Ryan

It was August and Adam was still crashing every weekend. Luckily, Adam arrived on Friday night and spent most of Saturday with Jack. With Lana's parents staying home, Adam spent the rest of the weekend playing house with Lana. In return, Ryan had Will who preferred to stay with him while Adam and Lana were up to what Will called, 'it'. He and Lana never discussed her relationship with Adam. He knew she sensed he wasn't overjoyed about it but assumed it was because he was pathetically alone. Ryan was just glad Adam stopped seeing the jailbait, especially after what her dickhead husband did to her.

He had decided after Lana told him about her midnight stroll on the beach she was far too nice. She was hearing from her ex regularly.

"Not everyday like my mother." She tried to make light of it.

Will was off with his friends on the beach. Ryan didn't think his little talk with Will and Cassie worked. Someone would get hurt and Ryan suspected it would be Will. He had puppy dog eyes whenever she was near and Ryan knew she was still sneaking around to see Will behind Cole's back. He had talked to Lana about it and they had both warned Will, but they had to let him make his own mistakes. With the worry his young friend was causing him, he felt like a parent.

He had finally taken his parents to the French bistro where Lana worked. He should have warned her, but he liked surprises. She was a little nervous when they sat at her table, but she provided impeccable service and the food was incredible. Things were different with his family, he had let a lot of his jealousy go and he was learning to like Jack. Maddie was a big help, because she liked Ryan and made Jack behave. Nicole didn't like Ryan any more than he liked her, so she didn't care if the brothers were at odds with one another. Truthfully, he knew his effort with their children did wonders, especially the kid. If someone told him six months ago he would hold his nephew and play with the rugrat in the pool, he would have said they were high. He had held the baby several times and each time the pain hurt less and he felt his heart heal.

Hearing a knock at the front door, he assumed that it was Will who only occasionally bothered to knock anymore.

Ryan yelled from his spot of couch where he was watching the Sox battle Baltimore in the second game of a doubleheader. "It's open."

He heard a female voice. "I'm looking for Adam..."

Ryan jumped up and lunged to the door. He'd seen enough pictures to recognize the jailbait. She stood in front of him with a friend who was blatantly checking him out. Both were showing off their midriffs and ample cleavage.

"You must be Jack?"

"No, I'm his brother. Adam stays here not with Jack because of the baby."

"Where is he?"

"He's visiting a friend. I'll call him."

"He's not answering. I've been trying to reach him for an hour."

"Um... Okay... Do you want a beer? I have some wine too."

"Do you have anything for shots?" The friend asked.

If the situation wasn't so fucked up, he would have laughed. His only thought was how to protect Lana from getting hurt.

"No... I'll see if I can reach him."

Ryan walked into his office and dialed Lana's number. It rang five times before she answered cheerfully.

"Hey Rye! what's up?"

"I was looking for Adam. Can I speak to him?"

He heard mumbling, "Man, this better be important!"

"You have a visitor here and she's barely legal."

"Oh shit!" Ryan could hear him speak to Lana. "Lana, Ryan reminded me I forgot to do something. I've got to go across the street."

Ryan stepped out and informed his guest Adam was on his way. Before he could stop her, she rushed out the front door.

The events unfolded in slow motion. Adam started across the street. Lana stood in the doorway watching him. Ryan saw a blur as the young visitor ran to meet Adam by throwing herself at him and attempting to remove his tonsils with her tongue. On instinct Ryan ran to a shocked Lana.

The minute he said her name she snapped. She lashed out at him worse than she had her ex. The pain of betrayal filled her eyes. He tried to reason with her.

"Lan, let me explain... please."

"You lying son of a bitch, get out of my sight! I hate you!"

"Come on. This isn't my fault."

"Bull shit! You knew and you were my friend!"

"I didn't know and I am your friend!"

"Fuck off!" She slammed the door and he could hear her sobs.

Ryan hung his head and walked back wishing he could cut Adam's balls off. Instead of going in, he turned and walked toward Shore Road. He walked down the beach, past The Beach House. The music was loud, and they packed the deck. It was just getting dark, and he saw Will up near the dunes alone with Cassie. He thought about walking by, but Lana needed someone.

"Hey." He approached the couple.

"Ryan! What're you a stalker?"

"No, listen. Lana's upset and she's blaming me. I didn't know, honest."

"Know what?" Will was concerned.

"That Adam had another girl. She showed up and your sister unleashed on me."

"I gotta go."

Ryan looked at the girl. "Hey Cassie does Rory know you hang out with Will?"

"No. Sam would tell."

"You think no one will get hurt, but they do." Ryan walked away feeling frustrated and depressed.

He walked until he reached Gull Road and knocked at Jack's door. Maddie answered and took one look at him and grabbed his hand.

"Ryan, what's wrong?"

"Jack, your..." He looked around and didn't see any children, "... fucking friend!"

Jack stood up. "Go to the porch. I'll get some beer."

He sat on a comfortable sofa. Thankful, it wasn't his mother's old wicker furniture.

Jack sat down and handed him a bottle. He took a long pull and felt Jack's eyes on him. He finally spoke. "Remember that young thing he took to the ball game?"

"Yeah, he told me it didn't last, but I saw her last week. She was crying. I thought she was crying because she couldn't get over him or his bank account. I asked if she'd been around before, none of our staff had ever seen her."

"I saw her, she just knocked on my door!"

"What! What about Lana?"

"She's blaming me!"

"Why did you know?" Jack accused.

"I knew at the beginning, but I thought he ended it. I was stuck. He's a client. I had to tread lightly. I really thought. I never asked."

"No, this isn't your fault. I could wring his neck!"

"I want to cut his balls off. I feel guilty coming to you. Can you pretend you don't know?"

"He'll have to tell me something. He's been up every weekend for two months."

"Lana hates me." Ryan groaned.

"You like her?"

"No, not like that! She's my friend."

"Yeah, Maddie was my friend."

"Doesn't matter even if I wanted more she's looking for what you have and me... well you know what I think of marriage."

Jack nodded. "Where's Adam now?"

"Probably fucking his girl. I don't know after Lana slammed the door in my face, I walked down the beach and ended up here."

"He's your client, but you aren't a lawyer or a priest."

"I know, but I learned the hard way to keep business and personal separate."

"What d'you do? I'm assuming you seduced the wrong woman."

"I cared for the wrong woman and crap... It's embarrassing."

"Come on, Ryan trust me. No matter how much of an asshole I think you are, you're still my little brother and I love you."

"You're a bigger ass, but same for me. We're two saps."

"Oh Rye, you have no idea how sappy I am."

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"Just spill!"

"Her name is Isobel. I really liked her."

Jack shook his head when Ryan finished his story. "You should have had her arrested."

"I keep hoping for word of an affair or some other gossip around town to make them forget me."

"So that's why you're here?"

"Yeah, but I have to say it's been my best summer since... since we were kids."

"Yeah, well The Point is a magical place. What are you going to do about Adam?"

"Hope he leaves at first light."

"In all the years I've known him, he's never done anything like this."

"Yeah well... Hey, where's Rory?"

"I let her go to the movies with Sam."

"Are you going to let her take driver's ed?"

"I guess I'll have to."

"Did Maddie convince you?"

"Mostly Pam, but Maddie is happy with my decision."

"She's a good kid."

"Yeah she is." Jack looked proud.

"I can't hide all night. Don't let Maddie know I knew. She likes me."

"Yeah okay. I'm genuinely happy you like my wife."

"Good night Jack. Thanks."

"Come here." Jack gave him a man hug and Ryan thought one rift healed another made.