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Chapter Fifteen

Marissa grabbed another tissue from the box and wiped away her tears. She was watching 'A Wedding Story' on TLC. Before that she was watching 'A Makeover Story' and a then 'A Birth Story'. She forgot how much she missed sitting around in the morning and just watching television. She missed it a lot.

Marissa grabbed another tissue and blew her nose. The phone then rang.

"Hello?" Marissa answered the phone.

"Hey, it's me. I'm just calling to check up on you. How are you? You're not cleaning are you?" Ryan asked.

Marissa sighed. "No, I'm not cleaning." She rolled her tissue up in a ball and threw it in the waste bucket – missing. "I just finished watching 'A Wedding Story'." She replied, grabbing the remote control and turning off the television. "How are things at the office?" She asked.

"Things are…hectic. We have a new project coming up and Kirsten has me working my ass off. So, I'm busy; which is good." Ryan said. "Has Summer called you yet?" He asked. Seth had just called him and told him about the good news. He thought that by now Summer would have called Marissa and told her.

"No, why would she call me?" She asked.

"Seth got a job."

"He actually listened to me this morning?" Marissa laughed. Seth never listened to anything she had to say.

"Not exactly. Summer told him he had to get a job."

"Good for her. So, is he working at the hospital?" Marissa asked.

"Actually, coincidence here…He's working along side with Dr. Syme." Dr. Syme is Ben and Connor's doctor. "And it also turns out that one of his friends, back at the hospital where he worked in San Diego, is a good friend of Dr. Syme's. So, it all worked out and he has the qualifications, of course."

"Well, that's definitely interesting. Good for him." Marissa said. She was just glad that he wasn't going to be around their house during the day anymore. "It's better than working at a hospital." She commented. "With a child coming, he's going to need the small practice hours, nine to five."

"Yeah, where he worked before really killed him on the hours." Ryan said. "Well, I better get back to work. I'll see you later. Love you."

"Love you too, bye." Marissa hung up the phone and then dialed Summer's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sum."

"Oh, hey Marissa." Summer replied. She was a little occupied with the vacuum cleaner. "Hold on." She put the phone down and then put away the vacuum cleaner. "Okay, back. What's up?"

"Oh, I was just calling to say congrats to Seth for his new job." Marissa laughed. "Ryan just called and told me."

"Ah, right. News spends fast."

"Sure does. What are you up to?" Marissa questioned.

"I was trying to get this…smell out of my apartment. Seth left a pizza under the couch over a week ago and it's so gross, Coop. I'm ready to just chuck the carpet out." Summer exclaimed.

"Yeah, that is gross." Marissa replied, laughing at her. "I was about to head out to the mall to go shopping for the baby. Did you want to come with me? You haven't picked up any clothes for the baby yet. I'm surprised."

"Coop, I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. I need specifics when I'm shopping!" Summer replied.

"Stick with the yellows, whites and greens. That's what I did with the boys."

"Okay, Coop, no offence but that's just wrong! I mean, how can one possibly shop without knowing if it's going to be a girl or a boy. That's just wrong!" She repeated.

"It's easy, Sum. Pick me up in 10 minutes. I'm sure you'll find something for the baby. You're Summer Roberts. You never leave a mall without two handfuls of bags." Marissa stated.

Summer gave in. I mean, how could Summer turn down shopping? That just wasn't in her nature. "True. I'll be there in five!"

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Ever since Seth was a little kid he had always wanted to be a professional skateboarder. Either that, or just have no job at all and sail the rest of his life. After high school, he decided not go to college at all; whereas Ryan, little goody-to-shoes, went to college and made Seth's parents proud of him. That's when Seth knew that he had to go to college. He knew he wasn't going to win Summer's heart over a job as a professional skateboarder, or a sailor – even though they were already going out at the time. Sandy had told him from the get-go that he should go into law. Seth was like his father, good at talking – maybe too good. But, Seth had other plans. He wanted to do research or find cures for diseases. He wanted to make a difference and steal Summer Roberts' heart. And it had worked, he had stolen the heart of the girl of his dreams and now he was going to have a child with her. His life was finally falling down into place. He was no longer sitting alone in his San Diego apartment, contemplating on calling Summer.

"Can I get you anything to drink, Seth?" The server at his dad's restaurant asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Uh, I'll have a coffee. Can you also get my dad, if he's around?" Seth asked.

"Sure thing. I'll be right back with your coffee."

Seth sat at the table, staring out the window. The place had changed a lot within the past few years. He used to come here a lot when he was a teenager. Him and Ryan would come over after school and work for his Dad. Seth at first didn't like the idea of having a job and on top of that working for his own dad, but now he thought different. Working with his family, with Ryan, created a lot of great memories. Like the time where Ryan had fought with Sandy to let him help the cook in the back and ended up burning his hand. That was a great night – minus the burn.

"Here's your coffee." The server placed the coffee down in front of him and then walked away.

"Seth!" Sandy said, coming toward him. "I didn't know you'd be stopping by here today. How are things? How's Summer?" Sandy asked, sitting down at the table.

