Adam was sick and tired of everything when he still hadn’t heard a word from Rylee four days later. Her phone had been turned off most of the time. When it wasn’t, she hadn’t answered the phone. She wasn’t home, that much he knew. He could hardly come out and ask her future husband about it.
“You need to calm down,” Dougie said when they got home from an early morning skate.
“I am calm.” Adam’s voice was higher and louder than usual.
“Yeah, I can see that.” Dougie looked at him skeptically.
Adam heaved a sigh and apologized. He was way more frustrated than he’d ever been and it was all Rylee’s fault. If she just answered her phone, everything would be better.
“Have you asked Abby yet?” Dougie asked referring to their teammate Campbell’s wife. “Rylee might have told her.”
Adam didn’t answer him. Why hadn’t he thought about this himself? He took his phone out of his jeans pocket and went to his room. Abby picked up on the third ring. He knew that she was at the shop, but at this time it was usually not very busy.
“Hey Adam, what can I do for you?” her cheery voice sounded down the line, and Adam had to smile. She was always like this. Always smiling, always happy, at least since she’d married Gregory.
“I’m really sorry to bother you, but I need you to tell me where Rylee is, if you know. Or at least some way to contact her. Her phone’s has either been off for four days now, or she didn’t answer, and I need to talk to her.” He’d wanted to start this conversation like a sane person would do, but the words came tumbling out of his mouth by themselves.
“Adam,” Abby sighed. She wasn’t sure whether she should tell him or not. Rylee had told her where she would go, but hadn’t contacted her since. “She left the city to be alone and think things through. She told me about you two and she wants to think about it without anybody interfering.”
“I get that, but I really need to talk to her, Abby.” Adam ran a hand through his hair. He knew he sounded desperate, and he was. But he wouldn’t feel better until he talked to Rylee and brought some light into this situation. “I’m going crazy. Even if she tells me herself that she needs time, that would make it better.”
“Man…” Abby sighed again. “She went to see her parents. She’s staying with them and doesn’t yet know when she’ll be back. She hasn’t even told Tom or whatever his name is.” Good, she didn’t like him as well. No wonder, since she knew way more about Rylee’s relationship with him than Adam did.
“We’ve got the next two days off, so I better pack my stuff and get going.”
“She’s going to kill me.”
“I promise she won’t,” Adam said with a smile. “I’ll tell her that my Mom told me she heard from someone that Rylee was back home.”
“Good luck, Adam.”
Adam hung up, threw a couple of things in a bag and told Dougie where he was headed. Dougie only grinned at him and wished him luck.
At the airport he had some time to kill until the flight left, but at least he’d managed to get a seat. He had some time to think about what he’d do, what he’d say, once he got there. He phoned ahead to inform his mother and rent a car. He’d definitely need one to get around and he couldn’t ask his Mom to pick him up and lend him the car.
This would work. He’d just have to talk to her in person. If she told him to get lost, he’d do that. At least then he’d know where he stood.
On the plane he busied himself with a book, trying not to think about what lay ahead of him too much. He’d already thought about it enough at the airport in Boston. Now he should try to relax. But he couldn’t.
When he got off the plane again, he stretched, grabbed his bag and picked up the car. No, he would not drive home to his mother first, because then he’d have to tell her everything, and that would take some time. He’d rather get it over with and drive to Rylee’s parents and see her.
He was nervous when the house came into view. More nervous than he’d been since the playoffs. But he knew he should be there. There was no other place where he’d rather be right now.
He stopped the car and stared at the front door for some time. Would Rylee open the door or maybe her mother? It would be best if Rylee answered him. She’d be shocked to see him, but she wouldn’t shut the door in his face. Or would she?
“Stop it,” he scolded himself. He’d come all the way out here, he wanted to see her, talk to her, so he had to get his butt out of the car and face the situation head on. There was no turning back.
After taking a deep breath, he got out of the car and walked straight to the front door. He raised his head and rang the bell. Not knowing what to do with his hands, he buried them deep in his pants pockets. He tried to calm his beating heart, but it didn’t work. His only hope was that he didn’t seem as nervous as he really was.
When the door opened, Adam’s heart sank and the blood drained from his face. Rylee’s father stood in front of him, glaring at him. His arms were crossed over his chest and he didn’t look happy at all to see him.
“Mr Sinclair… It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah, the last time I saw you in person, was before you’d broken up with Rylee.” He looked even more grim now, if that was possible.
Adam flinched and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know.”
“She’s not here. She went out for a walk with her mother.”
“Can I come in then? I’d really like to talk to you.” It hadn’t been his plan originally, but now that he was here, he could as well get it over with. It was probably better to talk to Rylee’s father alone and talk to her later. Right now, he knew that Mr Sinclair didn’t like him all that much. When he’d still been together with Rylee, they’d gotten along so well.
Mr Sinclair looked him straight in the eye, thought about it, and then stepped aside to let Adam in. This was going to be interesting.