Ryan

He should have expected Heidi's call and her wrath.

"What the hell is going on?" Heidi hollered into the phone.

"Calm down, I don't want to be blamed for you going into labor."

"Plah-ease after thirty-seven weeks, I want this kid out of me!" Ryan winced at her words. "Now don't change the subject. Did you know the prick was screwing a child?"

"I knew he was when he first took her to dinner. I suspected it was the reason he waited so long to..."

"To what?"

"To have sex with Lana," he said quietly.

"How did you know about their sex life?"

"Lana told me they hadn't the night her ex upset her"

"So you find out that low life she married screwed around and you didn't think to warn her."

"Yeah, I did, but after Isobel, I didn't want to get involved."

"None of this has anything to do with Isobel!"

"No, but Adam is a client and we've lost business because of Isobel... oh yeah, and you fixing me up with your friends!"

"This is Lana's life we're talking about."

"Yeah, I know. If I knew he was still seeing her, I would have told Lana. You have to believe me."

He acted contritely, but he wanted to question just how serious they were. She spent more time with him than she did Adam. Granted she was drunk, but he knew about her marriage and Adam only knew that she had an ex.

"I feel horrible. I miss my friend."

"Do you like her?" Heidi asked with a thrill in her voice.

"Yeah, but not like that."

"Why not?"

"Let's see. First off, she wants a husband and kids. Second, you told me to stay away from your friends."

"Oh, right and see you ended up hurting one. You leave a path of destruction, Ryan Harris."

"Listen, I can't stand it if you hate me too. I didn't mean to hurt her. I wish she would talk to me."

"Will you try to stay out of trouble for the rest of the summer?"

"I thought I was doing a good job until now. Isobel steals from me and I get shunned. Adam cheats and I get blamed. It really sucks."

"Jeez Rye, you are pathetic."

"I have a board meeting next week. I'm glad I'm leaving the beach. Maybe I should just stay home."

"No, she may decide she needs a friend while I'm here looking like a beached whale."

Ryan considered just going home, but he liked his summer more than he expected. Even if he hadn't become friends with Lana, he would have still been glad he came.

Those thoughts were with him a couple of days later when Douglas Alfano stopped by to say goodbye. "You're leaving before Labor Day?" He surprised Ryan.

"The wife doesn't want to be here. She wants to sell, but I don't know."

"I know Point properties are in high demand."

"I don't want it turned into one of those big houses like..."

"Like my brothers?" Douglas nodded. Ryan wasn't sure what came over him. "If you're selling, I'll buy it. I promise I only want a cottage."

"You want it?"

"Yeah, this cottage won't be available next year. I like spending the summer with my family."

He also liked the idea of hiring Lana as the caretaker. He could even rent it out for part of the summer and use her services. She wouldn't be able to avoid him or would she? His mind was going a million miles an hour. He could put a pool in the backyard for Jack's kids to swim. Disappointed he knew Lana would swim in Heidi's pool, but Will would come over.

"I don't know what it's worth."

"I know what my brother paid last year."

"I think that would work. You sure."

"I've never been surer of anything."

Suddenly Ryan felt unsure even as his mouth said the opposite. Was his enjoyment of this summer just a perfect storm with his chance to bridge the gap with Jack, see more of his parents and hang out with Lana and Will? Next year Cam would be around, but he suspected that even if Lana forgave him, she would have moved on with her life. She wouldn't be unlucky in love forever.

Douglas stood and shook Ryan's hand. "I'll call my lawyer."

Ryan couldn't wait for Thursday. He felt excited, waiting for Lana to come to clean. He felt a lead in his gut when it wasn't Lana's voice calling out "hello".

"You're not Lana."

Jessie looked nervously. "She gave me permission to curse and punch you if you try to kick me out."

Ryan sighed. "I won't kick you out or make you cry if you tell her I was nice to you."

He went back to work feeling depressed. Even the kids in the pool were asking for Lana. He wouldn't let any of them use her tube, not even Will.

Every time he saw Will, the kid gave him an update. Apparently, she was heartbroken and miserable. Truthfully Ryan didn't realize that she was that in love with Adam.

"She's pissed at you man and me too for hanging with you."

"Go home then. Don't choose me over your sister."

"Nah, she's more depressing than you. Plus you promised to get me ready for the season. I've got one more week before I leave for preseason."

"Already."

When Allie told him on Friday afternoon Adam was on the line, he almost asked her to lie. Instead, he choked down his resentment. "Hey Casanova!"

"Jesus, I almost shit when she ran up to me."

"You really screwed Lana over."

"Yeah, I know. I would have decided by Labor Day. Every time I was leaning towards one, I would shift to the other like a goddamn yoyo."

"Who was winning?" Ryan couldn't understand how he would choose jailbait over Lana.

"I don't know. It doesn't matter does it."

"Except Lana lost again... first her ex and then you."

"She never even told me about her ex-boyfriend. I figure she was still hung up on him."

"She caught the guy screwing some bitch."

"Were they serious? How long was she with him?"

Ryan couldn't believe Adam knew nothing about Lana's life. "How long? Since she was Rory's age. How serious? She was married to him. After the divorce, she moved into the cottage and started her business to get by."

"What the! She never told me she was divorced!"

"I won't pretend I approved of what you did. I let you know what I thought and then I stayed out of it, but I regret it now."

"You were the one going on about liking indecent girls."

"Yeah, but Lana's a decent girl who you treated indecently. I don't know this other one, but she seems to like you. I'm guessing she knows nothing about your weekends in Maine."

"What's the point of telling her now?"

"None. So did you call for a reason?"

When the weekend arrived, he missed his houseguest. He wished he could go back in time and tell Lana not to date Adam, but they weren't even friends when she and Adam started dating. By the time they really became friends, it was too late. Life was full of moments which needed a do-over.

He texted Lana to let her know he would be gone. He didn't ask her specifically to watch the pool. He wrote, use the pool. I'm really sorry. Can we talk?

It surprised him when she responded. It was one word, no.

When he arrived in Virginia, Heidi was no longer a beached whale, because she had delivered a girl early Sunday morning. Tuesday evening he stopped by to visit.

When he approached to hug her, she attempted to pull his ear lobe off . "I should hate you."

"Didn't you just have a baby?" His ear hurt like hell.

"I feel fine as long as I don't sit too long."

He winced not wanting to think about the mechanics of birth. His own memories of being in a delivery room were a blur, but a melancholy wave flowed through him momentarily. The baby was tinier than JP, and her little face was delicate and perfect. She would be a looker like her mother.

Ryan thought of Lana and wondered how she took the news of Grace's arrival. She deserved to have her own little bundle to love. A little girl with chestnut hair to play with Grace. Maybe Lana would realize it all worked out for the best because Ryan really didn't think Adam was the one to give her the life she dreamed about.

He thought both Cam and Heidi would scrape their chins when he asked to hold the baby. "What? I like being an uncle." He even smiled when Heidi took a picture with his phone.

Besides having imploded a friendship, his biggest worry was he had yet to find a talent act. Isobel made her disappointment known as she chastised him in front of the whole board. He reminded her he brought in some great auction items.

At the end of the board meeting, Isobel left to meet a date and Rita rolled her eyes.

"She probably made it up. Now don't fret over the talent. You'll find someone."

He nodded but wasn't certain. Perhaps his problem was that the talent he wanted would never agree and definitely not now.