Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

He’s Going To Be Wearing Orange For Christmas

“Tom, you’ve got to be kidding.” Earl said.

The Chief looked through the two-way glass into the interrogation room where Ryan was cuffed to the desk. “No, I’m serious as a heart attack. He’s violated and he’s going back where he belongs.”

“What’s the charge?” Greg demanded. “He was just riding with Marta to see the Christmas lights in Pine Hollow.”

“Harassment and disorderly conduct. That kid tried to kill herself over it.”

“That kid is heavily sedated in a psych ward. Who brought the charges?” Greg snapped.

The Chief locked eyes with him. “Mr. Patel corroborated the event.”

“Fishing, Tom? Don’t you think that’s beneath you?” Earl said.

“Whatever works, guys. He’s a collar and he’s going to be wearing orange for Christmas.”

“Got a black robe in your closet? That’s the judge’s call. Don’t you think?”

“Judge will see it my way, pastor. It’s a slam dunk.”

Marta was pacing. “Why do you hate him so much? What did he ever do to you?”

“Miss Kwock, bad guys do bad things. I’ve been wise to him since the first rock he put through a window. He’s a chip off the ol’ block.”

“Sins of the father?” Greg facepalmed. “Let it go, Chief. Patch is dead. I know. I performed his eulogy.”

“I’m not blaming him for his pop’s behavior. He did this all by himself.”

“He doesn’t need to go back to jail.” Marta stamped her foot. “He needs therapy. If anybody is guilty of harassment around here, it’s you.”

“Cry me a river.” The Chief rolled his eyes. “He can attend therapy in the system.”

“Don’t you feel any weight of responsibility for this, Tom?” Earl had his hands on his hips.

The Chief thought about it for a moment. “Nope. He was a bad seed. Garbage comes from garbage. He can go back to the landfill and stay there for all I care.”

“Patch was a troubled soul, but he wasn’t garbage. None of God’s creation are.”

“Do I barge into your pulpit and tell you how to run a service?”

“Patch was a stand up guy when I knew him.” Earl said. “He was troubled because of the company he kept.”

“He kept company with my fiancée.”

“I know you blame Patch for stealing her, but it was her idea.”

“How can you possibly know that?” The Chief barked.

“Because he told me. He regretted ever meeting her. She took up with him to spite you. She didn’t like Patch. She didn’t like anybody, least of all the kid you put in her.”

“The kid I…?”

“He’s yours, Tom. Take a test if you need to. Patch said that she shacked up with him to make you think he’d stolen her and got her knocked up in a tawdry fling. She was queen of the head games.”

Marta stopped pacing. Her mouth dropped open. “That’s seriously messed up.”

“Why would she take up with a bum like Patch? I had a steady job and a place of my own.”

“The only one she wanted to hurt more than you was him.” Earl poked a thumb toward the interrogation room. “She resented being pregnant and she wanted to make him pay for it. She stuck him with Patch because she knew that Patch knew he wasn’t Ryan’s dad, so he’d resent and despise him, too. There was no way Patch could tell you it was yours. She knew you’d never believe a word he said. She paid Ryan back for simply existing by putting him in the most God-awful situation she could manage.”

“It’s always the mother’s fault…” Marta sat down and planted her chin in her hand.

Earl shrugged.

“How did you come by all this?” The Chief’s eyes were cold and hard.

“Patch and I shared a cell. I was no angel when I was a kid, but I wasn’t an idiot either. It only took one trip to get me on the straight and narrow. Sure, Patch was a mess, but he actually meant well. He had my back while we were in the system and I had his.”

“Hearsay.”

“So take the test.”

“Whatever. The paperwork is already done. It’s the judge’s call.”

“He’ll be hearing from me and the pastor. I already told his PO about the restaurant situation.”

“He’ll be hearing from me and Ryan told me that Megaman would back him up, too.” Marta said.

“I’m sorry you had to find out like this, Tom, but he’s yours. You’ve been hard on him his entire life because you didn’t know. Are you really going to jam your son up like this?”

“My son? My eye. Roxy was a liar. I should have known better than get mixed up with her. I’m telling you, the paperwork is done. He’ll see the judge. Unless any of you are lawyers, it’s time to take a powder.” The Chief pointed to the door.

“I beg you, Tom. Don’t do this. You’ve done enough harm in this kid’s life already.”

“Earl, I’m going to say it one more time.” The Chief looked into the interrogation room. “Hit the bricks or we’re going to have a problem.”

Pastor Greg led Earl and Marta to the door. “Come on, guys. Let’s not make things worse for Ryan by aggravating things here.”

Marta saw the Chief hand a swab to one of his officers before she stepped outside.

“I hate to wake Maggie, but we ought to try to head this off.”

Greg pulled a hat from his coat pocket and slipped it on. “She’s already had a hard night, Earl. She was with Meghan at Sarah’s house.”

“I don’t have the juice to wake up a judge.”

“My dad does.” Marta said. “They’re golf buddies. Do you think it’s a good idea to try twisting his arm off hours?”

“Irritating him might push him over to Tom’s way of thinking.” Greg conceded.

“Justice never sleeps, guys. If you can get his ear, I know what to say.” Earl said.