Chapter 25

Ryan Harris took a ride out to the bar once again to get a drink. He was keeping secrets from his family. One bad investment had his young company falling to crumbles. Two years ago, he merged with a younger company creating digital apps for social media. Ryan was good at graphic design and had gained an excellent reputation. But everyone knew the business was based hugely on clientele and evidence of the work. Now with the bills piling up and investors threatening to sue, his back was against the wall.

His gut told him to tell his father but he could not bear the thought of him disappointing his parents. The past few months alcohol and brief one-night stands became his refuge. He knew Mom would direct him to prayer and to find himself in Christ. However, he was so screwed up now, and masking the truth became the only temporary fix. He was drowning.

“Scotch, or tequila. I need something strong,” Ryan declared at the bar. The bartender obliged and kept it coming. When he was fully drunk, he started to slumber and stuttered.

“Do you have someone who can get you? Do you need a cab?” the bartender asked after seeing the state he was in.

Ryan laughed and called his best friend Grace. She was his childhood friend and the only person who would bail him out without judgment. Ryan’s feelings ran deeper for her but he never revealed it.

When Grace arrived, she was devastated to see her friend pass out at the bar. It was hard to see him drinking so much. She prayed for him to find herself because she saw his life spiraling out of control.

“Let’s go,” she demanded placing his hands around her neck.

“Gracie, sweetie,” Ryan giggled kissing her on her face.

“Stop before I drop you off to your parents,” she indicated. Those comments briefly sobered Ryan up.

“Grace don’t,” Ryan begged.

“Come on them. Let’s go,” she demanded. Ryan allowed her to guide him to her car.

“What about my car?” Ryan whined.

“You can’t drive in the condition you are in,” she took his keys. “I will get my brother Simon to get it,” Grace explained.

“Okay,” he yawned snuggling up in her front seat.

Grace sighed looking at her best friend. She was beyond concerned about him and prayed he would find himself again. Seeing him put his trust in the bottle instead of God made her sad. The alcohol was destroying him and she realized by now it had become an addiction.

When she arrived home, she placed him in her guest room and sat with him for a while.

She watched him as he slept. This handsome man needed a reality check.

When she got up Ryan opened his eyes. He gently grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Grace,” he said kissing it gently.

“You have to stop doing this to yourself, Ryan. I am afraid you are addicted to this alcohol and you need to come clean with your parents. They love you but you have to get yourself together,” Grace said frustrated shedding tears,

“Hey,” he said wiping her tears away. I will get it together eventually,” Ryan admitted. He ran his fingers over her hand gently.

Grace got up to move away after seeing how intensely he stared at her.

“Grace, I am trying,” Ryan admitted. She nodded feeling very emotional.

He sat up looking directly at her. “I can’t promise you I am going to be available to bail you out all the time,” Grace said.

“I know,” he said softly.

“Grace the last thing I want to do is hurt you. I love you so much. You mean everything to me,” he confessed.

Ryan refused to let go of her hand creating an intense moment between them.

“I love you too,” she said.

“More than a friend,” he said zooming in on her lips. He could not imagine life without her.

Without warning he kissed her feverously on the lips leaving her breathless.

Grace felt her lips burn and tasted the alcohol from the kiss. She closed her eyes tormented in the moment.

“You are drunk and out of your head,” she informed him. How could he tell her no matter if he was drunk or not her still wanted her?

“You sober up,” she said getting ready to leave.

“Grace.................,” Ryan started to explain his feelings.

“I met someone,” she said avoiding his eyes. Ryan pondered the words and tried to understand what she was trying to say. He went quiet realizing she was not joking.

“Who?” he asked trying not to choke up on tears or the nauseating feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Christan. He wants to get serious. Therefore, I can’t be coming to save you every time,”

Grace said gathering her composure to leave.

Ryan met Christan at one of Grace’s bible studies and he did not like him too much. Watching her leave the room made his heart heavy and tight. He could not imagine watching her in the arms of someone else.

