Chapter Text
The call comes during his free period.
Ryland saw the Florida area code and goes to decline it. He doesn't know anyone in Florida, not anymore anyway. But there is a voice in the back of his mind that wonders if it is his father.
John Gentry was someone he hasn't heard from since he fled Florida and that old house where he was more of a punching bag than a son. He doesn't know what his father would call him about after over a decade of silence.
But he picks it up anyway.
It's not his father on the other end of the call, no, it's a woman with a very cheerful voice.
"Hello?" She asks tentatively, "Is this Ryland Gentry?"
Ryland almost flinches at the name.
"I actually took my Mother's maiden name, Grace but this is him." Ryland corrects her since the name Gentry immediately sends him into fight or flight mode.
"Oh! I am so sorry Dr. Grace, I assumed you used your Father's last name," She apologizes than quickly moves onto her main topic. "I am sorry to inform you but your father has passed away."
That hits like a punch to a gut.
Ryland had never liked or even loved his father but that was still his father. He was a very complicated man who lost himself to alcohol and addiction.
Despite their past Ryland can feels his throat thicken with tears.
"Thank you for telling me." Ryland manages to speak.
"I am sorry for your loss Dr. Grace but I also need to tell you that since you are next of kin your brothers will go to you." She says.
For the second time in five minutes his entire world is knocked off kilter.
"Brothers?" Ryland breathes out, unsure he heard her right.
"Yes! Courtland and Colton Gentry." She informs him than pauses. "Did you not know?"
"No- I… just thought I was his only child." Ryland admits with a sinking pit in his stomach. "How old are they?"
"Twelve years old, they are twins."
Ryland does the math and feels a little sick, he would have just left when Mom found out about the twins. It would have been within two, three weeks of each other.
For twelve years he has had brothers he never knew about. No one told him. No one called him to tell him about his brothers.
Mom never told him.
He had very few conversations with his mother after the left that house, each of them short lived but he treasured each one. The last call was when he got his PHD a couple years ago. She had cried at how far he got in his education and Ryland offered to help her get out, like he did every time they talked, but she refused.
Was that why she didn't leave?
Why she died in that house?
Ryland feels sick again. She stayed for them and didn't tell Ryland because she knew that he would have dropped everything to help them. He can't cry yet but tears sting his eyes as he thinks about his mother.
The last phone call from his father was about her funeral. He had been told to not come to her funeral by his father who he told him that since he left he didn't have the right to see her grave.
Ryland runs a hand down his face as he tries to process all of this.
"Dr. Grace?" The woman prompts after a minute of silence.
"Sorry, you said they are being transferred to my custody?" Ryland asks.
"Yes since there is no other family members on either side to take them." She says.
That can't be right.
There has to be someone else who can take the twins. Someone more capable, more qualified to handle children. Some distant cousins or a long lost aunt. Not him.
"Are you sure there isn't anyone else?" Ryland tries not to sound desperate on the phone.
"We have already checked multiple times Dr. Grace, you are the only one. If you don't take them than they will go into foster care." She lays out his options like this isn't life altering for both parties.
The twins don't know him.
And he doesn't know the twins.
But foster care.
He has taught multiple kids in the foster care system. He has heard the horror stories about it. No child should end up there if he can help it.
"When do I need to come get them?" Ryland feels his hands shake a little as he grips the phone.
"We are able to accommodate them for the travel time since you are living in California but we hope that you will get them as soon as possible." She says.
"Okay, I will talk with my boss and see how soon I can get to Florida." Ryland tells her.
"Good," She cheers, "we will be in touch Dr. Grace."
He doesn't even remember hanging up.
Ryland leans back in his seat, looking up at the model solar system hanging above him. His eyes trace the planets as he tries to reconcile the last ten minutes of his life.
He wants to run away.
If he really wanted to he could.
But he knows that he won't.
There is a soft knock on his door that jolts him out of his head.
"Ryland?" Simon's voice is subdued as he leans in the door way, a mug of tea in his hand. "Are you alright?"
How does one successfully communicate that their whole life is falling apart in front of their eyes which out making anyone concerned?
Ryland tries to give his best approximation of a smile, "I'm fine, just waiting for my next class."
Simon is a newer teacher at Groveland middle. He was hired on last year as a english teacher.
Ryland formed a good relationship with him since their classrooms are across from each other. Simon gets his sense of humor and actually likes his corny jokes. He even finds Ryland's clumsy nature endearing.
Their friendship has deepened into something Ryland has been too scared to acknowledge out loud.
All that to be said Simon doesn't believe him.
He doesn't call him out on it just yet, he just enters the classroom and sets the mug of tea on Ryland's desk with a soft clink.
"If you say so Ryland," Simon shoots him a concerned look before pulling back, "I brought you your favorite tea since I was in the lounge making my own."
Ryland's cheeks warm at his thoughtfulness, "Thank you Simon."
