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Chapter 13: "I need such amazing grace"
Ella stood outside of school at the end of the day, waiting for Marissa to come pick her up. She was expecting to see the familiar range rover, but then felt a light hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Bam." Marissa said. Most everyone had taken to calling her Bam, since the incident where the skate board was in front of the pool and Ella slipped in and cracked the back of her head open… but only a little bit. They were able to make light of the whole situation afterward.
"Hi." Ella said giving the woman who had been like a mother to her, her entire life a hug.
"We are going to walk to my house since it is such a nice day." Marissa said taking the little girls skateboard. Ella tucked her skateboard under one arm and followed Marissa.
"How was school?" Marissa asked the young girl.
"Eh." Ella said shrugging.
"Only eh?" She asked looking down at her.
"Yeah." Ella said looking up at Marissa squinting in the sun.
"Something on your mind?" Marissa asked Ella. She knew that something was wrong with the girl when her mouth was going a mile a minute. Between Summer and Seth she could never keep it closed.
"Will you still pick me up from school when you have the new baby."
Marissa had thought about this, Ella being jealous of the new baby. She was four months pregnant with she and Ryans child.
"Do you know what Bam?" Marissa said "Let's talk this out over ice cream."
The little girls face lit up. Ella always got a banana split, Summers favorite as well.
"You know because I am having a new baby I am not going to love you any less right?" Marissa explained to the little girl sitting in front of her.
Ella shrugged.
"It may be kind of weird at first." She tried again, "Babies are a lot of work when they are little, but you can come over and help me."
"How can I help?" Ella looked at Marissa, not believing anything that she said
"Why wouldn't you be able to?" Marissa asked
"Cause I'm six!" She said drawing out her words.
"Six year olds can do a lot…" Marissa said her words trailing off as she recognized a familiar brunette come up behind Ella. "Sum…" She said, jaw wide, and eyes big
"Hey Coop."
Ella turned around awkwardly and blocked the sun with her hand.
"Hi." Ella said
Summer focused on the small girl, a spitting image of herself.
"Hi." Summer said
"Um, Bam, why don't you go play on the playground. I have to talk for a second."
"Yeah." She said running off with her skateboard.
There was an awkward moment between Marissa and Summer
"I don't know where to start." Summer said
"Why don't you start with telling me where you have been for the past six years!" Marissa said standing up.
"I had to get myself together…" Summer said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Summer you didn't even call! You didn't write! God Summer you are my best friend and I didn't even know if you were alive!" Marissa yelled.
"I'm sorry." Is all Summer could say as she began to cry. "I hate myself Marissa. I am twenty three and heading nowhere fast. I don't even know my own daughter! I know that it will not be easy, but I WILL make things right again." Summer said…
Marissa just looked at her friend. She knew when Summer meant what she said, and now was one of the times when she meant it.
"What's she like?" Summer asked
Marissa looked over at the girl as she played.
"She is amazing. Everything that you would want a child to be." Marissa said placing her hand over her stomach.
"Coop are you?" Summer asked
Marissa nodded smiling.
"Oh that is great!" Summer said instinctively hugging her best friend.
Suddenly everything clicked. It all fell back into place. It didn't feel like years had passed between the two, or that they were now both mothers, or that they weren't sixteen anymore. They were friends again. Some things never change.
"So what are you going to do now?" Marissa asked as they sat at the table
"Well I want to talk to Seth first. I want to make sure that he is okay with me being around."
"Well Bam is yours too."
"Bam?" Summer asked
"Ella." Marissa said "nickname." She further explained
"Oh." Summer said nodding. "The last thing that I want to do is come into her life and shake things up. I mean if she has a good life, who am I to jeopardize that?"
Marissa nodded.
"I can take Ella for a while. Call me when you get done talking to Seth. He should be back at the house now."
"Thanks Coop." Summer said hugging Marissa. "I love you."
"You too. Good luck."
~ Seth sat at the table reading the rest of the comics. He was waiting for Marissa to show up with Ella when the doorbell rang.
"Marissa you don't have to ring!" Seth yelled as he opened the door…
But it was not Marissa who stood behind it. Summer… she had her arms protectively over her chest, as always, and her eyes on her feet.
"Hey Cohen." She said
He had not seen her in over six years…