Chapter 299: Translation
*They had to take you back when you were ten because of your birth mother’s family. – Anthony*
Chance walked into their room at the Shack expecting to find Rye curled up on the bed. Instead, Michael was laying on a blanket on the floor with a few toys. Rye sat on the bed with the shoebox open and its contents on the bed.
The pink dresser still sat in the corner and held a few outfits for them both. Most of the drawers were filled with toys, clothes and blankets for Micheal. A box of diapers and wipes sat on top.
The ugly green couch sat against a wall and Chance would love to get rid of it. But it was something that Rye would need to do on her own. He couldn’t make her get rid of it. So much had been taken from her over the years by her mom.
And now everything had been taken away by her sister. Her home. Her safety. Her security. Her sense of well-being.
If the ugly couch made her feel better, he would put up with it.
“Hey, Duchess.” Chance said softly as he sat the recently refolded flag on the bed and leaned in for a kiss.
“Hi.” She mumbled as she absently tipped her face up to him. “Do you read Italian?”
“Nope. I think Evie does.” He said picking up the medals. “These your dads’?”
“Yeah. Is Celt around?”
“No, but I can call him. Do you want me to?”
“I don’t know….” She sighed. “I had forgotten about all of this until last week.”
Chance didn’t say anything as he placed the medals back in the box. He had a feeling that he knew why she suddenly remembered it.
When Rye spoke softly, he could hear the pain in her voice. “Leigh Anne asked if I had gone to get the bag from Savannah.”
“I’ll call Celt later.” He sat behind her on the bed, and she leaned back into his chest. Wrapping his arms around her he kissed her hair. “How are you doing?”
“I’m…” She sighed. “I’m done. I talked to Dr. Bawardi. She hasn’t had a drug test in three days and hasn’t been to therapy all week. One of her bunkmates is also missing.” There was a tense pause before she made a shocking statement. “Another one of the girls said that her old pimp wanted to sell the baby.”
Chance tightened his grip on her. “He told me that he was afraid that she might go after Michael. He didn’t say anything about that.”
There was a knock on the door and Mia called out her brother’s name. Chance told her to come in and the door opened. Celt followed his wife into the room.
“Are you okay?” Mia asked gently as she sat on the floor next to Michael.
“I’m okay.” Rye said. “I thought that she would quit the program. But I didn’t expect her to do that to my house.”
“Family can really hurt you sometimes.” Mia agreed and gave her brother an apologetic smile.
Resting his chin on his wife’s head, he smiled back at his sister. They both had hurt each other over their spouses. He did because she went behind his back to date his best friend. And she did because she didn’t know how important Rye had become to him in such a short period of time.
“They can.” Rye fought back tears. “Last week, she asked me if I still had Memaw's pearls.” Twisting, she looked up at Chance. “If I had remembered them, I would have worn them.”
“You were a beautiful bride.” He smiled as he ran a knuckle down her gray patch. “You were my bride, that’s all I needed.”
She smiled and then looked away, but not before he saw the guilt in her eyes. Tipping her face up to his, he kissed her lightly. “No empty promises, no hollow words.”
“I want to give them to you…”
“Learn to love Ryanne first. Then you can fall in love with me.” Chance told her softly and she nodded her head. “What did you want to talk to Celt about?”
“Oh!” Rye twisted back around and picked up the papers. Handing them to the large Irishman, she explained; “I think that this is what Leigh Anne was looking for.”
Celt skimmed over the papers in English and then sat down on the hated green couch to reread them.
“Do you know what this is?” Celt finally asked, interrupting the menial conversation about the babies.
“Not really. Something about a trust fund and I can’t do anything until I’m twenty-one.”
“Yeah. There’s one for each of you and this lays out the terms of it.” Celt agreed. “This may be exactly what she was looking for. Have you told the cops?”
Rye shook her head. “I haven’t really thought about it before. I’m not old enough to claim it.”
“But your sister is.” Celt pointed out. “Do you know who Sebastian Lynch is?”
Rye shook her head and then thought for a moment. “Uncle Bass, maybe? Dad’s brother. Him and mom did not get along.”
“I’ll get these to dad. He’ll get it investigated and get this other one translated.” Celt said before stepping out of the room and grabbing his phone out of his pocket.
“Thank you.” Rye said. “Where are your kids?”
“Losing at pool to their cousins.” Mia said between blowing raspberries on Michael’s giggling belly. “Nash is hanging out with the Queen Deviant herself.”
“Karan or Evie?” Chance chuckled.
“Karan.” Mia laughed. “Ink has a tendency to draw all over everyone.”
“And?” Chance smirked at the same time that Celt pointed out “You didn’t object to your new tattoo.”
“I couldn’t have a tattoo for the twins and not little Nash, could I?” Mia asked in a sing song voice as she shook her hair over Michael. He giggled and reached for her hair with hands that were getting more coordinated. On the third try he got a fistful of dark hair.
“Careful, he’s got a hell of a grip.” Chance warned just as his fingers gripped her hair.
“You know, I have three of them –.” Mia tried to get her hair released. Michael clenched harder and pulled with all his might. “Holy shit, never mind. That is a hell of a grip.”
“Tried to warn you.” Chance laughed. “At least you don’t have chest hair.”
“Maybe wear a shirt when you feed him.” Mia suggested.
“Skin to skin contact is best, especially for preemies.” Chance informed her.
“It is. And it’s how Michael prefers to be fed now.” Rye smiled. “He has to go give him his bottles during the day.”
“Damn it, stop telling her stuff like that. Nash isn’t even a year old and she’s talking about another one.” Celt said as he came in and sat on the floor with his wife.
“Whatever.” She scoffed. “I already told you; we’re not trying again until he’s at least eighteen months.”
“That gives you plenty of time to practice.” Rye said and surprised everyone, including herself. “Did I actually say that out loud?”
“You sure as hell did, Duchess.”