"It's no problem, just take care of yourself." Simon says before leaving the room.
Ryland watches him go and wishes that he told him the truth, that he told him that he doesn't know what to do. But Simon has bigger things to do than worry about Ryland.
He has managed to pull himself together enough when the first kid trickle in and gets through the rest of his day like trying to run through water.
✮⋆˙
Ryland explains the situation to the principal, the death of his father and two brothers that are stuck in Florida that he needs to go get.
Thankfully she's extremely understanding of his situation and even gives him a week off to settle the boys. Ryland doesn't know what he will do once they are here but for now he is thankful for what he gets.
When he gets into his car that he recently had enough money to start paying on the tears come. He has been holding them back for the past couple hours since he heard dead and father in the same sentence.
Ryland shouldn't be crying over a man who used to beat him.
He knows better.
But grief is never logical. He mourned the man who his father could have been years ago and now he mourns the man he was, the selfish, mean spirited person he was.
Now he has to pull himself together for two brothers he never knew existed.
He won't say that a part of him isn't resentful.
This is his father's final act against him.
His way of saying that no matter what Ryland does or where he goes he will always be his son. Now he will have two physical reminders of everything he tried to escape.
But in the end there is no escaping the blood that runs through your veins.
He wishes that his mother was still alive, it's selfish and cowardly at thirty but he wishes that she could take this burden from him, that she at least hug him again. Her arms were the safest place he has ever been.
When Ryland is done crying he puts the car into drive and drives away from the school.
✮⋆˙
Courtland doesn't like the CPS Lady.
There is something about her perpetual smile and cheerful attitude that rubs him the wrong way. He thinks it's supposed to put them at ease but her smile feels forced. When she looks at them there is a flash of something akin to pity and he hates that.
Colt has seemed to pick up on it too, or maybe just Court's blatant dislike of the woman.
They are huddled in one of the few rooms in the tiny CPS office. Colt has been plastered to his side since they were released from the hospital. They both were taken to the hospital when the police found them.
Courtland hated being prodded and poked by doctors while Colt was out of sight. He couldn't protect Colt if he was stuck in a room with doctors. In the end they had to bring Colt into the room to make him comfortable with being helped.
Now they are waiting for a relative to pick them up. The Lady said it was apparently some older brother that they never knew about. Courtland doesn't buy it, not yet anyway. He was prepared for foster care after their father died even if he didn't want to go.
With this new brother he can't predict what he may be like. Courtland has heard about foster care, he is prepared for that, but a new guardian he wasn't prepared for.
Would he be like their shared father, drunk and abusive? Court has heard that alcoholism runs in their family, that's why dad was like that. Did the gene get passed to their older brother?
"I miss mom." Colt whispers to him and squeezes his hand.
"Me too." Court squeezes his hand back in response.
The door finally swings open to reveal the CPS Lady. She enters the room with her usual smile directed at them. Courtland tries not to bristle too much at her.
"Boys," She holds open the door to let in the man walking in behind her. "This Dr. Ryland Grace, your older brother."
Ryland Grace is tall, all long limbs and an angular face. A set of glasses are perched on his nose but slip off a little when he sees them. Courtland sees the man fidget with his fox sweater in what he thinks is a nervous tick.
Out of all the things that strike Court about is how much he looks their father. He has his nose and the same sandy hair color. Court even thinks that Ryland Grace has their father's height.
This immediately sets Courtland on edge.
Colt doesn't seem to see it and peers around Court's protective hold to look up at the obviously anxious man. Court wants to curl around him tighter but Colt is his own person and can make his own decisions.
"Hello," Ryland Grace waves down at them, walking forward cautiously. "I'm Ryland."
He crouches down next to them, getting on their level, and reaches out a hand for a handshake. It's a tatic he has seen teachers and other adults use sometimes, getting down on eye level so you feel like you are equals.
Court narrows his eyes while Colt shifts ever closer to Ryland. A part of Court wants to stop him from reaching out to him but he restrains that.
"I'm Colt." Colt takes Ryland's hand and a grin spreads on the man's face.
"Nice to meet you Colt, I know you don't know me but we are going to make this work." Ryland promises him.
Court is immediately distrustful.
Adults don't keep promises, Court knows this for a fact. So many adults have promised him things and not ever followed through. Mom promised never to leave than she died. Dad promised him to stop drinking the night after her death than beat him the next night after downing an entire bottle of whiskey.
"Okay." Colt gives Ryland a tentative smile.
Ryland's eyes shift over to Court. He tries not to freeze when the attention switched but Ryland sees that, his eyes filling with an emotion that Court can't seem to understand. Not knowing how Ryland is feeling sets Court on edge even more.
"I live in San Francisco so you both will be coming with me once we collect things from the house." Ryland explains to Colt but loud enough that he is speaking to both of them.
Court doesn't really want to go back to the house where he found dad… where he found him dead. They probably scrubbed it clean but Court will always see his father slumped on the bathroom floor, bottle in hand and his head bleeding.
