Page 22 of Saving You

Sarah looked at Ridge for a very long time, not moving.

“Sarah!”

“But…he said Uncle Oz?—”

“Right now,” Alora demanded, darting forward to grab her daughter’s hand. She gave Ridge a scathing look. “Don’t parent my child.”

“Then do better,” Ridge told her.

Her cheeks flamed red as she turned around and tugged Sarah back to the house. Ridge knew it was probably time to leave, so he began to make his way toward the gate. He wanted to say goodbye to Oz and give him a heads-up that he’d probably made things worse and maybe beg that Oz not take out his frustrations on Ina.

He didn’t think he would, but Ridge was the master at putting his damn foot in it, even when he didn’t mean to.

He took a long breath and eventually spotted Oz near the drinks table. Hurrying over, Ridge reached out and tapped him on the arm, smiling when Oz glanced at him.

‘I think I need to leave.’

Oz looked vaguely panicked. ‘What?Why?’

‘Your niece asked me about using ASL, so I told her how it was easier for Deaf people than speaking and hearing with ears—even with hearing devices. Your sister walked up and heard me and accused me of feeding her propaganda.’ Ridge struggled with that sentence, fingerspelling a good portion of it, but the expression on Oz’s face said he understood Ridge’s signs. ‘I talked back to her.’

Oz let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry.’

Ridge blinked. ‘Why areyousorry? You didn’t ask me here to make a scene. You told me how they were going to be, and I should have kept my mouth shut.’

Biting his lip, Oz nodded, but it didn’t look like he was saying yes. ‘No one has ever defended me to them before. I don’t know?—’

“Hello, everyone! I know this is our darling little Sarah’s birthday party,” Oz’s mom announced loudly, interrupting the rest of Ridge’s sentence. “But with her mom’s permission, we wanted to announce something really exciting. Where’s Osric? Has anyone seen my son?”

Oz paled. ‘Did she ask for me?’

Ridge nodded his fist.

“Osric!” She stepped off the deck stairs and started toward him. To Ridge’s shock, Alora and his ex, Darcy, were trailing behind. Darcy was grinning and looked very intense, and Ridge saw the panic rising on Oz’s face. “I know things have been back and forth between you and our favorite future daughter-in-law, but I think you know it’s time that you two finally settle down.”

“Mom—” Oz began, his voice trembling.

She ignored him. “Darcy, Osric has something he’d like to share with everyone.” She reached into the pocket of her cardigan and pulled out a very bright red velvet ring box.

Darcy gasped. “Oh my God. Baby…”

Oz looked like he was trying to figure out how to make his limbs work so he could run. Ridge stepped closer and brushed his hand along his arm before slipping his fingers against his and spelling, ‘It’s okay.’

Oz looked at him, eyes wide and wild, but he licked his lips and gave a stiff nod.

‘It’s okay,’ Ridge mouthed. ‘I’m here.’

Oz squared his shoulders and cleared his throat. “You’re right, Mom. Idohave an announcement that’s been a long time coming.” He took the ring box from her hand and shoved it into his back pocket, making his mom, sister, and Darcy frown. Oz glanced over his shoulder at Ridge and mouthed, ‘I’m sorry.’

‘For what?’ Ridge signed, but Oz was no longer looking at him.

“I’ve been keeping a secret, but I think I’m tired of living a lie. I’m in love.”

“Aww, baby,” Darcy said again, her voice carrying over the crowd. She took a step closer, so Oz took one back toward Ridge.

He didn’t look at her. “We’ve been keeping the relationship under wraps because it was something I needed to come to terms with myself, but I’m glad I have. I’m bisexual.”

Ridge could have heard a pin drop. Even the birds had stopped singing.

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