An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Sixty-Five

"Ryan, tell me again what they're like," his mother squeezed his arm in delight.

His parents were sitting across from him in first-class on the plane. The stewardesses were fawning over them. While his parents were flattered, Ryan was annoyed. It took all his self-control not to tell them to get lost and his mother to leave him alone. He felt anxious and wanted to stay in his own thoughts.

"Honey, can't you see he needs some time to himself? This is a tremendous shock and life-change for him. The kids' adoptive father is dying and when we get over there, things are gonna be rough."

"I'm aware of that!" she turned to her husband. "I feel very bad about that, I do. Those poor children." She shook her head and raised her eyes to him. "There's going to need us now more than ever."

"But we gotta approach this delicately. We can't overwhelm them with love and affection while they're grieving."

"Of course I know that!" she said. "I just can't contain myself. I feel like I'm in a dream and I'm going to wake up any second and find out I am not gonna be a grandma anymore." Her voice choked.

"Don't worry. You're not in a dream. We're in this plane 'cause we want to see our grandchildren. I wouldn't be doing this if this wasn't real. And my head is aching as usual when I fly. "

"Jerry, get one of the stewardesses to give you some aspirins."

Ryan was grateful for his father's practical perceptiveness. He closed his eyes and put his head back. He felt nauseated? and his stomach was tied in knots. He actually feared he was going to have a heart attack. That's all the kids need. Losing two fathers at once. His eyes shot open as he realized he cared more about his children than he did for himself. It was a new feeling he had never experienced before but somehow it felt appropriate, natural.

He was a father.

Despite the inner turmoil and physical pain, his eyes brightened and he turned to stare out the window. He loved flying above the clouds. It made him feel anything was possible. Like he would be a father and finally give his parents grandchildren. He had never thought that was going to ever happen. He would've even bet his whole fortune on it. The idea put an unexpected smile on his face. He felt satisfied and fulfilled. Ecstatic. He had never experienced this before, not even after receiving his Academy Award.

Life is so strange. I'll never figure it out.

He spied his mother opening her mouth to speak to him, but he shut his eyes before she had the chance.

***

As soon as they got off the plane, Ryan and his parents found the taxi waiting for them. The pain in the pit of his stomach sharpened as he took out his cell phone to call Christine for the most nerve-wracking meeting of his life.

"Ryan, what's wrong? You almost dropped your phone?" his mother said sitting next to him in the backseat.

Her husband placed his hand over hers and when she turned to him, he shushed her, making her realize the utter importance of this call.

The phone rang repeatedly. He was about to hang up when he recognized his son's voice on the phone. His stomach lurched and he found unexpected tears come to his eyes.

"Tim," he intoned. "May I speak to your mother, please?"

Ryan heard his son choking sobs as he said, "She's sleeping. . .my father just passed away." He could hear his son breaking down over the phone.

"I'm so sorry," he bit his lip, suppressing the unexpected urge to add 'son.' "This is probably the worst time," he stammered, "but I am in a taxi in Boston coming to see your mother. If this isn't a good time, I'll call later."

Tim continued weeping. In between sobs, he said, "Nothing matters anymore."

Ryan sat up. "Tim, where are you? Where's your mother?"

"At—at the hospital. The doctor gave her a sedative and she's sleeping."

"Is Trudy there with you?"

"Yeah, so's the whole family."

Ryan had to think. "Listen, Tim. I'm going to check into a hotel in Boston. I don't want to intrude on the family now. Can you take down my number in case you need me?"

"I don't know," he sulked. There was silence. "Wait, Trudy, give me a pen and paper. What is it?"

Ryan recited it. "Tim, again, if any of you need anything, I'll have the phone near me at all times."

"OK." Tim hung up.

When Ryan hung up, he bowed his head, feeling useless and no better than an intrusion. His father put his hefty hand covered with brown spots on his lap.

"You did good, son," he said. "I'm proud of you."

"Yes, you said all the right things. I can't believe how prepared you are to be a father. It's as if you've been doing this for years," Sara said.

His parent's support buoyed his spirits. They've always said they were proud of him, but this time it was the most heartfelt he had ever heard them speak. It was as if they gave him a quick shot of hope to carry on.

He faced his parents with solemn eyes and said, "I've had training from the best."

His mother clutched his chin and gave him a kiss.