Chapter 309: O'Malley, Tully and Birch
*I suggest a neutral location. Tell Celt I’ll meet him in my conference room. – Phineas*
Chance explained the situation to his best friend and brother-in-law. After a quick call to his dad, he suggested that they go to the office. Mia offered to go for moral support, but Rye declined the offer. The fewer people who saw her fall apart, the better it was for Rye.
Chance asked his sister to watch Michael while they were gone.
“I don’t have chest hair for him to grab.” Mia pointed out, watching as Chance carefully freed his beard and chest hair.
“Take him to his grandpa.” Chance grinned at Ryder.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ryder accepted the infant. “What’s up, squirt?”
With that settled, Chance and Rye followed Celt over to his families building. Anthony and Tilly and Bass and Johanna also followed in their rental cars. Bass also had his lawyer with him. On the elevator ride up, Celt explained that his parents were already at the office.
“The bottom half of the building is offices. We rent out the lower five floors and have the law firm on the sixth and seventh floors. The rest of the building is apartments that the family can use. My parents have the top two floors to themselves.”
Celt led them down the hall on the executive floor to his dad’s office. They crossed the large office to the attached conference room. This was where they met for board meetings and major business events. In the center was a large conference table that could seat 40 people comfortably.
Two walls were glass giving a beautiful view of the city and river. Along the wall backing up to his office was a wet bar. The other wall held multiple large flat screen smart TVs. Phineas was a huge baseball fan and there were many business days spent here watching games.
As they entered the room, Heather turned off the TV that was playing the American League game. Phineas kissed her before she got up off his lap and walked towards them. She pulled Rye into a tight hug.
“I’m sorry, baby girl.” She whispered.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Rye replied uncertain of what else to say. She had only met Heather once before and it was in passing.
Heather turned and hugged Chance who hugged her back. Once released, she squeezed her son quickly and then slipped out of the room.
Phineas walked over and hugged Rye also. “You ever need a daddy hug, or anything at all, you just let me know.”
“Yes, sir.” She whispered fighting back tears. She had gotten to know Phineas through the adoption process. Previously, the relationship had only been business, and never did he hug her like she was his own child.
Keeping her tucked against him, Phineas greeted the men that came with her. Then he advised that they all sit down. Once everyone was settled with a drink, coffee, or water with whiskey on standby, Phineas pulled out the packets of papers that Rye had previously given Celt. Phineas grasped her hands gently in his and waited for her to look at him.
“Ryanne, are you sure that you want to do this today?”
“Yes. I need to know. I won’t be able to move forward without knowing all of my history.”
Phineas nodded and turned her to face the men that came with Bass. Chance pulled her into his lap and held her close. He whispered in her ear that he was there for her, no matter what. He loved her, he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Ryanne, my name is Stephen Ross, and I am your attorney. I was your dad’s attorney until he passed. Donna Leigh loved you girls the best she could. She had her own demons to deal with.”
The gray-haired man took a deep breath and slowly let it out before continuing.
“Your dad tried to make sure that you were taken care of if he died. The money that came from the military was placed in a trust, separate from the one with your inheritance. To receive the funds, Donna Leigh had to submit to a drug test.”
“She knew how to pass them.” Rye said.
“Yes.” The man continued. “Which is why your dad stipulated that it be a blood test. All she had to do was prove that she was clean and on her medication.”
“Did she know this?” Rye whispered as tears filled her eyes and voice.
Bass nodded. “She did.”
“We each even offered to take you girls while she got clean.” Anthony added.
“I did not like Donna Leigh.” Bass admitted. “But my brother loved her. And I love you girls. Therefore, I would do anything. Anything at all for you.”
“Addiction is hard.” Anthony said softly. “Breaking it is hard. Breaking it while fighting with your inner demons is almost impossible.” He looked at his niece. “She tried, Stripes. She really did.”
“She did.” Bass admitted with a sigh.
“But then, she got too lost.” Anthony gave a small shrug. “I tried to keep you girls safe. We all did.” He looked at Bass who nodded in agreement. “I, uh… I had a patient bring me all of his pictures and his computer under court order. I found pictures of you and Leigh Anne when you were little. Fancy dresses.”
The tears finally spilled over as her fears were confirmed.
“She remembers.” Chance said softly as he turned her in his lap. She buried her face in his chest and cried.
“I know a few people. They put me in touch with someone to take care of it. I didn’t ask any questions. I don’t want to know.” Anthony admitted. “I was just told that the no one else would ever see those pictures.”
Chance remembered what Dom told him and wondered how Anthony knew her. Or if he even knew what was done.
“We can stop now.” Chance suggested but Rye shook her head.
“No. I want to know.” She took a shaky breath. “I think I need a day with Carly and Buttercup.”
Smiling, he kissed her head and held her to him. “I think that can be arranged.”
“Uncle Bass, what happened?” Rye demanded.
