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Chapter 18 – Missing The Moment
Caleb kissed Julie softly on the cheek. Julie wanted to pull away, it felt like a thousand bees stinging her from the inside every time he touched her, but she held the kiss until Caleb pulled away.
"All right I'm off to dinner with Hailey."
"When will you be home?" Julie asked.
"Around one."
"Why so late?"
"I need to fire her."
"Why?" Julie gasped, astonished that he would fire his own daughter.
"It's work stuff dear," Caleb stumbled out quickly.
The truth was she was getting to close. Just yesterday she caught her in his private, locked files, his keys in her hands. She was to close; if she found out she would wreck everything. The plan was to fire her and slip her a check, tell her to travel again.
"Bye," Julie said as she handed him his coat.
"Oh, I'm going out tonight too," Julie spoke, "...to Kirsten's," she lied.
"Alright," Caleb said, not caring, as he got into the limo, a new driver at the wheel.
--
For the second time is Marissa's young life, she woke on Ryan's bed. The memory of this almost caused her to trip over herself as she stood. Her memory fuzzy and breath that could kill a cat, she walked closer to the pool house door. Once there she looked at the sleeping Ryan, who was lying down on the couch, where Seth was lying last time. She didn't know to be mad or grateful, but she couldn't talk about it now, she needed time to think, to find herself. The pool house door closed quietly, Ryan did not wake.
--
Hailey opened the door for her father as they entered the restaurant.
"So how's work?" Hailey asked.
"Perfectly fine, why do you ask?" Caleb was careful not to stumble over his lying words.
"No reason."
"A table for two today Mr. Nickel," a young woman said softly.
"Yes."
--
"Seth," Sarah spoke softly in his ear.
"Go away mom," he groaned at her
Sarah smiled, knowing she could have some real fun with this.
"But mommy needs to change your diaper."
Seth's eyes shot open.
--
Julie passed along the sidewalks, she had a plan, and the question was if she had the guts to go through with it. In a year Caleb might be in jail, the company bankrupted and her living in a cramped house having to work for the rest of her life. That couldn't happen!
--
The time was almost here. After hours and hours she would get to see Seth, she could feel tears already beginning to swell up.
Summer's father's car pulled up along side the Mermaid Hotel, ready to see him after so long, she missed him so much and until this point had denied herself from having almost any emotion about Seth's leaving. But now the dam of denial was broken and the flood was coming through!"
--
Jimmy sat in his apartment watching TV, a popcorn bowl resting on his lap when the doorbell rang.
Reluctantly he stood and walked to the door, peeking through the eyehole to see Julie standing outside.
Jimmy opened the door with a strange hello.
"Hi," Julie said back.
A silence lingered for a moment before Jimmy spoke.
"Come in, come in."
"Thanks," Julie slipped by the door and into the entranceway.
"What can I help you with?" He asked confused.
"This," She lunged forward towards Jimmy, there lips meeting.
For the first time in a year Jimmy felt like the rest of the world didn't matter. It was like old times. Jimmy opened his eyes confused about what was happening.
"Wait what about Caleb," Jimmy asked.
"He is nothing Jimmy, I miss you."
--
"What," Seth said, still half asleep.
"You said you wanted to be out of here by seven o'clock today, right."
"Ya, why?"
"It's ten thirty."
Seth shot out of bed, and ran into the small bathroom to change out of his super man PJ's.
--
"So why did you want to have dinner?" Hailey asked.
Caleb took a deep breath. "Your fired Hailey."
"What?" She said confused.
"I have caught you snooping around one to many times."
"I have good reason for that!"
"No you don't," Caleb said calmly back.
"I know everything dad, About the DA, the money, everything. Your lucky I didn't go straight to Kirsten!"
--
Kirsten nudged Ryan softly; reluctantly he opened his eyes, but was frightened to see Kirsten in the room, and then relieved to see Marissa was not. He hadn't told the Cohen's the entire truth, they had no idea Marissa is here, or was here.
Ryan stood. "Morning," He said with a fake yawn and checked the bathroom to make sure Marissa wasn't hiding there.
"You alright?" Kirsten asked.
"Fine. I'm good."
"Alright," Kirsten said as she raised an eyebrow, "Well It's ten thirdly, so you will need to eat fast and then get going back to Chino."
"Unless you want to quit your job, leave Theresa and come live with us again." Sandy said as he entered the room.
"I wish," Ryan smiled, "I wish."
--
"I miss you too," Jimmy said, admitting his darkest fears.
Julie moved closer for another, Jimmy meeting her half way. Again for both, everything felt right again.
