Chapter 23: Going Going Gone

When the doorbell rang one evening Ryan and Kirsten were sitting at the kitchen table doing homework and floor plans, respectively, while Sandy worked on a crossword at the island.

"I'll get it," Kirsten offered, standing up. Both men nodded distractedly and she was smiling knowingly when she opened the door. Summer was standing before her and she offered a meek wave.

"Hi, Kirsten."

"Hey, sweetie." She immediately saw that Summer was on the verge of tears and she reached a concerned arm out. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry to show up like this...I just...I didn't know where to go."

"What's going on?" Summer glanced around nervously.

"Is...anyone here? Like around?"

"You want to talk about this somewhere else?" Summer nodded desperately. "The pier, maybe?" Summer nodded again. "Go on out to the car. I'll be there in a second." Kirsten smiled and gestured out to the driveway. When Summer was safely outside, she returned to the kitchen. "Hey...Summer and I are going to go out for a bit, okay?"

"Where?" Sandy asked at the same time Ryan questioned "Why?"

"Girl stuff?" Kirsten explained desperately, shrugging.

"Gotcha. Have fun," Sandy said, suddenly disinterested. She rolled her eyes.

"I won't be long." Sandy stood up and kissed her.

"Call me if you need anything," he offered kindly, making up for his slight chauvinism. She smiled and went out to the car, where Summer was waiting in the passenger seat.

"Okay, we're all set," she said, climbing in next to her. They drove to the pier in silence and it wasn't until they had walked along for about ten minutes that Summer finally spoke.

"My mom's back," she said quietly. Kirsten turned, surprised.

"Your mom? From where?"

"She's been in Chicago since I was twelve."

"Have you seen her?" Summer shook her head slowly. "Not for five years?"

"No. She's been busy. She has a store there. She designs...bags and stuff. It's getting pretty popular." Even through her tears, Summer sounded a little excited by all of this, and it took Kirsten a minute to realize that when she heard in Summer's voice was pride.

"Well...that's nice." Summer nodded. "What made her come back?"

"She said she missed me. She came for a visit...I guess she finally got a break. She's been here all weekend and we've been hanging out."

"It must be nice to spend time with her again."

"Yeah," Summer said, letting out a quiet sob.

"Sweetheart, what's the matter?" Kirsten asked, guiding her to a bench.

"I'm leaving," Summer said quietly, her shoulders shaking. "She asked me to come live with her in Chicago and I said yes." Kirsten felt surprisingly hurt by this news, as though Ryan had announced that he was leaving or something.

"Oh." She considered things in her head, then turned to Summer. "Why are you so upset, honey?"

"I don't know," Summer shook her head, carefully wiping away tears from her eyes. "I should be so excited to finally get my mom back and move away from the Stepmonster and everything I don't like about this place but...I can't." Kirsten predicted that Summer wasn't finished speaking yet and, sure enough, she began again a minute later. "Marissa is a totally different person and my boyfriend dumped me because he said I wasn't over Cohen and my dad is mad because there's no way I'm ever going to get into Stanford and I...I don't know. There's nothing left here."

"Oh, sweetie, sure there is," Kirsten said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "There are a lot of people who care about you." Summer seemed unconvinced and Kirsten continued, "But if you feel like you can't handle it here...if you feel like the best thing for you is to get out? Go with your instincts." Summer started crying again and Kirsten pulled her into a hug. "That's not to say that we want you to go. The Cohen household will never be quite complete without you," she smiled sadly. "I'm sorry to say that you've become an honorary Cohen and there's no getting out of that." They both laughed.

"I think I should go," Summer said quietly, decisively, as though she needed to convince herself.

"When?"

"She wants me to come the week after next," Summer explained. Kirsten felt her own eyes filling with tears and briskly cleared her throat.

"Well, let me know if there's anything I can do. And I'd love to throw you a party—nothing big, just whoever you'd like to invite."

"Thanks, Kirsten."

"Of course." They both stood up and Summer reached out awkwardly to hug her. "This place isn't going to be the same without you."

"Kirsten..." Summer took a deep breath. "I just want to say thanks. In the past couple of months...you've been more of a mother to me than anyone ever has. And if there's ever anything I can do—" Kirsten smiled, shaking her head to cut Summer off.

"You've already done more than enough. In fact, I'm the one that owes you." Summer, not used to sentimental exchanges, smiled.

"You want to call it even?" Kirsten laughed, nodding.

"Yeah."