"Umm…Summer…your kind of hurting me…"
"Oh, sorry" she said embarrassed, letting go of her boyfriend. All she wanted to do was hold him. She never wanted to let him go ever again.
"Don't ever scare us like that again ok man?" Ryan said.
"I'm sorry you guys. I know I've stuffed up. It's just…she wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't just stand by and watch my mother hurt herself like that."
"Sh..it's ok…" Summer said soothingly, touching his hand.
"We understand why you did it."
Seth nodded, thanking his brother with his eyes.
"She promised that's she's really going to get some help though…" Seth said brightly.
"That's great" Ryan said, smiling. "I'm going to get some coffee. You guys want anything?"
"Oh my God…coffee would be soooo awesome right now!"
Ryan grinned at his brother, knowing that he was still the same old Seth.
Once Ryan had left, Summer went back to hugging Seth. Seth wrapped his arms around her, relieved that maybe now his life could go back to normal.
"I love you Cohen" She whispered.
"I love you too Summer"
---
Two weeks later, things were running perfectly in the Cohen household. Seth spent a few nights in hospital, but other than that was doing fine. Sandy had organized for him to speak to the school counselor, and the once a week sessions really were a great help to him. Kirsten was also doing really well. A little too well actually. Sandy however, was proud of her. She'd given up the cutting with ease, and now, was concentrating on being the perfect mother and wife. While at first, Sandy was thrilled at his wife's sudden turn around, he'd come to realise that it was way too good to be true. Kirsten was putting on an act…and a damm good one too. Her false front had had both him and the boys fooled. Kirsten was bright and happy all the time, and everyday it became cleared and clearer to Sandy that his wife was acting. She was pretending to be cured…pretending to be perfect…pretending to be happy.
---
"Kirsten…" Sandy called from the front door.
Kirsten fumbled with her flask of vodka, screwing the lid on tightly and throwing it back into her bag.
"In here" she called, zipping up her bag and taking hold of her spiked lemon squash.
"Hey honey. How was your day?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek.
"It was ok. How bout yours?"
"Nothing special. Do you feel like going out to dinner or something tonight?"
Kirsten put on a fake smile, nodding her head.
"Sure. That'd be great" she answered, taking a sip of her drink.
"Ok, I'll make reservations…"
Kirsten waited till her husband left the room before letting her expression fall. Taking another sip of her drink, she could hear him talking in the hall. At first things had really been going rather well between them. Sandy was happy that their lives were back to normal, and she had been doing a pretty good job of pretending that things were ok again. When she was with Sandy or the boys, she put on her bravest smile, and laughed and joked with them. When she was by herself however, it was a very different story. She had been drinking even more so now, practically adding vodka to everything she drank. Lemonade, soda water; even her juice in the morning. The last few days it felt like Sandy was getting suspicious again. He was looking at her differently, and watching her more intently. She was just waiting for him to bring something up…waiting for the interrogation. The last thing in the world that she wanted to do was have to go out to dinner…she knew that was probably when he'd bring it all up. She sighed, gulping down the rest of her drink. If she didn't go, she'd be letting her cover slip.
---
"You look beautiful" Sandy breathed as Kirsten walked towards him.
"I do not" she said embarrassed.
"You do too. We better get going though or we'll be late."
Kirsten nodded, following her husband to the door.
"Oh, shoot. I think I left my wallet upstairs." He handed her the car keys, before turning and walking back upstairs.
Kirsten headed outside, opening the passenger side door of the car. Taking her flask out of her purse, she took a long sip out of it. She'd managed to refill it while Sandy was in the shower…she knew that she'd need it tonight.
"Found it" he said, closing the front door.
Kirsten smiled sweetly at him as he opened to door, and sat down in the driver's seat.
---
After they had ordered, Sandy sat back, watching Kirsten sip at her glass of water.
"So…Seth's been better lately don't you think?" he asked, hoping to kick off the conversation.
"Yeah. I think he's definitely improved."
"So have you…"
She smiled nervously, knowing that it was coming. The million questions, the assumptions.
"I guess."
"You are happy though aren't you? I mean, you seem on the outside to be happy, but I can't tell if that's just a false front…"
"A false front?" she asked in disbelief.
"You know what I mean. I don't want you to pretend everything's ok just to make me happy."
"Look, I appreciate your concern Sandy…but really…everything is fine. I'm not pretending to be happy…I am happy." Maybe if she said it enough, she would actually believe it herself.
"Ok…I just…I can't help but worry Kirsten."
She glanced nervously out the corner of her eye, her hands beginning to shake under the white clothed table. She had to get out. She couldn't do this right now.
"I'll be right back. I've got to go to the bathroom."
She exited quickly, before Sandy even had time to say anything. She swung the door open forcefully, her hands still trembling. Locking herself in a stall, she opened her purse. Taking out her flask, she unscrewed the lid, sipping at the vodka like it was water. It didn't seem to be doing anything though. It wasn't relaxing her like it usually did. She couldn't feel it doing anything at all. Holding the flask back up to her lips, she continued to throw the entire content of it down her throat.