Firstly, I've just got to say – I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I knew Rebecca would run when the car crashed! Bye bye, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out! Keep running. Forever. Please don't ever come back.
Ok, I'm done. Thanks you for the reviews – Lauren, beachtree, Jen, Cohen-girl, ally, Jo, Sunny, softthorns, FriendsHolic and Sheryl.
I'm not sure about this chapter, it's a little rushed because I'm studying for exams and I've also got big plans for the next chapter (I love Chrismukkah!). Still, I hope you like it!
The SnO.C.
"Caleb, it's your lawyer leaving you yet another message. Call me back, will you, I've had a break through," Sandy spoke down the phone as he wandered across the back yard. He paused next to the pool and sighed.
Kirsten appeared from the door to their bedroom and she walked towards him. "I was wondering what you wanted to do tonight?"
Sandy shrugged.
"Are you ok?" Kirsten asked, frowning.
"Yeah, sure," Sandy said dismissively, changing the subject quickly. "Are the boys still here? We should get some pictures before they head out to the big dance."
Sandy turned and headed back into the house, aware that Kirsten's eyes were following him. He was avoiding the inevitable conversation. Kirsten would naturally want to know what was going on and, for once, Sandy was grateful that attorney-client privilege was going to prevent him from being honest with her; because he knew she would be upset when she found out what he knew.
That Caleb had had an affair with Renee Wheeler sixteen years ago.
And if what he suspected was also true, Kirsten was going to be devastated.
Sandy walked through to the kitchen, finding Ryan dressed up and Seth slouched on the couch.
"Woah, look at you. Oh, you look sharp," Sandy said to Ryan.
Ryan smiled bashfully and let Sandy fix his tie.
"So are you taking that girl that Seth was telling me about?" Sandy asked.
"No, that didn't really work out," Ryan answered, disappointed.
Kirsten appeared and stood behind the couch where Seth was sat quietly.
"Seth, why aren't you dressed?"
"Yeah, you're gonna be late for the party," Sandy said.
"Not the Seth Cohen Pity Party," Ryan offered.
"Could you guys maybe take this discussion elsewhere? Samahung's about to face off with his arch nemesis. It's kind of a big deal," Seth complained from the sofa.
Sandy and Kirsten exchanged a knowing look, realising what it was going to take to get Seth out of the house when he was in one of these moods.
"You know, I kinda feel like kicking back with a good movie," Sandy said, walking around Ryan to sit next to Seth.
"Me too," Kirsten said, taking a seat on Seth's other side.
Seth closed his eyes and groaned as his parents made themselves comfortable. Sandy stretched his arm across the back of the sofa and Kirsten snuggled into the cushions. Ryan leant against the sofa, amused.
"So, what are we watching?" Kirsten asked.
Seth grumbled before answering, "Masters of Martial Arts."
"This is Masters of Martial Arts?" Sandy asked, pointing towards the screen.
"Yes."
"I hear this is wonderful," Sandy offered enthusiastically.
Seth closed his eyes again, groaning.
"Why is that ninja smoking a cigarette?" Kirsten asked, feigning ignorance.
"Honey, honey, I…I don't actually think that's a ninja. Ninjas usually wear capes, right?" Sandy answered.
"Oh, so a ninja is like a super hero?" Kirsten questioned.
That was enough for Seth, who rested his hands on his parent's knees. "Mom, Dad, you two enjoy."
He stood up and climbed over Sandy's legs. "Ryan, give me five minutes."
"Where you going? Come on back!" Sandy called after his son, who disappeared upstairs.
Behind them, Ryan laughed. "Nice work."
"Never underestimate a parent's ability to mortify his child," Sandy said.
Kirsten looked across and grinned at him. Sandy met her eyes and smiled back, before looking up at Ryan.
"So are you guys going solo tonight?" Sandy asked.
"Uh, no, actually I'm going with Marissa," Ryan said shyly.
Both Kirsten and Sandy raised their eyebrows at this news.
"Just as friends," Ryan added quickly. "Actually, I said I'd pick her up soon. I'm going to go and hurry Seth up."
Ryan left, following Seth upstairs.
"Just add Summer and it'd be like old times," Kirsten said.
