacket and tie. He sat opposite Ryan, who asked, "Can they bring you anything?"

Ozzy cleared his throat. "You sure can. I saved your life remember. Now you can pay me back by telling me what you've been doing in Boston. Mr. Monti, you have the power to give me the break I desperately need."

Ryan froze. The steak remained on the table before him long forgotten.