Chapter 7
Every eye in the place turns to look at the speaker. Marissa takes a sudden intake of breath. 'Is it possible he looks better now than he did way back when?' she thinks.
Allison is studying this man that has just suddenly appeared from no where, and who has stolen Marissa's breath. She sees a man in his mid 20's with a powerful build and an air about him that says don't mess with him.
"Mommy, Seth, who is that man?" Erin asks pointing at Ryan. This snaps Seth out of his shock before it does any one else.
"Hey, how did you know? I mean I never told you. She said she would disappear if I told any one." Seth asks
"I have known where she is since you came back from New York." Ryan tells him still looking at Marissa.
"How?" Seth asks again.
"The gift you gave me had her hand writing on it. It made me wonder. So I called the Hotel where you were staying asking for a Marissa Copper. They told me no one worked there by that name. So I did a little digging and found out she had gotten married and then divorced, that her last name was now Anderson. Who just happen to be the name of the manager of the hotel." Ryan says still with his eyes locked on Marissa's, who is staring back just as intense as he is.
"Why didn't you say something if you knew why I was doing this?" Seth asks.
"I figured you had your reason's for not telling me, but I did try to get you to tell me all of it. But you wouldn't budge. Besides you are my brother, the only one I have left. I will always support you in anything you want to do." Ryan says finally breaking eye contact with Marissa, which seems to break the spell.
"Hey, Ryan." Marissa finally speaks.
"Hey."
"Wait, the Ryan? This is the bad boy from Chino, who did all those things when you were teenagers?" Allison asks.
"That would be me. Hello I am Ryan Atwood, and you are?" Ryan says as he steps forward and offers his hand.
"Allison Mayner. I am Marissa's cousin. My mom's name was Cindy." Allison tells him.
"Well nice to meet you Allison." Ryan says.
"You can call me Alli if you want. Since I can't seem to get Seth to stop I figure go with it." She smiles at him.
"Ok Alli. And who are you?" Ryan asks as he squats down to look Erin in the eyes with his hand sticking out for her to shake.
She looks first from her mom then to Seth before she reaches out tentatively to shake his hand.
"My name is Erin. Did you love my mom?" She asks him out of the blue.
"Erin!" Marissa raises her voice. "We don't ask questions like that. Where did you ever get that idea?" Marissa asks.
"Alli said that after listening to the stories of when you were a teenager that she just knew that you and him were in love." Erin says as Allison moves to stand behind Seth.
"Allison!" Marissa looks at her.
"Woman you picked the wrong guy to stand behind. She can beat me up and still get to you." Seth says with a smile.
"I know, but she is between me and Ryan. So i figure while she is beating you i can make it to Ryan." Allison says.
This causes everyone in the room to burst out laughing relieving most of the tension in the room. Ryan notices Erin is still looking at him as if she wants to know his answer. Ryan leans closer to her and whispers something in her ear that makes the little girl smile so big it makes the sun seem pale. She nods her head and then turns and starts for the back yard.
"Wait what did he tell you? What did you tell her?" Marissa asks.
"Shhhh, it is a secret!" Both Erin and Ryan say together.
"Wait you can't have secrets with my daughter!" Marissa says.
"Can and do, now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to work. It is nice to have you home. Stop by the Cohens old house, it is where I am living now. I am doing a little close nit dinner. Nothing fancy just jeans and a t-shirt would be ok. Oh and a bathing suit if you want to swim." Ryan says as he heads for the door.
"Wait is that all you have to say?" Seth asks.
"Yeah, well I mean this is your deal. So I am going to let you guys get back to it. I just had to, well I just had too." Ryan says.
"Me too." Marissa responds.
"So tonight?' Ryan asks.
"Around 7?" Marissa asks.
"Perfect." He says and then walks out the door.
"It is like they are married." Allison whispers in Seth's ear.
"It is their connection. Stronger than either knows." Seth whispers back.
"They still love each other." She whispers again.
"Always will." Seth agrees.
"Just what are you two whispering about in there." Marissa asks as she snaps out of her daze.
"About us getting to stay here." Allison tells her when she sees Seth clam up.
"Yeah well Seth is right, you girls deserve this." Marissa says. 'And I want him.' She thinks to her self.
