Chapter 181: Visit
Ryan’s POV
With everything that had been going on, Ryan had almost been tempted to put off going to see his grandfather again. Not because he did not wish to, but because he had been worried that all of the stuff that he was currently dealing with would show on his face the moment that he met with his grandfather.
Something that would no doubt cause the old man to stress. But Vivian had convinced him to go.
"He is your only living relative Ryan. You have made him a promise, and he needs you just as much as you need him. Now go, do not ruin the bond that the two of you are rebuilding," Her gentle, yet sincere words had been enough to convince Ryan to get a move on.
Now as he walked through the hallways of his family home, Ryan could not help but keep looking to his side, disappointed when he found no one there despite knowing that he had come alone. His visit would have been made even better by Vivian’s presence, but since he had still not yet told his grandfather about their relationship, he could not bring her.
Vivian, the far too understanding woman that she was, had not even been upset when Ryan had admitted to her that not only did his grandfather not know about her. But that the old man was in the dark about a lot of things that had transpired between him and Gwendolyn.
"You are doing your best to protect him. I am certain that when the time is right, you will be able to tell your grandfather not only about us, but also about what happened between you and Gwendolyn," It was her easy acceptance of everything that had helped to settle Ryan’s mind. He had decided then and there that it was time to stop running away from things. And now as he got closer to the garden where he had been told his grandfather was, he felt his resolve strengthen.
This was it.
He would not be leaving without telling his grandfather the entire truth about Brian and Gwendolyn. In addition to that, he would also be informing him of his relationship with Vivian Rose.
***
When he wanted to, Ryan’s grandfather could be quite difficult to deal with. It was a complaint that many people who had elderly family members had. But Ryan was pretty certain that those other elders had nothing on his grandfather. When he really dug his heels in, Langston Terrell could out stubborn a mule.
Unfortunately for Ryan, he seemed to have come for a visit at a time when his grandfather had decided to stop speaking and communicate only in heated glares. Lifting up his tea cup, Ryan took a sip and then put it back down.
"This tea has a nice earthy flavour. Did you pick it out yourself?" Silence greeted him, and Ryan grit his teeth in frustration. What was wrong with the old man? He had not even returned Ryan’s greetings and the entire time that they had been seated in the garden. Ryan had been having a one-sided conversation, hoping to get his grandfather to say at least one thing. But all that the old man did was glare. What could he possibly have done wrong? He had come to visit as promised. So what did the old man have to be upset about?
A part of Ryan wanted to just abandon the whole thing and get going. But he remained seated because his true business had not yet been dealt with. He had to find a way to soften the old man up so that he would be more receptive when Ryan told him about Vivian.
"Are the meds that you are taking agreeing with you?" Again silence greeted him. Finally having had enough, Ryan met his grandfather’s glare with one of his own.
"Grandfather, I made time to come and see you, but if this is the way that you are intending for this visit to go, then I have no reason to be here," His frustration bubbling over, Ryan was just about to get up and leave when his grandfather finally spoke.
"You have made time to come and see me, but yet you have not mentioned a single important detail in your life. Is it truly right for me to find out certain things about you from other people?" The old man spoke softly, but it was very clear to see that he wanted to shout.
Ryan blinked in confusion. What was his grandfather on about?
"Grandfather, what are you talking about?" He asked.
The old man’s scoffed.
"I am talking about you and that preschool teacher that you are dating," What? The old man already knew that he and Vivian were dating. For a few seconds, Ryan was completely stunned and all that he could do was gape at his grandfather.
Then when the shock went away, it was replaced by a wave of relief so fierce that Ryan almost did not know what to do with himself. His grandfather knew about him and Vivian and from the looks of it, the old man had been upset because somebody else had told him. He was just angry to have been kept out of the loop.
Ryan wondered who it could have been. It was most probably Mark, feeling annoyed at his friend for sharing the news before he could. But also being unbelievably happy, and relieved that he did not have to find the words to tell his grandfather. Ryan could not help but smile.
"Good. I am glad that you have already found out about me and Vivian. It definitely saves me the trouble of having to come up with the right words to tell you about us," Instead of simply nodding, his grandfather paled. He looked like Ryan had just told him that the world was ending instead of just confirming his relationship.
"So it really is true, oh Ryan...what have you done?" Ryan blinked...what was going on?
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