Katlin Harris thought about telling her parents the secret about the baby she carried nine months ago. How could she? She did not even tell her twin brother Ryan. She stayed away studying her master’s degree in Psychology never telling her family that she had gotten pregnant. She used school as an excuse to stay away for those months to hide the truth. Katlin discovered that Seth lied about everything. She felt ashamed that she had a child for a married man. Seth was smooth and intentional with his pursuit of her. Being both young and naive he swept her off her feet with plans of marriage and a future. Seth was her first love and heartbreak. Katlin hardly dated and kept her circle small. Thus, he used this to his advantage and kept the truth from her.

But Katlin was not ashamed of her baby. She loved him and knew his grandparents would love him too after the initial shock that she had a baby. Katlin was sorry she did not wait for marriage before sleeping with Seth. But their love for science and working on the same projects at college drew them close together. Katlin promised never to fall for a handsome face again. The only handsome face she adored these days was her son Noah Harris.

When she discovered he had a wife and two daughters she was heartbroken.

“How could you do this to me?” Katlin cried looking at the photos of his family.

Seth Bradshaw swallowed devasted. Katlin was never supposed to find out.

“Baby, nothing has to change. I love you. I will soon be divorced from my wife and we can get married,” he suggested.

“Are you mad? I don’t do messy or will agree to this,” Katlin cried.

“Katlin, don’t give up on us. We are only married on paper. The kids and assets keep us together” he indicated.

“Seth, you lied about your family. We don’t have a future. It was based on a lie I knew nothing about.

Katlin did not know she was pregnant at the time.

“Do you know how many women would die to be in your position?” he said trying to get her to reason.

“That’s your problem. I did some investigating and found out that your track record is insane. This is a pattern for you. You have had numerous affairs and lied to women about not being married,” she announced.

“Seth Bradshaw, you need therapy. It’s over between us. This relationship ends today,” she said.

“Katlin, let’s work this out,” he begged.

Katlin shed a few tears. Walking away was hard because she still had some feelings for him.

Nevertheless, she needed a clean slate. A few months ago, she finally told him about his son and of course, he thought it was an open invitation to come back into her life. Katlin shut it down immediately and he rarely saw Noah after that. He had fathered two other kids and did not help with them also.

“You sure know how to pick them,” Katlin thought. Noah would soon be a one-year-old and she needed to let this secret out because the longer it stayed hidden it would be devastating to her family.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when she lifted her son in her arms. He was so adorable. Katlin knew she could not keep it a secret too long being back in town for good. She was happy she had found a reliable nanny and that her neighbor Elijah was more than amazing. He lived in the house next door and would occasionally come over and help out. They had become good friends in the last few months and she was happy for the support.

“How are you?” Elijah asked always in awe of her. He secretly had a crush on her and did not want to complicate her life anymore. He had fallen in love with Katlin and her son. He would be happy to make them his future.

Katlin smiled at Elijah who she truly appreciated. She was sad to find out his wife and daughter had died in a car accident two years ago. He was so good with Noah and made her laugh even when she felt down.

“I’m good,” Katlin said inviting him in.

“Brought you some homemade spaghetti,” he said. “Thank you,” Katlin's mouth watered recalling some of his meals.

“How was your mom's birthday?” Elijah asked.

“Great,” she said rocking her baby.

“Did you tell them about the baby?” he asked still concerned that she was avoiding it.

“It was not something I wanted to blurt out,” Katlin said knowing her excuse was lame.

They both sat down and Katlin seemed to go a million miles away.

“Katlin, what are you afraid of? People have babies all the time. This is too important for you to deal with soon. You know this as a psychologist, “Elijah advised.

“I know. I guess I don’t want to disappoint my parents, especially my mom. My mom went through a lot of abuse as a child and wanted her children to be different. She raised us with values. I messed up and now................... I don’t know how she is going to feel about me,” Katlin said putting her baby down.

“Your mom is going to love you and that baby even more. Don’t rob your parents of that,” Elijah suggested.

“You are such a good friend Elijah. You never judge me or make me feel bad about my mistakes,” she said admiring those striking blue eyes.

“It’s called life and nobody has it all together,” he grinned.

They both smiled and stared at each other for the longest.

“Why are you still single?” Katlin teased. Elijah was quiet hoping that she would see what was right before her eyes. He was waiting for her.