"What about what you deserve?" Allison asks.
"I have everything I deserve in you girls. Who could ask for more." Marissa says.
At that moment Seth's cell starts to ring. He grabs it out of his pocket and flips it open.
"Seth Cohen."
"Mister Cohen this is Peggy Danhusrt with child services."
"Yes Mrs Danhusrt how may I help you?"
"We have that paper work for you and your wife to sign."
"Already, wow that is great."
"Yeah well you guys passed through so fast that it didn't take as long as we thought. You haven't changed you mind have you? Angel is so excited."
"No we haven't changed our minds. I will call my wife and we will be there in a couple of hours." Seth tells her.
"That is fine Mr. Cohen I will have the paper work and Angel ready for you upon your arrival." She says.
"Very good. Bye." Seth says.
"Bye."
He hangs up the phone and turns toward Marissa with a huge smile on his face.
"Um, will you girls be ok by yourselves for now? I have something I have to do." Seth says.
"Yep we will be fine go do what ever it is you have to do." Marissa tells him.
"Ok bye." He says as he heads out the door.
Ryan is about two blocks away when he stops the car. 'What is the point of being the boss if you can't take part of the day off.' he thinks, as he pulls his cell out.
"Newport Group, Ryan Atwoods office. How may i help you?"
"Shanon, this is Ryan."
"Oh, Hey boss what's up?"
"I need you to switch my appointment with the Tarement group to Monday. Tell them that something came up and i had to leave for the day. Anything comes up and Luke can handle it. Transfer me to him and i will explain. If you want, take the rest of the day off as well. It is Friday. Oh yeah and don't forget my place tomorrow. Bring the family. Grilling, swimming and just a good time."
"Sure Ryan thanks for the invite, we will be there. Here is Luke."
"This is Luke Ward, how may i help you."
"Luke this is Ryan. I am going to be out of the office for the rest of the day. I have some things i need to do. So you be the man, at least for today." Ryan tells him.
"Ok, is it anything bad? Do you need help?"
"No, Just figured i would get some things done for Chris. Do some shopping. Plus there will be a surprise at dinner tonight." Ryan says.
"Ok, well if you need help just call. See you tonight." Luke says as he hangs up.
Ryan does a Quick u-turn and pulls up in the drive way just as Seth comes out. He parks the car and gets out.
"Thought you had work to do?" Seth asks with a smile.
"What is the sense in being the boss if you can't take a day off. I figured i would take Marissa and the girls, go grab Chris and we could do some shopping. I need to outfit the pool house for him. Get a game system or two. Plus maybe him and Alli will become friends. Might give them a friend to hang around." Ryan says in what has to be the longest speech he has ever made.
"Sure, that sounds like a good plan." Seth says with that grin again.
"Ok fine! I want to spend some time with her. Is that a crime?" Ryan asks.
"Nope, but there might be something you need to know." Seth says.
"What?" Ryan simple asks.
"She was in a bad Marriage. He beat on her Ryan. She gets a little jumpy when guys make sudden movements. I am late for an appointment or i would explain more. Just go easy ok." Seth says.
"What was his name?" Ryan asks.
"Terry Anderson." Seth says.
"Is he still in her or Erin's life?" He asks.
"He tries to with Erin. Marissa has been fighting it." Seth tells him.
"She just won." Ryan says with anger in his voice.
"Ryan don't. She is doing good on her on. Wait and see if she asks for help." Seth says.
"I know. I just- well." Ryan starts then stops.
"I know. I wanted to do something too. She told me no. Wouldn't even let me get her a lawyer." Seth says.
"Ok."
"Just be her friend. I know for you two it will be hard. Friends you never have been. But try, i think that will do more for her than anything. I think she needs someone like you in her life." Seth says.
"I can try. Thanks." Ryan heads for the door.
"I will have a surprise at dinner tonight." Seth says as he gets in his car and leaves.
Ryan walks to the door and knocks. He is looking back out over the other houses on the block when the door opens. Allison is standing there with a smile on her face.
"Couldn't stay away?" She asks.
"Something like that. Is she availiable?"
"Yeah come in. Marissa, you have company!" Allison yells.
