Authors Note: I am aware that the topic of this story may be viewed as controversial in light of recent events in the media. However I would like to outline that in NO way is this story meant to offend or upset any of the readers.
The idea for this story came from a UK drama series Torn and I give complete credit to those involved with that production - I have twisted the story slightly to fit in with The O.C. characters.
This story is meant as an alternative beginning to The O.C. Season 1
Kirsten Cohen busied herself in her kitchen - the coffee was on and stewing, the toast was nicely on its way to a charcoal colour and the bagels had been schemered to perfection.
She smothered the yawn that came to her lips; she knew that although her body was telling her she was tired her mind would never let her sleep. She glanced at the digital clock on the oven - the time was bang on six o'clock. This really made no impact on her as she had been up since four tossing and turning next to Sandy in bed she was merely clock watching for when Sandy would rise.
The weeks before this fateful day would be filled with silence, everyone stepping on egg shells around each other trying to avoid the topic of the up coming anniversary. Everyone's work would suffer due to the long daydreaming sessions that crept in around this time and if it were possible Seth became more of a social hermit.
When the morning had finally arrived Kirsten had known it was futile to try and get any sleep so she had lain silently next to Sandy listening to his every breath and grunt. She wondered with a hint of anger how it was possible that he could sleep so soundly next to her seemingly without a care in the world.
She knew of course that each member of her family had their own battle of emotions when it came to the anniversary and in turn each had their own way to cope with what the were feeling. Still she couldn't help but feel that pain took on a slightly more painful tone after all she was a mother.
Lost in her thoughts about the past she failed to notice Sandy's entrance behind her into the kitchen, she jumped when his hand slid around her waist.
"Whoa, sorry honey didn't mean to scare you." his tone was gentle and soothing, Kirsten felt herself relax at his deep melodic voice. "Did you get any sleep last night beautiful?"
And so it had begun – the same list of questions that were asked every year at this time by every person she encountered. 'Have you slept?' 'Have you eaten?' 'How are you coping?' - the list was endless.
Kirsten found herself already knowing the answer to each of these questions far in advance of them being asked – this day, she suddenly realised, had taken on its own routine which she could dictate as if she were physic.
No sleep and an early morning for her,
A solitary surf for Sandy,
A long lie for Seth,
A visit from her father,
A call from the Nana,
Rounded off by an awkward dinner and early to bed.
Kirsten wondered if this is what this day justified, if this subtle routine would be everlasting for her family – when Seth was eighty would he remember what this date meant and stay in bed for as long as he was allowed to wallow?
"Honey?" A voice broke her from her revere, "Kirsten talk to me?" It was Sandy holding her by the wrists concern etched all over his face. He had aged far more than he should in the time that had elapsed, the eyebrows that dominated his face had taken on a sad edge and his smile no longer reached all the way to his eyes.
"I'm here", was all she could think to respond – I'm not functioning or thinking but I'm here. Here with her family – the people she had left to cling to until her final breathe.
Innately Sandy understood her words and enveloped her in a hug, binding them together in their grief. Comforted by her husband Kirsten allowed herself to think back to that day – the day when all their lives where changed for ever – the day her baby was taken from her.
"All set – clean and dry diaper on and secured! You ready to get going?" His excitement was clear finally, a day free from work and responsibility, to spend time with their boys.
"What do you say Shaky-Jake you ready for our super fantastic amazing all day picnic?" She teased holding the five year old loosely around his waist.
"Ready as I'll ever be!" the blonde child parroted in exactly his fathers' voice causing all of the family to laugh - including a three-year old Seth who had no idea what he was laughing at.
With the family and enough food to feed a small army packed up into the car, the Cohen's set off to the local park to start their day of Family Fun. The parents had been planning this for weeks one full day just for the four of them to share before Jacob started school. Kirsten wasn't sure how she would cope on that day – releasing her eldest into the care of others for the first time since his birth five short years ago.
The day had been a success lunch had been consumed with vigour and outdoor afternoon naps had by all. Later Seth had been happy exploring the park with his new found feet closely guided by Kirsten, Jacob and Sandy had practiced and perfected the art of the penalty kick in soccer – as well as a five year old could manage. Sandy had noticed, and latched onto, Jacobs love of all things sport. Kirsten assumed this was because of the distinct lack of sporting achievement on Sandy's behalf.
The young family sat beneath the stars wrapped in a blanket Seth half asleep on his father shoulder whilst Jacob had snuggled deep between his parents and was giving an attentive Kirsten an astronomy lesson.
"Hey Shaky-Jake how did you get to know so much about the stars?" His father questioned shifting Seth down to be cradled in his arms.
"Miss. Webb taught us all about the stars Daddy – we looked at them through a tele – a tele - …"
"Tele-scope honey?" Kirsten gently suggested.
"Yeah, we looked at them through a telesoap daddy!"
"You, sir, must be the cleverest boy I've ever known!" Sandy praised and ruffled his hair softly. "But I think it's time to let the stars get to some sleep - so how about we start heading home to our own beds?"
As ever Jacob complied without even a murmur of complaint and Kirsten wondered what she had done to deserve such an amazing family of her own. The it had been clear form the moment Jacob was born that he had a contented nature, only ever crying when he felt absolutely necessary. What an angelic child he had been compared to the much more boisterous Seth.
Sandy carefully placed Seth into his car seat, softly so as not to wake him whilst Kirsten folded the picnic blanket neatly and packed away the boys toys.
Approaching the car she began to empty her arms of the items she was carrying and called to Sandy "Send Jacob round and I'll get him buckled in."
"Jacob? He was helping you with the blanket?" Sandy's head appeared over the roof of the car, "Wasn't he?"
Fear made Kirsten's throat constrict, the last few items she held were hap hazardly thrown down as she spun around to survey the area where they had just been sitting,
"Jacob? Honey come on time to go home?" When no response was heard she began to explore the area around the car all the time calling out for her eldest son.
Many people were still milling around the park, young lovers out for a stroll, older inhabitants walking their canine friends and families with older children still playing touch football in the star light. They began to stop their own interests as the noise from Sandy and Kirsten became more intense and worried.
Kirsten screaming her son's name over and over while Sandy questioned people he met asking about a blonde boy about so high wearing a blue sweater and dark jeans.
The tears from Kirsten's eyes had now soaked through Sandy's tee-shirt as he caringly brushed the strands of her hair from her face and whispered soft assurances in her ear.
From that fateful outing the next days, weeks and months had been torturous for Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, the search for Jacob was immense and they were regularly required for interviews and statements.
Everyone in Newport knew the face of Jacob Cohen and had pulled together to help in a night search of the park – Jacob was nowhere to be found.
In the weeks that followed no ransom notes where delivered to a subdued Cohen household, and despite the huge sums Caleb Nichol was willing to provide for the safe return of his first born grandchild no promising leads where turned up.
Eventually the news coverage died down and Jacob became another statistic in a government record office.
Some presumed he had wandered off in the park and died in the cold, others thought that something more sinister had happened to the poor child. Whatever they hypothesised - all believed that in the ten years that had passed Jacob Cohen had certainly met his end.
All except Kirsten Cohen.