--
"Listen Hailey," Caleb said as he pulled out his checkbook, "Here, I'm writing a check for you. You can go travel the world for a year or two and when you get back, you can have your job back." Caleb ripped the paper and handed it to her.
In shock she slowly took it, her father had just disowned her. Standing she grabbed her purse and walked out the door. At least she still had Jimmy.
--
Julie smiled as she grabbed Jimmy's arm, pulling him into the bedroom and pushing him on the bed. Then she closed the bedroom door behind her.
--
Summer turned the corner to Seth's room just as Seth opened the door. Summer took a step back, hiding her from Seth's gaze; she wanted this to be a surprise.
Sarah entered the hallway after Seth, Summer felt her heart stop.
"Thanks for a great night Seth," Sarah said as she kissed Seth hard on the cheek.
"Anytime," Seth responded.
"I'll go grab some food and I'll meet you at your boat."
"Sounds good."
--
The drive back to Chino was becoming a religious experience for Ryan. He could feel his hopes, dreams and everything good in life die.
Ryan pulled Theresa's car into the staff parking in the back lot of the restaurant, already three minutes late.
As he walked in his boss yelled.
"Atwood what are you doing here," His voice angry.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No excuses Atwood," His face turned to a smile, "Because you girlfriend came and made a little deal with me, you have the day off with pay."
"What," Ryan said confused.
"I'll have a kiss, server," Marissa said as she swung around on an old barstool.
Ryan finally understood, "Are you sure there expensive."
"This ones on the house," Ryan's boss said with a laugh.
"Thanks boss..." Ryan started.
"Shut up Atwood and kiss her."
Ryan made his way across the room; the few people in the restaurant staring at them intently, and kiss Marissa.
Ryan pulled away only for a second to speak.
"So everything's alright."
Marissa smiled, "Shut up and kiss me Atwood."
--
"Jimmy," Hailey said with tears flowing from her eyes, as she entered Jimmy's apartment.
"Jimmy, are you here?"
She moved from the front entrance to the kitchen, and then paused to see the bedroom door closed.
"Jimmy are you in there?"
Walking to the door and opening it, her heart stopped.
Jimmy stood on one side of there bed, attempting to put on his pants. While Julie lay on the other side, the sheets the only thing covering her naked body.
"Hailey I can explain." Jimmy said as he finished putting on his pants.
With out a word she turned and left the apartment. Stopping at the nearest bank and depositing the check into her account. Driving by the Cohen's house one last time, not stopping to say goodbye. Then she headed straight for the airport, leaving on the first flight, never wanting to return to this hell again.
--
Summer turned and ran out of the hotel, onto the street, she kept running until she found herself at a small park bench and sat, unable to move, unable to stop crying.
"You know dear, worse things have happened to people."
"What," Summer sobbed out.
"Life can always be worse."
Summer wiped her eyes to see an elderly lady sitting next to her.
"Why don't you tell me what happened," She said sweetly.
--
The Summer Breese was ready to sail, ready to leave everything behind again.
Sarah ran up the dock, towards Seth's ship, McDonalds in hand.
"I brought food, I'm starved."
"Me too," Seth smiled.
--
"Well dear it seams to me you have no idea what happened between them at all."
Summer thought to herself, she had an idea, but maybe not the truth.
"It's too late anyways, he is probably gone."
"But he might not be," The old woman smiled, "See that bus, the next stop is the docks and your going to get on it and find that man of yours."
Summer ran to the bus and got on, waving to the old woman as it sped away.
--
"So where are you going to go after this," Seth asked Sarah.
"I already no what I'm going to do, so don't worry about me. Your late, the ocean is waiting.
--
The bus stopped and Summer instantly saw Seth and his boat floating with the wind away from her.
She again ran down the dock, bumping into Sarah.
"Sorry," Sarah said.
"Shut up you bitch," Summer responded.
"What was that for?" Sarah asked surprised.
"Sleeping with my boyfriend."
"You mean Zak," She said confused.
"No, Seth."
The boat floating further and further off shore.
"Me and Seth didn't do anything...He didn't want me."
Summers love grew stronger as she heard the truth.
"Wait," Sarah said, "Are you Summer?"
She ran down the dock after Seth, ignoring whatever Sarah had just said, he was far off shore, but she hoped he could hear her screaming.
"Seth!" She called, "Seth!"
--
Seth paused for a second, swearing he could hear Summer calling his name. He new that couldn't be, so he hosted the final sail and let the wind carry him far away from the calling Summer, she had miss the Moment, but there was still hope.
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