Once Ryland realizes that Court isn't going to say anything they all pile into a car and head back to the house for the last time.
As they branch out throughout the two story house that has been crumbling for years Court wonders what this house looked like when Ryland was young. He doesn't want to be curious about their new guardian but he is.
Ryland Grace is a weird man who may be a bad person under all that kindness, only time will tell.
✮⋆˙
Ryland is an adult.
Therefore he can admit when he is in over his head. It may not help matters but he can admit it in the safety of his own head that he is in way over his head right now.
Normally he is great at taking care of twelve year olds. It's like his whole job to take care of them and right now he is failing at corralling them through the crowded San Francisco airport.
The trip over wasn't horrible, Lindsey, the woman with CPS who greeted him when he got to the facility, had dropped them off with their belongings and a professional smile before leaving them there, but they are all insanely tired after the plane ride.
Thankfully Colt and Courtland have stayed together. The only problem is that they don't stay with him.
Colt does most of the wondering, he is curious about even the littlest things in this big airport. And Courtland follows him around while glaring at Ryland.
So Ryland decided to hold Colt's hand in hopes of cutting the problem off at the source.
Than he had to grab the bags.
Ryland didn't bring much since he was only in Florida for less than a day to pick up the boys and their stuff. The boys on the other hand have two duffle bags filled with their things.
They didn't have much and it reminds him of leaving in the middle of the night when he turned eighteen. He had only a small bag, his car and a faded picture of him and his mother at the fair.
Ryland tries not to think about that night at all, he doesn't think about the anxiety and the tears that streamed down his face as he drove away.
"Can you guys carry your bags?" Ryland says in the cheeriest voice he has.
Colt nods, "Yeah!", before making grabby hands for his bag.
Courtland on the other hand grabs his bag out of his hand without a word. He slings it over his shoulder all while not letting go of Colt's hand, which is an amazing feat.
Ryland's car is in long term parking even though he has only been away from San Francisco for less than a day.
They take a bus from the airport to the row where his car is in. Once they get off the boys stand next to Ryland as he fumbles with his keys for a minute. Colt finds it hilarious while Courtland doesn't react which seems to be normal with him.
Once they are all in the car and Ryland is pulling out of the parking lot he feels a lot better. Airports make him nervous and adding on his new brothers doesn't help his anxiety.
"Do you have a house?" Colt pipes up from his spot in the back seat.
Ryland chuckles, "I have an apartment since I can't really afford a house right now."
"Do we have a place to sleep?" Courtland finally speaks to him.
"Yes." Ryland nods and turns his eyes back to the road as he turns right. "I have a spare room that was my office but I turned it into your guy's bedroom. You have a bunk bed because we don't have a lot of space."
Colt looks positively ecstatic at the idea of a bunk bed while Courtland looks less weary.
And Ryland considers it a small win.
✮⋆˙
Colt looks around the apartment with some awe as their brother leads them into the space.
The apartment is very small and open concept, he can see the kitchen from the living room which is the opposite of their old house.
It's very bare bones in terms of decoration, no pictures of family on the walls and no paintings either like their mom used to like, he does see a few diplomas hung up in the hallway.
Colt has to stretch to see the closest one which is a doctorate.
"Are you a doctor?" He calls over his shoulder.
Ryland drops something in the kitchen as he tries to make them dinner, "Technically!", there is more rustling and the sound of something else falling, "I have a doctorate in microbiology which isn't actually medicine."
"Cool!" Colt says and moves onto the next interesting thing he sees which is a small framed photo that he didn't see before.
He sees a woman and a boy sitting in a familiar porch swing. Colt reaches up to touch his mother's face in the photo. She looks happier here, and alive in a way Colt never imagined was possible. Next to her is a boy around his age with glasses and a missing right front tooth, smiling at the camera.
That must be Ryland.
He looks a lot more happy in this photo. There is more of their mother's appearance in him than now. But Colt still sees their mother in him.
Court had seen their father, from the look on his twin's face when he first saw their brother, he always sees the worst first rather than the good. He saw their father's jaw rather than their mother's kind eyes at first glance and Colt hopes that he will see their mother too in Ryland like Colt does at some point.
"What?" Court asks from beside him and stops in his tracks when he sees the photo. He's quiet for a long moment before speaking again. "It's mom."
"Yeah." Colt whispers. "She looks so happy."
Court doesn't respond, just stares at their mother in the photo.
"Colt? Courtland? Dinner is ready." Ryland pokes his head into the hallway and freezes when he sees them looking at the photo.
A conflicted look crosses his face before he walks over and stares at the photo as well.
Colt knows that this is a sore subject for him so he goes to the kitchen to avoid any chance of Ryland getting angry at them for looking. Courtland comes with him and Ryland follows a minute later, his smile more strained than before.
They eat dinner in silence and go to bed.
In the morning the photo is gone.