Flashback

"Ryder isn't here." Rhea told Vince as she kept the door open as little as possible.

"Then what are you doing here?" Vince asked in a smug way.

"Ryder let me stay and study while he went to work." Rhea snapped, not moving.

"Aren't you going to let me in?"

Rhea shook her head. She could feel the goosebumps on her arms, how the hair on the end of her neck stood, the shivers down her back.

"But I'm his brother. I'll wait here with you."

"I'm not waiting. I'm studying." Rhea snapped. She tried to close the door, but Vince placed his palm on it, preventing her to do it. With a mighty push, the door opened, making Rhea step back, gasping.

"It's not like my brother to have any girl stay over once he is done with her." Vincent smirked as he eyed Rhea off.

Rhea stepped away, eyeing around her what she could grab if need be in self defence.

"Ryder doesn't mind me hanging out. I'm surprised to see you here. He usually gets bored with the same person after a couple weeks."

Rhea didn't say anything as she felt the couch behind her knees.

"Aren't you bored of him yet?" Vince grinned as his arms went up and pushed Rhea back, making her land on the couch.

"Don't touch me!" She cried out as she scrambled up, but Vince was too quick and placed himself on top off Rhea, pinning her down. "Get off me!"

Rhea balled her hands up and started punching and pushing Vince off, but he was stronger than her.

Vince backhanded her across the face, making Rhea bite her lip and tongue, her vision blurred as she stilled, dazed from the knock.

She felt hands go to her denim shorts and she screamed out for help, trying to kick and push Vince off.

Suddenly his weight on her was gone as Rhea sobbed out. She heard a crack and grunting as she sat up, cornering herself in as far as possible in to the couch, crying.

"You don't get to fucking touch her!" Rhea heard someone shout as she heard another crack.

More scuffling was heard then silence, besides heavy breathing.

"Rhea, baby, are you okay?" She felt hands on hers as she pulled away. Looking up she saw Ryder and gasped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Yeah. He didn't do anything." She cried out.

"I wouldn't have let him." Ryder said as he placed her face in his hands.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were at work." Rhea asked as she wiped the tears away.

"I decided to come back and I'm glad I did." He growled as he looked her over. "What were you doing?"

"I was studying." She said in a small voice. "I was thinking of going and doing my masters. Signing up for university again."

Ryder engulfed Rhea in a hug as fresh tears ran down her face. "I promise, you won't see him again, baby." Ryder kissed her forehead. "I didn't know he was coming over."

Rhea shivered again. "I'm sorry. I know he is your brother, and I only met him the other day, but he gives me the creeps."

Ryder took her face again. "Don't apologise. You have nothing to apologise for."

Now

I kept an eagle eye on Rowan, always making sure I was near Arnold or Michelle, so I wasn't left alone with Vince.

The hair on my arms and neck wouldn't go down and I was unsettled. I made sure Rowan sat next to me on one side and I sat next to Michelle when she called out that brunch was ready.

When she disappeared to get the teapot, I slipped my phone out and texted Ryder.

I need you to come over to your parents!

Ryder replied instantly.

I'm a bit busy.

But not too busy to reply immediately?

PLEASE!

Why?

I looked up just in time to see Vincent glaring at me.

"So, Rhea, how is work going?" Arnold asked. Please don't let out where I work, Arnie. I begged in my head.

"Good, I think. I'm on holidays." I answered in a flat tone. My phone buzzed and I excused myself, getting up and walking away for privacy, but not too far. "Hello."

"Is he there?" I heard Ryder. "Vincent?"

I felt another shiver go down my back.

"Yes." I whispered out.

"That son of a bitch!" Ryder let out a few more curse words.

"Please, come." I begged softly.

"I'm on my way now." Was all he said as he hung up. I kept the phone by my ear as I saw Vince staring at me, about to get up, so I improvised.

"Yes. Keep that one in and take the second letter out." I said in a more confident voice, heading back to the table. "Sure. That's great. Thanks for letting me know." I hung up and sat back down. "Sorry, work."

"I thought you were on holidays?" Vincent glared at me.

Arnold smiled at me. "Sometimes there really is no such thing as a holiday, is there dear?" He asked me.

I smiled back at him. "No. Not when you're head of a department."

The next few minutes dragged on in silence as I was torn about helping Michelle just so I can leave the room or staying with Rowan.

There was a knock on the door and Michelle got up and answered it. But she didn't even leave the room when Ryder stormed in, his eyes glazed over us all and locked on to Vincent.

How nearby was Ryder exactly? I thought to myself.

"Sorry I'm late." He said as he kissed his mother.

"I thought you said you couldn't make it." Michelle asked as she sat back down. "But there is a spare setting just in case you changed your mind."

Ryder sat down next to Vincent and Rowan. "Dad!" Rowan smiled.

Ryder ruffled up Rowan's hair. "Hey buddy. Have you been good?" Rowan nodded as Michelle and Arnold got up and got some food.

Ryder stood as well and temporarily sat in Michelle's seat. But before I could get a thank you out off my mouth, Ryder leaned close to me and whispered. "Stay seated. I'll get yours and Rowan's food." Then he got back up and stayed standing behind my son and me. We both watched Vince as he got up and got some food before sitting back down.

