Chapter 12

Ryan was nervous, that much was true. He'd never done this whole, meet the parents thing. He'd grown up with Theresa, her mother had been like his own mother, no introduction necessary, he'd been welcomed into the family with open arms. Julie Cooper knew him before he started dating her daughter as well, but she hated even the idea of him. But this was completely different, and it scared the hell out of him, but he didn't let it show. Summer's silence, followed by pointless babble followed by more silence was more than enough proof that she was beyond nervous and she didn't need to know that he was nervous too.

"You ready to go in?" Ryan shuts the car off and glances over at Summer.

"I-I...I don't think so." Summer responds. "I don't think I can do this."

Ryan grabs her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, "I know you can." Ryan responds, "and I'm going to be right there. And if things go badly we'll leave."

"Zhongwen yijie ke."

"Excuse me?"

"Come on Ryan, we are still in Chinese class. It means Chinese class."

"I know what it means," Ryan responds, "but why did you say it?"

"It's our codeword." Summer states simply, "if I want to leave I'll say it."

Ryan nods in understanding, "now that we have a codeword are you ready to go?"

Summer shakes her head, "no. But I don't want to be late, I don't want her to find any fault in me. Do I look okay."

Ryan takes in her red sundress clad body, he didn't think she could look sexier, "you look beautiful."

"And my hair?" Summer stares critically in the passenger mirror.

Ryan leans across the space between them and kisses her, "you look amazing."

Once they're out of the car Ryan takes Summer's hand, "what if this is pointless? I mean, what if after this she disappears again?"

Ryan squeezes Summer's hand, "it's been a long time since you've seen her. People change, you have to give her a second chance, and if she's exactly how you're afraid she'll be then write her off. But don't writer her off until she's proven herself guilty."

"You make it sound easy."

"It's not," Ryan assures, "bit life goes on and it gets easier to let the people who've let you down go."

Both fall silent as they walk into the ritzy restaurant, "Summer?" An older looking version of Summer is standing just in the entrance.

Summer grip tights on Ryan's hand as she gives a shy smile, "hi Mom."

The woman steps forward and gives Summer a tentative hug, "I'm so glad you came."

Summer's grip tightens again and Ryan is struck by Summer's strength as he loses feeling in his fingers, "Um, this is my boyfriend Ryan Atwood. Ryan this is my mom, Melanie."

"It's nice to meet you," Ryan extends his free hand to shake.

Melanie smiles at him, "I'm glad you could join us." As they are ushered to their seats she comments, "Atwood, there weren't any Atwood's in Newport when I left. You're family must have moved here in the last couple of years."

"Actually he's Kirsten and Sandy Cohen's adopted son."

Melanie nods, "that sounds like something Kirsten would do. I have a lot of respect for Kirsten, she lived her own life, married Sandy for love and didn't give a damn what her father thought. I should have taken a page out of her book years ago." Melanie turns her attention to Summer, "so tell me all about you. Are you still friends with Jimmy Cooper's daughter?"

"Yeah," Summer nods.

"Is he still married to that tramp Julie?"

Summer shakes her head and her grip on Ryan's hand loosens, "she's actually married to Caleb Nichol."

Melanie laughs, "I always knew she was a gold-digger."

A silence lapses over the trio and Summer's grip tightens on Ryan's hand again, "why are you here?"

Melanie doesn't even look mildly surprised at Summer's outright question, "I found out last week that I am pregnant. Since then I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

"Me?" By this point Ryan has lost all feeling in his hand.

"I can't stand the thought of bringing another child into the world knowing that I've failed my daughter."

"Mom..." Summer's lip trembles.

"I know I've been a horrible mother, I wasn't there for you growing up, when you needed me most. But I'd like to be there for you now, I'd like for us to try to rebuild out relationship. Once upon a time we were close."

"Zhong..."

As the words begin to leave Summer's mouth Ryan kiss her quickly and as he moves away he whispers, "I know you can do this."

Melanie watches this exchange silently and as they pull apart adds, "you don't have to decide now. Just think about it, okay? I'll go, I don't want you to feel pressured. Don't worry about anything, the meal is already paid for." Summer nods silently and then Melanie turns to Ryan, "I'm so glad to have met you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter." With her words Melanie places a business card on the table and walks away.

Ryan removes his hand from Summer's grasp and he pulls her to him, "you were great. Now it's all up to you, you can do whatever you want. But, just hang on a second, okay? I'll be back."

"Melanie!" Ryan calls once he has stepped out into the bright parking lot.

"Ryan, is something wrong?" Melanie's expression is sad.

Ryan shakes his head, "no. I just wanted to tell you that the fact that you tried means something. I don't know what summer will choose to do, but just the fact that you tried proves that you're not a failure."

"Thank you, Ryan," Melanie gives a small smile.

"Mom!"

Ryan and Melanie turn to find Summer jogging toward them and Melanie stares at her daughter surprised, "Summer?"

Ryan wraps an arm around Summer's waist as she states, "okay. I'd be open to getting to know each other again. I'm not promising anything though."

"Great," Melanie smile.

"You know, why don't you two stay and catch up?" Ryan suggests, "is that okay?"

Summer's eyes lock on Ryan's, "yeah, I'm fine. Thank you."

Ryan kisses Summer's forehead, "I'll see you later."

As Ryan slides into the driver's seat of the Range Rover his cell phone rings, "hello?"

"Hey, Ryan, it's Lei Mei. Is everything okay with Summer, she's not answering her cell phone so I was kind fo worried."

"She's fine, it was some family stuff, but I think she's fine."

"Good, is she with you?"

"No."

"Great, so, listen her birthday is coming up, right?"

"In a couple of weeks, yeah."

"So I thought we could have a party for her, not a Newport-type party by any means. Just a couple of us."

"Sounds great."

"Think we could have it at your place?"

"That shouldn't be a problem."

"Great, I can order food and make a cake and Fai is working on the entertainment."

"What is it?"

"Oh, a surprise. So," Lei Mei changes the subject, "are you guys doing anything tonight?"

Ryan sighs, "a Newport party I'm expected to be at until at least nine."

"You guys want to do something afterwards? Jason is back in town, I thought we could all do something. We need a break from wedding details."

"We can meet at Mickey's at 9:30," Ryan suggests.

"Great," Ryan's call waiting beeps in over half of Lei Mei's statement.

"I've got someone on the other line, so I'll see you at 9:30." Ryan switches to the other line, "hello?"

"Ryan?"

Ryan nearly pulls forward into the car parked in front of him at the voice on the other line, "Marissa?"

"Yeah, hey."

Ryan pulls the phone away from his ear and not recognizing the number asks, "where are you calling me from?"

"Uh, my dad's. I have a day pass and he said you were back in town. I thought maybe we could get together, maybe catch up?"

Ryan takes a deep breath unsure of how to respond, "Marissa I..."

"If you're busy it's okay. It's just that my dad has some stuff he has to take care of and I can't get a hold of Sum. I thought maybe we could talk."

Ryan slowly lets the air out of his lungs, "sure. Do you want to get some lunch? I haven't eaten yet."

"Yeah, that would be great. Um can you come get me? I lost my licence."

"Yeah, I'll be there in twenty minnutes.