OLD TIMES ONLY DIFFERENT
Prologue
They were coming home. Kirsten has to press her lips together to stop an excited squeal from erupting out of her mouth; her boys were coming home, and it had been three years since they had last called Newport their home. Sandy was picking them up now, right this second. Kirsten looked at her watch, they'd be here soon, back at home, Seth back with his Mommy; it'd be like old times she thought...old times only different.
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Seth looked into the car and his face broke into that easy smile. He had missed Ryan so much. Ryan smiled back, equally pleased to see the friend that had gotten him through so much. "Dad! Ryan!" Seth laughed almost nervously, it had been too long, and if the look on his Dads face was anything to go by, things had changed in Newport, and Seth would quite happily have driven around in that familiar car of Sandy's for the rest of his life. He was dreading seeing Summer again. "You worried?"
Ryan looked at his friend and nodded, realising that he'd never before missed the sound of his voice. "Shitting it."
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Summer smiled and hugged her stepmom. Time and ageing had helped heal the rift between them and Summer was proud that she'd let it all lay to rest. She was excited to be home, after an hour of moving her things back into her room, she was being swallowed by the familiarity of everything.
"Ah..." She sat on her bed and closed her eyes smiling. "Welcome home Summer."
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"Miss Cooper?" A nurse smiled feverishly at the girl. "Your mother is here to take you home."
"Oh the joy."
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