Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Six - Finally an Answer!

Ryan looked away and like all the other times I question him about things that bothered me, he would just smile and say it's not his place to say anything to me and I'll know in time.

Doesn't he even know how he feels?

I would hate for David Sullivan's release to affect Adian's father, which will eventually affect Adian and us!

Adian walked in shortly afterwards to find Ryan and I sitting silently watching the television screen but I have no idea what we're looking at and I don't believe Ryan does either.

"I need to talk to you" Adian says, stooping in front of me, his eyes on Emmy's sleeping form.

Oh, so now he's ready?

If I wasn't interested in hearing what he had to say, I would have simply shun him.

Folding my arm against my chest, I stare at him showing absolutely no emotions, whatsoever. Furrowing my brows as I wait for him to continue.

Ryan moved to get up but putting a hand out, he stops his father. "No, I need," he stops and looks at me. "We need your opinion." He corrects himself, leaving me anxious now and Ryan confused.

Adjusting himself, Adian sits flat on the floor, his hands hanging loose.

"Gussippie called," finally he starts explaining the reason for the lawyer's call.

FINALLY!

"With the case as early as next week, he has gotten permission for you to visit," again Adian pauses, "your father," he continues slowly.

Does he sense my reluctance to visit David Sullivan?

I move to stand but Ryan reaches out and stopped me.

"You should go," he advises me, smiling but as usual, his eyes are flat and expressionless.

Sadden to be the one bringing ghosts into his life, I was still unsure.

Covering his hand with mines, "I don't want to be the one to hurt you with bad memories," looking away from him, giving Adian a lopsided smile. "I don't want to be hurt either," I admitted.

His brows knitted together confused, Adian stares at his father and than at me.

"I'm sorry dad, I haven't given any thought of how this will affect you," Adian's voice breaks as apologizes to his father. Turning to me, "I know it's hard but even though David did wrong, he's wrongfully imprisoned." Adian explains softly.

Would he finally tell me why David Sullivan was imprisoned?

Ryan was the first to speak, squeezing my hand, "you really don't know why he was imprisoned, do you?" He eyes became full with unshed tears, when I shook my head.

"Tell me Hailey, he asks, "please tell me what you remember?" He asks, his normally gruff voice, soft and caring.

Closing my eyes, "I remember so many different things and then I have been told many things that I don't remember." I admitted, my voice low, barely a whisper.

"What do you remember?" Ryan asks again.

I repeated what I mention to the lawyer and Ryan a few days ago but Adian was there, how was he not surprise?

Opening my eyes quickly, I stare at him, "how are you never surprise by what I remember?" Frowning as it only now occured to me.

Lowering his eyes for just a quick second, Adian takes a deep breath, "your nightmares!" And that's all he needed to say because I remember, it's my nightmares and Adian helping me through it, that brought us close together.

Sighing, Ryan sweeps his hands over his face as is his habit when he is disturbed.

"So all this time you've been questioning Jerry and I, you already knew the answers?" Ryan asks in disbelief.

Standing slowly he moves away from us and started walking towards the doorway but Adian got up and followed him.

"Dad" touching his shoulders, Adian stopped him. "I was concerned about Hailey that's why I kept asking questions and it's because of questions, that I found you again." He says and without waiting for Ryan's response, Adian pulled him into a tight embrace.

Ryan took a moment longer to return his son's embrace, with Adian's face buried in his father's neck since he has at least a six inch height advantage on his dad.

Both men faced me, since I had turned around to stare at them.

Happy Adian didn't allow his father to walk away.

"I remember my mom falling down the stairs and da.." pausing, "David Sullivan was nowhere in sight." I told them, with only Ryan reacting to my memory.

Adian already knew!

Ryan returned to his seat on the other side of Emmy, "who was the naked lady at the top of the stairs?" Ryan asks softly.

Frowning because I remember saying that a few days ago but didn't I call her name?

Adian still stood behind us at the open doorway, "tell him the name," Adian coaxed me softly.

I lifted my eyes still unsure but Adian nods, giving me more encouragement.

"Hailey they will question you in court about that afternoon, so saying it out loud once, would be easier for you in court.

"Do I have to say it again?" I asked, dismayed.

Coming to sit beside me, Adian hugs me from behind.

"If you want your father to come back to you, like he promise," Adian says softly against my head. "Then you'll have to." He whispers.

They still didn't say why David Sullivan was imprisoned.

"Why was David Sullivan imprisoned?" I asked again, hoping they don't answer my question with another question.

"He was convicted for his wife's murder," Ryan responds flatly, finally answering my question, shocking me to my core.

Shaking my head, "no, no, no" I cried out, "he wasn't even there!" I gasped, my chest tightening as I continued gasping for breath.

I couldn't breathe! I couldn't breathe! I wanted to shout as Adian kept mumering, just breathe, just breathe, but I couldn't breath.

"Fuck!" I heard Adian yelled and then a soft voice whispers.

"20...19...18...17...16...15...14.."