Chapter Six
“Brian, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Ryan raised his eyebrows. “What’s going on?”
He thought he was coming home to see his wife in all her glory. Instead, she was dressed in a pair of white linen slacks and a chic blue wool sweater. He went over and kissed her on the cheek.
Brian did not wait for a hug. “Dad, I’m taking a semester off.”
“Don’t you think you have done enough exploring to last a lifetime?” he said. Don’t you think you’ve wasted enough of my money on frivolity? he didn’t say.
“It’s for a good cause,” Brian said.
Ryan glared. “Earning a degree is for a good cause. You need to establish a career. Spababies could use you.”
Ryan had wanted to spend more time at home and build his relationship with his son so he had sold businesses. But once Brian graduated from high school, Ryan wanted to return to work. Then he had met real estate tycoon, Michael Ward at a caucus, and the two decided to venture into business together.
Spababies was born amidst two platters of steaks and potatoes. Michael had the connections, and they both had the resources. Spababies was a deluxe childcare service for mall shoppers. Parents no longer had to hassle with their children at the mall. They could drop them off at the center and shop to their hearts’ content. Michael had designed the center with state-of-the-art security systems, and Ryan was pleased they had a 100 percent positive rating. Hard to get, tough to maintain.
Brian shook his head. “I’m not interested in working for you.”
“What’s wrong with working with your father?” he asked.
Patti put a hand on his arm. “Let’s just hear him out, honey.” She gestured to Brian to continue.
“I don’t want to hear him out,” Ryan said. “Brian is impulsive, reckless, and has a bad case of itchy feet.”
“Wow. You’re talking about me like I’m not standing here,” Brian mumbled.
“Give him a chance,” Patti said. “There’s no need for things to get ugly.”
Ryan clenched his jaw until he simmered down. Keep calm. Kind words. “So where are you planning to go this time?” he asked, shedding his jacket and slinging it across the couch.
“We’re thinking of starting with L.A.”
Ryan arched an eyebrow. “We?”
“It’s not just Brian, honey. It’s Brian and Karlie,” Patricia interrupted.
Ryan’s chest caved in after she delivered that bombshell. He staggered like a drunken man and dropped into the couch. This, he had not expected.
“Karlie? Karlie? What do you mean, son?”
“Yes—uh—Karlie’s song didn’t do so well, so we’re going to build her a fan base,” Brian said. “Our plan is to embark on atypical adventures for her, and then post them on YouTube.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Ryan roared, jumping to his feet. “That is a cockamamie idea. Right now, you don’t sound like a college graduate. You sound like a buffoon—a nincompoop.”
Patricia’s eyes were the size of saucers. “Ryan! How dare you speak to our son like that! Words have life. You will not be demeaning!”
Ryan was about to respond when Brian laughed.
“Dad, you’re hilarious. I didn’t expect such a spewing of outdated words. But, I’m an adult, and I can make a decision like this without your consent.”
“Well, how do you plan to fund this scheme? Because I’m not paying for your shenanigans. It’s about time you become responsible,” Ryan challenged.
Brian met him eye for eye. “We don’t need your money, Dad.” He shook his head. “Karlie’s got plenty of her own. Or have you forgotten? She’s been frugal, but as I’ve told her, she needs to live a little.”
Live a little! Ryan was beside himself. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Was this all some sick joke? God, are you there?
Ryan strove to gather his wits. He threw his son a curveball. “Brian, you’re not thinking this all the way through. Karlie is inexperienced and gullible. You don’t want her developing feelings for you, do you?”
He shouldn’t have asked.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t mind,” Brian confessed. His confession seemed torn from him as if it were something he had been walking around with for a while.
I would, Ryan thought. I would mind a lot. In less than five minutes, Ryan had entered the Twilight Zone. Or, maybe this was a nightmare and he would soon awaken, hopefully.
“Is that what this is about Brian?” Patricia asked. “You like her?”
Brian wrinkled his brow. “I’m not sure, but I’m drawn to her somehow.”
This cannot be happening. Ryan did an about-face and walked outside his home, leaving the front door ajar. He stood by his well-manicured lawn and sniffed the air with appreciation. The beautiful flowers were in bloom, and the scents greeted his nostrils, but they did nothing to ease his troubled mind.
Now was the opportune time for him to confess the truth. But he held back. With gripped fists, he took several deep breaths. To tell would mean losing Patricia—and Brian.
Ryan felt sweat beads form around the nape of his neck. Even his upper lip felt moist. In rapid strokes, he undid his tie and slung the noose from around his neck. Then he held his head in his hands. This cannot be happening.
Ryan heard footsteps behind him and knew Patricia had come outside to check on him.
She put her arms around his midriff and hugged him.
He cradled her against him and prayed. Please, God, I’m going to lose everything.
“What is it, honey?”
Patricia’s gentle inquiry was almost his undoing. If only he could tell her. If only it were that simple.
“I’m just afraid for him,” Ryan said. “And I can’t do anything.”
Patricia smirked. “Short of sabotaging him every step of the way, your hands are pretty much tied on this one, love.” She patted him on his chest. “Brian has good sense and street smarts. He and Karlie will be okay.”
Ryan wasn’t listening. His mind had grabbed onto one word. Sabotage. It was evil. It was childish . . . It was his saving grace. There was no need to confess if he could put a wrinkle—no, a tidal wave—into their plans. He would ask Brian to give him his itinerary. Ryan perked up and swung his wife in his arms. Bending her over, he gave her a kiss befitting a princess. “Thanks, Patti. You always know exactly what to say.”
And thanks to her, he now knew what he had to do.