Sandy nodded absentmindedly, Caleb's dirty secrets still playing on his mind. He looked across at Kirsten, who was watching him, a concerned look on her face. He ran his hand through her hair.
"Ok, so I've decided what we should do tonight," Sandy suddenly announced.
Kirsten raised her eyebrows expectantly as Sandy suddenly spun round and lay down on the sofa, resting his head on Kirsten's lap. Kirsten giggled, running one hand through his hair and resting the other on his chest.
"And what is that?"
"Let's get out of the house; go see a movie or something," Sandy suggested.
Kirsten stared down at her husband. "Are you sure you're ok?" she asked again.
Sandy avoided her eyes and didn't answer.
"Right. I can't ask, can I?" Kirsten said despondently.
"I'm sorry, honey."
Kirsten nodded slowly. "I know," she said, sadly. "It's just…I don't know, it's just hard."
"I know."
Kirsten continued the run her fingers through Sandy's hair.
"I wish this could be over. I just want things to go back to normal," Kirsten sighed.
"Ah, honey, things were never normal," Sandy joked.
Kirsten couldn't help but smile.
"We'll figure this out, I promise. I'll sort it. It'll be ok," Sandy tried to comfort his wife, knowing it wasn't going to be that easy.
She bent down and kissed him, needing the comfort of his familiar lips.
"So, a movie, huh?" Kirsten questioned.
"Yep. I'll even let you choose," Sandy offered with a grin.
"Really?" Kirsten feigned excitement.
"Sure, I'm feeling generous tonight."
Kirsten laughed. "Gee, thanks."
"But nothing with Brad Pitt. I don't want you getting any ideas," Sandy teased.
"Like I would," Kirsten said softly, bending down to kiss him again. Sandy's hand reached up to the back of her head and he ran it over her neck underneath her hair, causing her spine to tingle.
"Urgh, would you guys cut it out?" Seth's voice interrupted them.
Kirsten pulled away but Sandy didn't move from lying across the sofa.
"Ready to go?" Kirsten asked enthusiastically. She had always loved going to dances when she was younger.
Seth rolled his eyes and grunted, while Ryan offered a half-hearted nod. Kirsten shook her head at their lack of enthusiasm.
"We'll be home by twelve," Ryan promised.
"Hold on, guys, I want to get some pictures before you go," Sandy said, finally getting up from the sofa to find the camera.
"Oh, dad, do we have to?" Seth moaned.
"Yes. You guys look great. Very cute," Kirsten said.
They both looked disgusted at Kirsten's comment. Sandy returned with a camera and the boys unwillingly posed as Sandy took their photograph. As soon as he was done, they rushed out of the door.
"Behave yourselves," Sandy called after them.
"You too," Seth yelled back.
"I'll try," Sandy murmured, as he wrapped his arm around Kirsten's waist and buried his head into her hair.
Kirsten spun around in his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"What happened to going to the movies?" she asked.
"Well, it seems such a waste not to make the most of having the house to ourselves," Sandy said, pulling her closer and leaving a kiss on her lips.
"I thought you wanted to get out of the house?" Kirsten asked, amused at Sandy's sudden change of heart.
"Did I say that? What I meant was I didn't want to sit around in the family room all evening. Now, the bedroom…"
Kirsten tilted her head and pouted. Sandy sighed. "You want to go out, don't you?"
Kirsten nodded apologetically. "And we're leaving our cell phones at home. I want to be unreachable for a couple of hours."
"I'll get my jacket," Sandy said, untangling himself from her arms.
As he disappeared to their bedroom, the doorbell rang. Kirsten sighed. One night of peace was all she wanted. She answered the door to find her father.
"Dad. Sandy didn't tell me you were coming over," Kirsten said, surprised to see him.
Caleb walked in. "He said he had something that could save my hide. Clearly he didn't share it with you."
'No, he didn't,' Kirsten sighed inwardly. As much as she understood why Sandy couldn't tell her, she hated being kept in the dark.
"No, he actually respects things like attorney-client privilege," she said aloud.
"I said call me, not come over," Sandy said, appearing from the bedroom.
"I was in the neighbourhood," Caleb offered, clearly not bothered by the inconvenience he was causing.
Sandy shot Kirsten an apologetic look and led Caleb out to the back yard. Kirsten sighed. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.