I could only describe the expression flitting across his face as a mix of sorrow and shame.
“All right,” he said finally. “I’m…I’m glad you’ve found your place.” Then he looked at Jack and added, “And your person.”
Jack relaxed minutely, but somehow I could still tell he was a little bit tense and ready to keep me safe, as casually as he was acting. I was pretty sure that only Murray saw how much Jack was reading the situation, but then that was Murray’s job.
Murray and Percy ate in this efficient way, in which anyone who was working would on their lunch break.
“You can go tour the stables if you want,” I said when I saw they were finished eating.
They took their cues from Dad, who nodded. “That sounds good.”
To his credit, Murray glanced at Jack with this thoughtful, calculating way, then left with Percy after they took their plates to the kitchen because they were polite like that.
“So,” Jack said when the door closed behind them. “Mr. Ryker, why did you come here, other than to see with your own eyes that Rey is alive and well?”
Yeah, that. I wanted to know that, too. I pressed my leg harder against Jack’s, who put down his fork and took my hand.
“Well, for one, I have wondered for over a year about whether Saw—Rey is alive. But I also want to know what happened that made him run. I have my thoughts on that, it took time to figure it out, but I did.” Then he tapped his fingers on the folder that was next to his plate. “And I wanted to bring you this. It’s all your paperwork. Birth certificate, high school transcript, copy of everything you need to get access to the bank account your mom left you for when you turn eighteen, and the deed to the cabin she owned in Mendocino County—I can’t remember the town name.”
I blinked a few times, feeling confused. “W-what?”
“I figured that since you’re an adult now, you should have your things. Oh, and there’s a box in the back of the SUV with your computer and some other things Ruby thought you might still want.” Ruby was the housekeeper we’d had for a few years; she was definitely nicer than the one before her who stole shit left and right.
Jack squeezed my hand, so I looked at him.
“Baby, do you think you want to tell the story to your dad, or should I? Unless there’s more detail you want to share with him yourself?”
The almost-panicky feeling that had been spreading from the center of my chest ever so slowly toward the extremities of my body suddenly began to crawl back where it had come from.
I swallowed hard. “Uh…yeah. Thank you. I…” I shook my head, as if that would help me clear it. “I think I’m going to…to take the folder and maybe go put it in my room?” I hated that it came out like a question.
Jack didn’t give a shit about appearances, he leaned closer and kissed my cheek. “Okay, you go do that. I’ll call Bucky when we’re done talking about the harder things so you’ll know when to come back, okay?”
“Y-yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
I took the folder and got up, then tapped my thigh with my hand. Bucky, who had been resting nearby got to his feet and wagged his tail, then started up the stairs with me.
“You’re a good alert system, aren’t you, buddy?”
He wagged his tail again.
The folder felt like it was burning my hand, but I clutched it anyway.
“Rey? Is everything okay?” Madden asked from their doorway.
I realized they’d likely been told to stay upstairs while everything was going on.
“Not sure yet. It’s not…badbad. Just…taking a break. Jack will let you know when you can come downstairs, if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, sure. We had our lunch in here already, so it was fine.” He quickly exited the room and took the steps between us. Then he hugged me, hard, and let go again. “At least it’ll be done soon, yeah?”
I gave him a wavery smile. “Yeah.”
We’d talked about this, how I wanted the confrontation to be over one way or another. How I wanted to be an adult free of my father and his businesses.
Madden returned to their room, and I went into mine with Bucky in tow.
It’d be fine. I just needed to hang in there until Jack and my dad were done talking.