"Things are great, Dad. Summer's great, well…good. She's still cleaning like Alice."

"Alice?" Sandy was afraid to ask.

Seth sighed. "Brady Bunch, Dad. Are you really getting that old that you're losing your memory?" He joked.

Sandy ignored him. "So, she's cleaning…Savor it now, Seth, before it's too late." Sandy explained. "Once the baby's born, she'll depend on you to do everything for her."

"Dad, we're talking about Summer. I already do everything for her."

"Oh, it gets worse." Sandy exaggerated. "When your mother was pregnant with you, she did everything…And I mean everything. She cooked, Seth." Sandy raised his eyebrows at him. "Oh, it was torture. Thank god though, once you were born she stopped cooking and she started depending on me. She had me tied around her greasy little fingers." Sandy laughed. "And she still does."

"How is this helping me?" Seth asked.

"I'm just warning you, Seth."

"Thanks, Dad. How thoughtful." He said, staring down at his coffee.

"So…" Sandy sat back in his chair and looked at Seth. "Besides Summer, how are things? It's not everyday you come in here, you know." He commented.

Seth took a sip of his now cold coffee. "Well, I don't want to brag or anything, but this doctor's back in business."

"Seth, that's great! Where are you working?" Sandy asked.

"Well, you know Dr. Syme?"

"Yes." Sandy nodded his head.

"Well, turns out he's a friend of a friend and they are looking for a pediatrician and here I am…Well, you know how it goes." Seth said. "I start next week."

"Congratulations. We should celebrate!"

"Please, no celebrations." Seth sank into his seat. "We'll be having many of those soon enough."

"Indeed we are. With both Marissa and Summer pregnant…Should be a crazy year."

Seth nodded his head. "Yeah and there's also yours and mom's wedding anniversary."

"Oh, Seth, you know your mother and I don't really celebrate our wedding anniversary. Last year it was plain and simple. Dinner and a movie." Sandy replied.

Seth started laughing. He was laughing so hard, that he had to hold his stomach.

"What?" Sandy asked.

"Dad, what year were you and Mom married?"

"1981." Sandy replied. He was confused as to where Seth was going with this.

"Right and it's 2016." Seth told him. Sandy was still confused. "Dad it's yours and Mom's thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. That means something…it's a milestone in one's marriage? You have to celebrate…It's the coral anniversary."

"Coral? That could be nice." Sandy nodded his head. He took out his fingers and started counting. "Thirty-five years." Sandy repeated. "I've been married to her for thirty-five years. People celebrate their thirty-fifth?" Sandy laughed.

"Of course. So, not only in November is Marissa having a baby, but you and Mom have your wedding anniversary." Seth explained. Sandy nodded his head. "Oh, another thing I wanted to talk to you about." Seth took another sip of his cold coffee and then cleared his throat. "I've been thinking a lot about Summer and I. And uh, well, I've been thinking about asking her to marry me."

"That's great, Seth!" Sandy said. "Summer's a lucky girl."

"Yeah, so you think it's a good idea? I mean, with the baby coming?" Seth asked.

"Seth, I know you love Summer. The only reason you came back to Newport was because she was here. And don't try to deny that." Sandy said. "But, if you're just marrying her because of the baby, well…I'd think about it more, Son. Marriage is a big step in one's relationship."

"No, no, it's not the baby, Dad. Even without the baby, I would marry her. I love her." Seth replied.

"Well, I know you love her, Seth. And I know you'll do the right thing."

Seth nodded his head. "Okay, thanks, Dad. I needed to hear that." Seth chugged the last of his coffee. "I should get going. I'll talk to you later." He got up and then left the restaurant.

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"I can't believe you bought all those baby clothes, Summer. Make sure Seth doesn't find the bill or else he'll kill you." Marissa exclaimed.

"Seth's a doctor. He has money." Summer laughed, helping Marissa take her things out of the car. "He makes it, and I spend it." She grabbed the last bag and went inside Marissa's house. "Well, I should get going. I told Seth I was only going to be gone two hours and it turned out to be four."

"Yeah, well, the kids should be home any minute. I should get the new baby gear out of the way. I'd hate for them to see it, without buying anything for them." She admitted.

"Good idea. I'll see you later, Coop." Summer said, and then left in her car.

Marissa quickly put away the new baby clothes and toys in her closet upstairs in her room. After she was done, she went down in the kitchen and started making the boys a snack. Seconds later, Ben and Conner came barging through the front door.

"I hate school!" Conner yelled, throwing his school bag on the floor. "No one wants to be my friend."

"Yeah, well, that's what we get for changing schools." Ben mumbled, as he made his way upstairs to his room to change out of his school uniform.

Today hadn't gone as bad as he thought it would have. Ben was actually making a few friends without his twin brother around to help him. He thought that the sixth grade was going to be hard, but it turned out that it wasn't all that bad, especially with his new friend Colin around. He met Colin during their first half of classes in the morning, when he was assigned to sit next to him. His last name started with an 'A'.

Ben changed out of this school uniform and put on his t-shirt and jeans. He then went downstairs to tell his mom all about his new friend.

