Chapter Two
The Return
Kirsten Cohen sat on the couch and looked at the clock on the wall angrily. He was meant to be here half an hour ago.
"Relax," her husband said, laid back as always. "The party doesn't start until eight anyway.
"That's not the point Sandy, he was supposed to be here at six. It's half six, he's not here. He's not doing what he's supposed to do!"
"Kirsten. Is this about…"
"No!" Kirsten snapped. It was of course, it was about the fact that her son had not rang in three months, and then when she had rang him he sounded annoyed that she wanted him up in Newport for her and Sandy's wedding anniversary. Like it was a huge obstacle for him to drive down to Newport to see his parents who he hadn't seen in a year and a half!
"okay," Sandy said, lifting his palms up in a way that suggested defeat. He wasn't going to get into this now.
A knock on the door broke the silence that followed. Kirsten jumped up from her chair and ran for the door. "Seth?" She cried as it swung open. No, Ryan. "Oh."
"Warm welcome," Ryan muttered walking past her into the Rec room where Sandy was standing by the door.
"Oh ignore her," Sandy said. "She's just going crazy that Seth isn't here yet. Where are Marissa and the kids?"
"On their way. Marissa promised to pick something up at the Balboa bakery for Dominic."
"Dominic?"
"Yeah, don't ask me. They're being very hush hush about it."
Sandy pulled a face. "And she's took the kids with her?"
"Yeah."
Kirsten walked back into the room. She had yet to get changed, promising that she would wait until Seth got here. She didn't want to miss the grand re-entering of Seth into their lives. "Am I a terrible mother?" she asked suddenly, causing Sandy and Ryan to shake their heads profusely and assure her she was not.
"No, not at all. Tell her Ryan," Sandy said.
"You're a great Mom," Ryan said, and he meant it. Every word.
"Glad we got that cleared up," she said, before sulking down into a chair.
"It's just, Seth's been through a lot lately, what with the wedd…"
"Shhh!" Sandy muttered. "Mention the 'W' word and Kirsten bursts into tears."
"Oh. Right. Well, he's probably just nervous. He hasn't seen Summer since the… well, you know"
"The Wedding?" Kirsten asked, sounding slightly annoyed. "For Gods sake Sandy, I'm fine with it now. It was three years ago. Three years since my baby has been in Newport." Her voice broke on the last word and her head fell into her hands.
Ryan shrugged uncomfortably, just as the door bell rang. "I'll get it!" Ryan offered quickly. "It'll be Marissa"
It wasn't, it was Seth looking tired but at least clean. "Hey," he said somewhat meekly.
"Man, you're back!" Ryan smiled, pulling his semi-brother into a huge hug.
"Seth!" Kirsten's voice rang out, as she came skidding round the corner.
"You're in trouble," Ryan whispered.
"Thanks for the tip-off," Seth whispered back, bracing himself for the lecture.
"Oh baby! You're back," Kirsten surprised them all by exclaiming.
"Hey Mom," he said, allowing himself to be enveloped into a hug. Sandy walked in straight after.
"It's been too long," he said gravely, tapping his son's shoulder.
"Yeah. But it's only been like, what…"
"A year and a half," Kirsten cut him off. Last time we saw you was when we came over to LA for Chrismukkah.
Seth fidgeted uncomfortably. "Yeah, sorry." He really was, but he knew that if he could live it over again, he still wouldn't have set foot near the OC. The only reason he had came this time is because he realised he was so out of the loop that he hadn't even seen Ryan's son, and because his Mom sounded so desperate on the phone.
"Well, you're here now," Kirsten said, ignoring the stormy look Sandy was directing at Seth. "My God you need to get changed," Kirsten chided, taking in his grey sweater and jeans.
"Black tie event?" he asked.
"Of course. Its for Fieldings and Sum…" Kirsten cut herself off and stared at her nails. Seth chose to ignore it.
"Uh, just point me in the direction of my bedroom and…"
"You know where your bedroom is," Sandy said.
"Right. Yeah. I was just checking it was, you know, the same one."
"Of course it is."
"Right, well I will be upstairs," Seth pointed out unnecessarily. Kirsten nodded slowly while Ryan shook his head. There was definitely something odd about his brother. Apart from the usual Seth-craziness that was.
As soon as Seth was out of earshot Ryan turned to Kirsten. "Does Summer know he's back?" he whispered.
"What?" Kirsten said, feigning dumbness.
"Does Summer know he's back?" Ryan repeated impatiently.
"Uh, I don't think, uh… Did we get a chance to um tell her Sandy?"
Sandy looked lost. "What? Why you asking me for?"
"She doesn't know?" Ryan asked quietly.
"No. No she doesn't," Kirsten said quietly, fidgeting with her wedding ring.
"Oh God, this is going to be fun," Ryan groaned.
Summer took it out of the drawer again, half admiring it, half wanting to throw it through a window. The innocent looking diamonds glinted under the soft light from her bedside lamp, and the white gold gleamed.
She was looking at her wedding ring.
Why? She asked herself every night, even though it had been three years now. And she was over it, she told herself forcefully. She no longer cared that on the 10th July three years ago, her heart had been shattered.
"Hey Summer, you're not even dressed yet!" Dominic called as he came out of the en-suite wrapped only in a towel. Summer dropped the ring back into her jewellery box quickly and slammed the lid.
"Uh, no," she smiled, standing up off her bed and facing him. "No I'm not. I need to get a shower and you were hogging it."
"Sweetie," Dominic grinned widely, showing off his fantastic teeth. Summer felt shivers up her back. Complete animal attraction. "We have three showers."
"Yeah," Summer said, walking slowly towards him. "But you know us girls. We have our little habits and weird rituals, and showering in that shower," she pointed over his shoulder into the en-suite, "Just happens to be my ritual."
"You are a strange and delightful creature Miss Roberts."
Summer reached up and twisted her arms around his neck. "I am, am I?"
"Definitely." And with that, Summer closed the distance between their mouths and kissed him passionately. Yeah, she had definitely moved on.
AN: Thankyou to all of my fantastic reviewers, you are 's!
So a callout to all of my reviewers:
DeuCe628; skagirl; megan; ocobsessedrachel; caroliscool; MarMar2; Doves30; Caitlyn Rose; PrincessSparkle09. You're all the best!
Anyway, I've edited this chapter so much but its done! Yay! Slightly hyper as you can probably tell. And thanks for tellin me about the drive from LA to Newport. That means I guessed rightish. (I said an hour and ahalf or something. I have a bad memory)