"Don't hurt Her. She has been through enough." Allison says as she turns and walks up the stairs.
"Hey?"
"Hey. I was wondering if you could do an old friend a favor?" Ryan asks.
"Sure, what is it?" Marissa asks.
"Well long story short. I am working on getting custody of this kid i ran into the other day. He kind of reminds me of someone. In way, i need to take him shopping to outfit the pool house and get him some clothes and stuff. I was wondering if you and the girls would want to come? We could grab some lunch while we are at it?" Ryan asks.
"I thought you had to work?" Marissa asks.
"Well, i am the boss." Ryan says.
"True you are. Let me asks the girls. They have always wanted a balboa bar. It might cost you." Marissa smiles.
"I can handle it." Ryan smiles at her.
"Girls come down here please."
Soon the padded steps of two sets of feet can be heard. The girls bound down the steps and stop in front of Marissa. Looking between the her and Ryan.
"How would you like to go with Ryan to the mall. He has promised to buy us lunch and a Balboa bar."
"I am in!" Allison says.
"Me too!" Erin echos Allison.
"It is settled then. Grab what ever you need to grab." Ryan smiles.
The girls take off in a flash. Marissa walks to the kitchen and grabs her purse. A thought strikes her as she is standing there. He is doing this to buy them things. She is about to protest, when she realizes it wouldn't do any good. Maybe she could control it a little.
"200 no more." She tells Ryan when he follows her into the kitchen.
"What are you talking about?" Ryan asks innocently.
"I mean it Ryan. I don't want them to get use to being spoiled. We have to live on a budget." Marissa says.
"Which is why you take advantage of a friend who is having a weak minded day. Who also happens to have more money than he needs." Ryan says.
"Ryan." She says with hand on hip.
"The mother thing might work on the kids, but not even close on me. Remember who my parents are. You have a long way to go before you get the Sandy Cohen stare." Ryan laughs at her.
"Yeah yeah. Ok can we at least agree to keep it sinceable?" She asks.
"Sure, today any way." Ryan smiles.
"Ryan, i am serious on this." She says.
"Marissa, from what i have been told you have stuggled with money. Even so you have done a great job in bringing up those kids. They are well behaved and are caring. Maybe they didn't have everything they wanted, but did have what they really needed. Now let me give them the other side. Please." Ryan says.
"Ryan, we don't have a lot of money, you are right. You are right about the rest to. It just makes me feel- it is hard to explain. But i get this feeling when someone buys them something i can't. Like i have failed them." Marissa tells him.
"Marissa, you haven't failed anyone. Consider this a sign on bouns for your job at the Newport Group." Ryan says.
"I haven't accepted a job there yet. I might take Seth's offer." She says.
"Fine i will double what ever he offers you." Ryan says.
"But i never went to college. I don't have a degree." She says.
"So is that suppose to mean something to me?" Ryan asks her.
"Well yeah it should." Marissa says.
"You were in management for 4 years. Durning which the hotel you were at saw an increase in it's yearly profits by 25 percent each year. Which means you more than doubled what it had been making before you took over. To me that is worth 10 college degrees." He tells her.
"Why do you say that?" She asks.
"Simple. It means you work with the customers in mind. You talk to them, and more importantly you listen to them. You oviously used the good of what they said and your own ideas and improved the place. That is the type of person i want working for me. So i double any other offer you get." Ryan says with a very serious look.
"Ok i accept, as long as those are your reasons. If you are doing this as a way to help me out i will pass." Marissa says.
"No! I want you to take over Kirsten old job. I was doing both, but it is getting too demanding. Now that Kim is gone and i have Chris, which i may be picking your brain about him. Seeing how well you did with your two. I need to be at home more. I am turning over commercial to Luke and you will have residentuial. That lets me focus on being the CEO. This way maybe we all get home at a normal time." Ryan smiles at her.
"Ok, but Ryan i have never done anything like that before. Do i get a crash course or something?" She asks him.
"Better. Kirsten said she would come down and work with you for the first couple weeks or so. You know just till you get the hang of it. But then i want you to assert your own ideas into it. I mean i will have final say in all that we do, but i doubt i will say no as long as it is a good idea." Ryan says.