"Hey, sweetie. There's a snack in the kitchen if you're hungry." Marissa told Ben.

Ben went into the kitchen and snagged two cookies off the plate. He then went into the living room and sat down on the couch. "Hey, Mom, guess what."

The phone rang. "Hold on." Marissa picked up the phone and answered it.

Ben ate his cookies, waiting patiently for his mom to get off the phone. From the sounds of his mom on the phone, Ben could tell it was his dad on the other line.

"Well, there's really nothing you can do about it." Marissa explained over the phone. "…Well, for how long? No, I'm sorry. I won't put up…Fine." Marissa hung up the phone.

"Mom, guess what." Ben repeated.

Conner came running into the living room, clutching his hand tightly. "Mom." Conner whined and showed her his bloody hand. "I fell down outside. It stings!" Conner complained.

"Mom." Ben said.

Marissa turned to Ben. "Ben, hold on." Marissa order and then left to go help Conner clean his cuts.

The doorbell then rang. "Ben, can you get that!?" Marissa shouted from the bathroom.

Ben sighed and then went to answer the door. "Hey, what are you doing here, Colin?" Ben asked. He was a little surprised by the visit.

"I thought maybe you wanted to come over to my house and go for a swim or something. We just got a new pool put in with this awesome water slide." Colin exaggerated. "So, can you come?"

"Yeah, I'll just go ask." Ben left the door open and went to go ask his mom.

Marissa was still busy cleaning up Conner's hand when Ben walked into the bathroom.

"Who's at the door?" Marissa asked.

"A friend. Can I go over to his house?" Ben asked.

"Where does he live?"

"Around. I don't know. I've never been there."

"Call home when you get there to tell me where he lives, okay?"

"Okay. Where's dad?" Ben asked. He knew something was up with the phone call his mom just got from him.

"He's still at work, but he won't be home until late tonight. He's visiting your Uncle Trey." Marissa replied. Conner screamed, as she applied rubbing alcohol to his cut. "Be home for dinner."

"I will." Ben shouted out to her, as he ran upstairs to change into his swim shorts. He quickly got changes and then went back downstairs. "Okay, let's go." Ben said, leaving his house. He got onto his bike and followed Colin to his house.

Colin didn't live that far away from him at all. Only a couple blocks away from him. He lived in a much bigger house than Ben did.

"Do you any brother's or sisters?" Ben asked, eyeing the mansion.

"No. I'm the only child." Colin replied, putting his bike in the garage. "Come on inside, I just have to change into my swim shorts." He said.

Ben followed Colin into his house. It was enormous. Bigger than his grandparents house for sure. A boxer puppy came running over to Ben and jumped on him. "Whoa." Ben stepped back.

"That's my dog, Molly. Don't worry she doesn't bite." Colin said, pulling Molly away from Ben.

"Colin, you're home." His mother said, disappointingly, walking into the foyer. "Oh, hi…" She said to Ben.

"Mom, this is my friend Ben from school. We were just going to go swimming." Colin said.

"Colin, you can't go swimming today. I thought I told you this morning that I was having a friend over from work. I don't need you gallivanting around the house and making racket. And, as for that dog of yours…I want her outside in the yard. She's been peeing everywhere in the house all day."

"But, Mom…" Colin began.

"Colin!" His mother yelled at him. "Please, don't argue with me. Why don't you and your friend just go take the dog for a walk? Then I want you back here and in your bedroom the rest of the night, okay?"

"Whatever." Colin replied. His mother left in a hurry back into the kitchen. "Sorry we can't go swimming." Colin told Ben. "Want to come with me to take Molly for a walk?"

"Sure." Ben replied.

Ben and Colin walked Molly over to a park near his house. Colin let the puppy go and started swinging on the swing set.

"She won't run away?" Ben asked. He wasn't used to dogs. He always wanted a dog, but his parents never let him have one. They told him dogs were too much responsibility.

"Nah. She'll come when I call her." Colin replied, pulling something out of his pocket. "Here, want one?" He offered, showing the pack of cigarettes to Ben.

"Uh…" Ben hesitated. He had never tried smoking before. "Where did you get those?" He asked.

"I stole 'em from my dad. Here, have one." Colin handed Ben a cigarette and lit it for him. Ben took a drag of the cigarette and started choking. Colin started laughing at him and patted him on the back. "Take it slowly." Ben took another drag and didn't choke.

"So, what does your mom do?" Ben asked.

"Nothing. She doesn't work."

"But…" Ben shook his head and handed the cigarette over to Colin. "Why did she want you out of the house if she's having a business friend over?" He asked.

"My dad's out of town on business…" Colin mumbled. "I'm not supposed to tell him about my mom's friend. That's why I have Molly. She told me I could have a dog if I didn't tell my dad about this guy she's been seeing." He explained and then took a drag of his cigarette. "So, I keep my mouth shut. I'm happy with Molly…"

"Oh." Ben didn't know what to say to his new friend. "Uh, want to come over to my house for dinner?" He asked.

"Sure!"

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