Chapter 7 - Ryan Finally Said Who He Thought Was Screaming
Ryan did not ask me to come to the interview.
I went because Lily was still at the hospital and I wanted to stay near her.
The detective spoke to Ryan in another room.
Margaret tried to follow.
He said no.
She hated that.
Twenty minutes later Ryan came out and sat against the wall.
He looked sick.
“What did you tell them?”
I asked.
“The truth.”
“Which version?”
He looked at me.
Fair.
Then:
“I locked the front door before the fire.”
“I know.”
“Owen wanted to leave.”
“Why stop him?”
Ryan rubbed his hands together.
“Because he had just told me Dad took the blame for Mom’s signature.”
Margaret stiffened.
Ryan didn't look at her.
“I thought Owen was rewriting everything.”
“So you locked him in.”
“I locked the front door. The rear exit was open.”
“That’s not what Lily thought.”
“I know.”
“Why bring her?”
His voice broke slightly.
“I was supposed to have her for one hour.”
“Yes.”
“I thought Owen would talk for five minutes.”
“Yes.”
“I screwed up.”
Keep going.
“When Mom showed up, everyone started shouting.”
“Then the fire.”
“Yes.”
“Where was Lily?”
“I thought with Mom.”
Margaret turned.
“I thought she was with you.”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
Exactly.
Adults making assumptions while a child disappeared between them.
“What happened?”
Ryan looked at the floor.
“Smoke came from the stockroom. Mom panicked. I took her through the rear.”
“You saw Owen?”
“Yes.”
“Inside?”
“Yes.”
“He was going toward the front.”
“And Lily?”
“I didn't see her.”
“Then you got outside.”
“Yes.”
“Ethan heard a scream.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
I knew.
“Who did you think it was?”
“Owen.”
My stomach turned.
“And you said nobody was inside.”
“Yes.”
Margaret whispered:
“Ryan.”
He looked at her.
“Don't.”
Then back to me.
“I knew he was still in there.”
I stared at my brother.
“Why stop Ethan?”
His eyes filled.
“I was angry.”
“Not enough.”
“I thought Owen had come back to destroy Mom.”
“Not enough.”
Ryan’s breathing changed.
“He had just told me my whole life was built around a lie.”
I said nothing.
“And for maybe three seconds…”
He swallowed.
“…I wanted him to be somebody else's problem.”
The corridor went silent.
He continued.
“I heard the scream and thought it was him.”
“So you lied.”
“Yes.”
“Then Ethan hit you.”
“Yes.”
“Then Lily came out.”
Ryan pressed both palms against his eyes.
“I didn't know.”
“That doesn't undo what you chose when you thought it was Owen.”
“I know.”
Margaret reached toward him.
He pulled away.
She stopped.
That was new.
Ryan looked at me.
“I almost got Lily killed.”
I refused the sentence.
“You put her in danger.”
He looked confused.
“Is that different?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if you say almost killed her, you get to collapse everything into one monstrous moment and hate yourself forever.”
His face tightened.
I continued.
“You brought her there without telling me. You locked a door during an argument. You left without checking for her. Then you lied because you didn't want a man rescued.”
Each decision.
His.
Ryan stared.
“That’s worse.”
“Good.”
He nodded once.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
“Lily gets that apology first.”
“Yes.”
“Not today.”
His face changed.
“Why?”
“Because she’s eight and currently afraid when she sees you.”
That hurt him.
I let it.
Margaret stood.
“Claire, you cannot take his niece away over one—”
I turned on her.
“One what?”
She stopped.
I looked at my mother.
“You are done deciding when someone else is ready.”
Her face went rigid.
For once, she had no quick answer.
Then Lily appeared at the end of the hallway with a nurse.
She saw Ryan.
Stopped.
And hid behind the nurse’s arm.
May you like
Ryan did not move toward her.
He stayed exactly where he was.
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