Chapter 40: Boyfriend

Chapter 40: Boyfriend Ryan cleared his throat to get Abigail’s and Josh’s attention. "How was your flight, Abi?" he asked. "Do I not get a hug too?" His voice was light, yet his words made Abigail’s skin crawl. Ever since she found out he wasn’t her father, she had become very wary of him. Abigail hesitated for a moment before she slowly she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a brief, stiff embrace. Ryan exhaled slowly as he pulled back. "I know I haven’t been a great father to you," he admitted, his tone softer than she had ever heard before. "But in your absence, I realized how much of a failure I was. I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight, but I want to make it up to you." Abigail studied him carefully as she wondered what he was up to now. Then, she nodded and signed: [I’m happy to hear that.] Ryan gave her a small, relieved smile. "Come on," he said. "We should head home before we attract too much attention." Abigail turned to get her luggage but was surprised to see it was no longer there. "My men already took it to the car while you were busy with Josh. Let’s go," he said, and Abigail couldn’t help but wonder when they did that and why she didn’t notice the men. Again she wondered if that was the reason the lady had not shown up as agreed. She looked down with a smile when Josh eagerly grabbed her hand, his fingers clutching hers, and she pushed every other thought to the back of her mind as they made their way toward the exit. As they walked, Josh looked up at her. "You’re staying with me now, right?" he asked eagerly. Abigail smiled as she gave him a nod. She planned to. She was not going to let Ryan take her son from her. She didn’t care that he had publicly claimed Josh. Her only worry was for Josh who adored Ryan. How would he handle being apart from Ryan when the time came? As they got to the spot where Ryan’s black SUV was parked, he gestured for her to get into the backseat with Josh. Abigail hesitated, looking around to see the men he claimed had carried her luggage. She signed, [Where are your men? Are my bags here?] she asked, not wanting her bags to be far away from her lest they ransacked it in her absence. Ryan smiled as he took the key from the driver and opened the trunk so she could see her bags, "Don’t worry, your things are safe," he assured her before turning to the driver. "Ride with the others. I’ll drive my kids myself," he said, and the driver gave him a nod as he went to join the other car. Abigail got into the car with Josh and after making sure he was well settled in his seat, she sat down next to him. "You’re welcome home, Abigail. Genny couldn’t come with us to the airport but she’s excited about your return," Ryan said as he started the car. Abigail resisted the urge to snort. Of course she was, Abigail thought. She knew hoped for all their sakes that she would be able to tolerate Genevieve like before. If there was one thing she knew had changed about herself over the years, it was that her temper had become shorter and she had even less than zero tolerance for bullshit. Ryan met her gaze through the rearview mirror as he drove out of the airport premises and he smiled as though he could tell what she was thinking, "I know Genny was very mean to you, but she has changed, I promise. We both agreed to move on from the past," he assured her and she tried to keep her expression neutral as she nodded. They were moving on from what past? The same past she was moving back to? Abigail thought with amusement. Well, no one was moving on from anything until she was ready. She was going to uncover it all. Whatever it was they had been hiding all these years, she would uncover it and after she had done that, they could all move on. Curious to know how Genevieve had been treating him, she turned her attention to Josh and signed to him asking him to sign back and not talk so they wouldn’t distract Ryan. [How is Genny?] she asked, and Josh smiled. [Genny is fine.] he signed back. [Who do you like more? Genny or me?] she asked, feigning a pout, and Josh grinned and pointed at her. [Really? Are you saying that because I’m asking or do you mean it?] Abigail asked and poked his sides playfully, making him laugh. Abigail smiled, thinking about how much he liked to laugh. She was happy that he was such a happy child. She was grateful at least that no matter what twisted game Ryan and Genevieve were playing with her, they didn’t drag Josh into it. "Are you people communicating without me? I feel so jealous and left out," Ryan joked, glancing at them through the rearview mirror. Abigail smiled at him through the rearview mirror and signed letting him know they didn’t want to distract him. Abigail then turned back to Josh, [So? Is Genny nice to you? Or is she mean?] Josh smiled, [She is good to me. She always buys me gifts.] Hearing that, Abigail couldn’t help but be surprised. She had thought Genevieve would be mean to Josh like she was to her, but she was glad to hear that she seemed to like Josh. [But you like me more, right?] Abigail asked and Josh grinned. [Yes.] [Now that I’m here I will buy you lots of gifts and you won’t have any room to keep Genny’s gifts.] she signed and Josh giggled. [Do you have a boyfriend?] Josh asked, and Abigail’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the unexpected question. She smiled and shook her head, [No. Do you have one for me?] she asked, and he bobbed his head, thinking of the stranger he had met earlier, Jam. [Oh, really? Where is he? Don’t tell me you want to be my boyfriend,] she teased, and he laughed shaking his head. He hoped that someday he would meet Jam again. Jam was handsome and he looked kind, and Abigail was pretty and good too.