"E-Z, I have an extra apron, if you'd like," I tell him, snapping him out of his stupor.
"I think I will just sit back and watch the show."
He shrugs, pulling out the barstool and plopping himself on it. Ryan quirks an eyebrow at him as he shrugs again.
“We better get started. I’m afraid I’m kind of hopeless.”
Ryan goes and washes his hands as a grin plays on his lips. E-Z takes a second as Ryan's back is turned to give me a broad smile; it's unnerving, and I can't tell what it means, but I don't ask.
CHAPTER 26
KILLIAN
It's been nice lately. I've had more freedom in prison since it was revealed who I am. People mess with me less often, even going as far as to altogether avoid me out of fear of O'Leary's extensive reach. The days are rolling into one another, and slowly, I’ve just accepted that this is life until things work out differently. I’m looking forward to my visit with Belle this afternoon. It took some work, but I managed to get my visitation time extended to two hours in the warden’s office. I wanted more, but I didn’t press my luck.
“O’Leary, you’ve got company,” a guard announces, surprising me. It’s early morning still. Regular visitation hasn’t even begun yet. The only thing I can figure is that my lawyer needs to see me. Why? I have no idea, but I can use the break from these damn four walls.
When they start to lead me out of the prison itself towards a large container still within the fence that surrounds the place but off to the side where prisoners have no access, I'm not sure what to think. As we get closer to it, it looks like it was converted into a tiny house. The guard takes off my handcuffs, so I take a moment to stretch my wrists and enjoy the reprieve. I walk in, feeling the cool air of the ac unit; it almost overwhelms me. I haven't had anything like that since coming to prison, and it feels like heaven. The heat inside the jail becomes a stench that soaks into your bones, and it feels as if I’ll never be cool again.
I look around at the open space. It’s painted an off white, which probably makes the area look bigger than it actually is. There’s an honest to God bed in the corner. It’s turned down with a blue blanket and sheets. A table is set up towards the middle of the room with two chairs, lit candles, and plates filled with food. The pie in the middle tops it off. I look up just in time to see Belle stepping out of a bathroom with all the amenities—including a large walk-in shower.
I blink several times, wondering if I’m dreaming all of this. Perhaps I am still back in my cell asleep. I'm completely overwhelmed to the point that I'm speechless. It takes me a moment to even speak as she stands there looking sheepish. She's chewing on her lip nervously waiting for me to speak.
"What's going on?" I ask, clearing my throat that suddenly feels constricted. I’m still trying to process being in here with her, and I am at a loss of what else to say.
"Your father helped me pull some strings so I could surprise you," she confesses bashfully. I know I'm hiding behind a mask of indifference, but I can feel her nerves vibrating off of her as she waits for me to react.
"My father?" I sound more accusing than I mean to, but I don't refer to him as my father—at least out loud. She wouldn't know that Ryan has been anything but a father. While I know he's trying to help get me out of here and all that, there are just things that I'm not willing to put aside. Even at E-Z's insistence to give him a chance, I can't get myself to do it.
"Ryan." She nods as she clarifies. I knew he was pulling strings, but this isn't something I would've imagined happening, at least not working with her to make something decent for me in here.
"How do you know who Ryan is?" I ask, the shock still evident in my voice.
"He told me over the phone." Her answer is direct, and yet, I take a second to process it. My wife has talked to Ryan on the phone as any other woman might talk to their father-in-law. It feels strange to think about.
"Ryan O'Leary lied," I say, pausing as I take in her frown. "It takes more than donating sperm to be a father." I feel like my attitude towards him is casting a shadow on what she has done for me. The fact that she went out of her way to get this in the works is a foreign concept to me. I don't really know how to feel about it.