"Come buddy." Ryder tapped on Rowan's shoulder and let him pick the food.

"How was your flight, Vince?" Michelle asked as I watched Rowan and his father.

"Boring." Was all he said.

"How is Adelaide?" She tried again as I turned to her.

"Boring." Vince repeated. Rowan sat next to me and Ryder gave him his plate.

"What would you like?" He asked me softly.

I tilted my head to his direction and found myself very close to Ryder. "Surprise me." I smiled before helping Rowan.

Rowan's plate was just pancakes with butter as I helped him cut it up.

Ryder placed my plate down in front of me and sat with his. "Thank you." I said to him, looking straight at him. I hope he knows it wasn't a thanks for the food. My plate was covered in fruits and a croissant.

I stayed quiet throughout the rest of the time there and after another coffee after our brunch in the sitting room, watching Rowan on his new toy, I had deliberately sat on the single sofa and Ryder sat on the arm of it.

Once it was time to be polite enough to leave, I got Rowan to say his goodbyes and Ryder walked me to the car.

"Thank you so much." I breathed out to him after I buckled Rowan in. "I didn't know he would be there otherwise I wouldn't have come."

Ryder leaned against my car. "Mum told me about the brunch, but she never said Vince would be here."

"Your parents don't know, do they?"

Ryder shook his head. "No. All I said to them years ago was that you didn't like him, couldn't stand him. I never said why."

I just nodded my head as I opened my car door. Ryder leaned in the back and gave Rowan a kiss before facing me again.

"I've missed him." He finally said.

"I didn't say you couldn't visit him." I softened.

"I know. I just thought it best to give you some space." Ryder gave me a small smile. "Are you busy today?"

"Besides finishing my assessment, that I do have." I added with a smile, "no. I'm not."

"Can I take Rowan for the weekend?"

I blinked several times. "The weekend?"

It was Friday. I deliberately didn't put Rowan in to daycare today because of this brunch. Now Ryder wants him for the weekend.

"I don't know." I sighed out.

"If you're concerned, you are more than welcome to come as well. I want to take him up to the beach house." Ryder spoke softly.

I have to admit, I do enjoy the beach house.

"I think Rowan would love that." I smiled at Ryder before getting in to my car, leaving Ryder standing next to it.

"I'll see you in about thirty minutes." Ryder grinned as I drove off.

****

I left the front door unlocked as I sat on the couch with Rowan, helping him pack a bag.

"Toys!" He smiled at me. "Togs!"

I smiled at him as I placed in his little box of cars.

"Towel!" He added, dragging it to me. I folded it again and placed it in the bag and without Rowan looking, I quickly shoved in some pull up bedtime nappies.

I heard the light tap at the door and Rowan went to it, laughing. "Daddy!"

Ryder picked up Rowan and threw him in the air, making my heart stop.

Rowan giggled as Ryder caught him.

"Beach, daddy! We go to beach!"

"Yes!" Ryder smiled as he put Rowan back on the ground. "Is everything ready?" He asked, looking at me.

"Yeah." I sighed as I got up. "He has his pyjamas and some bed nappies, just in case. Towel, spare clothes, some toys..." I rambled on. "His favourite book. It's getting close to his nap time, so he might sleep in the car."

Ryder frowned at me as I pulled back my hair. "What?" I asked.

"You're not coming?"

"You sound disappointed." I smiled. "I thought you asked for Rowan for the weekend?"

"But you weren't sure if he should go without you." Ryder frowned deeper. "You've never knocked down a trip to the beach before."

No, I haven't. "I thought you just wanted to spend time with Rowan."

"I don't know how he will go a whole weekend without you." Ryder said.

I didn't really think of that. "I don't know either."

"I would like it if you came as well."

I hesitated a bit.

"Bring your laptop. I know you think better with waves crashing in the background." Ryder smiled at me.

"Is there anything you haven't forgotten?" I groaned out.

Ryder turned back to Rowan. "Nope."

****

The drive was as long as I remembered and Rowan did fall asleep in the car. I looked at the beach house.

"It's exactly as I remembered it to be." I mumbled as I got out, looking at it.

"I have someone come out once a week to do a clean, but I haven't been here since..." Ryder stopped mid sentence and I knew what he was saying.

"Since we both last came here?" I turned to him as I gently closed the car door. Ryder didn't answer as he opened the back of the car and pulled out the bags, walking to the front door.

He opened the door and came back. "I'll get him." Ryder offered as I opened Rowan's door. I followed Ryder inside and he disappeared to a room as I looked around the lounge room.

Exactly as I remembered it. Ryder appeared several minutes later and stood next to me. "I did have someone come up through the week and stocked it with some foods, furniture for the spare room and toys." Ryder told me before getting the bags.

"So you planned on bring Rowan up anyway?" I asked him as I spun on my heel.

"Sooner or later, yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Ryder frowned. The only answer I could give him was a shrug.

"Coffee?" I heard the question and I nodded. This feels like deja vu.