Summer changed into one of her new dresses. It was black with short sleeves and white details. She examined her self in the mirror. Her skin had a healthy glow and her new dress showed her swelling belly. She sighed and sat down to apply makeup. Seth knocked on her door pushing it open. "So how do I look?" he asked giving a twirl as he entered.
Seth was wearing a three-button pin striped suit. He also had on sage green button up with a burgundy tie. "Very good," Summer said looking at him and setting down her make up. She picked up her green suede Burberry purse and stood up.
"Well someone has dropped the veil." Seth said kissing Summer and placing his had on her abdomen.
"I have to do it sometime, why not validate the rumors while I'm out with my step-mother."
"You're evil," Seth said kissing her neck.
"I know," Summer replied guiding him by the chin to her lips.
Summer got out of her BMW and handed her keys to the valet. Seth stepped on to the curb and Summer linked arms with him. "You need to learn how to drive standard," she told him.
"Why? I like pretending that I am the girl on the date," Seth with his ever present sarcasm.
They walked in joking and laughing to the host desk. "Hi we're meeting my father," Summer said.
"Name?" The man said flipping a page in the leather bound book.
"Roberts" Summer said biting her lip and turning her heel.
"Yes, let me show you to your table." The man gestured and Seth and Summer followed through the dinning couples to the ocean view table that her father had reserved.
Summer's father and step-mother were seated. Her father was wearing a navy blazer and kakis. Her step mother, Lori, was wearing a scarlet halter dress. Sitting uncomfortably at the table with them were Seth's parents wearing their clothing from work.
Summer looked at Seth and the panic in his face was obvious. She took his hand and squeezed it encouragingly. Summer sat down next to her father, and Seth took the seat next to her at the round table.
"So, son we were just discussing how I never see Lori at any of the charity events." Sandy said across the table. Summer's parents looked annoyed and Kirsten waved the waiter over to refill her glass of wine.
"That's because she is always too drunk to stand before you guys have arrived." Summer said under her breath. Seth laughed nervously and Summer kicked him under the table.
Everyone ordered with out much incident and the waiter took the menus. "I asked everyone here today," Neil began, "because we need to have a strategy for these kids."
"A strategy? This isn't a war, Neil," Sandy said shoving a piece of bread into his mouth.
Neil's nostrils flared with anger and he continued, "Scott and Summer have a lot to do before February."
"Seth!" Three voiced shot out.
"Scott is just fine sir, I myself never have enjoyed the name Seth," Seth babbled.
"There hasn't even been a utter of when the wedding is going to be," Neil said.
"The wedding?" Kirsten asked, looking up from her gaze on her empty glass, "Summer has made it clear to us, that she doesn't want to get married."
"They are getting married! I don't care what they want." Neil said firmly.
"You won't force our kid into a marriage he doesn't want." Sandy said chewing.
"I'm fine being forced," Seth said trying to be agreeable.
"I don't want to get married," Summer said furiously.
"You should have thought about that before you got yourself knocked up." Lori said sipping at her martini.
"You have no right," Kirsten said hotly, " Don't try to parent these kids, you are just here so that you can report back to your friends."
The soups and salads were served bringing temporary relief to the argument.
"How are they going to raise this child? In separate houses?" Neil asked Sandy.
"How should I know? Why don't you ask your daughter?" Sandy said pointing with his salad fork.
"Princess, how are you going to do this?" Neil asked softly.
"I don't know." Summer said her bottom lip quivered.
"I could move in to a spare bedroom and take on nanny duties," Seth volunteered.
"That is unnecessary" Neil said quickly.
"What do you want?" Kirsten asked Summer.
"I want to finish high school and go to college. I need that to be done, I don't care how." Summer said sighing at all the drama.
"That's like saying I want to eat chocolate and not gain any weight. You can't have it both ways." Sandy said.
"You move into our house if you'd like" Kirsten offered.
Seth looked at her with pleading eyes. "I want my independence." She said her voice wavering.
"You're going to have a baby, you are about to be as dependent as they come." Neil said cutting his stake that had just arrived.
"We wouldn't be asking you to join the family or anything, just to live in the house so that Seth could help you out." Kirsten tried again.
Summer's fish was put down and she thanked the waiter. "Could I think about it?""
"Of course," Kirsten said smiling.
"There are other things that need to be addressed." Neil said in a business like tone. "What type of funds will these kids have?"
"Enough," Sandy said looking up from his chicken breast, "Seth doesn't have to worry about money, and neither do his children." He said frankly.
Neil looked satisfied. "What religion do you plan on raising this kid?"
Summer and Seth cringed. "Atheist" Seth tried.
"Seth!" Sandy yelled earning angry looks from the dinners nearby.
"Seth makes up holidays and is Jewish by default because of his hair." Summer said to her father.
"It would break your grandmother's heart if you didn't get this child baptized. I'm not saying that it has to be a Catholic baptism."
"Over my dead body," Sandy said, " Seth you raise that kid what ever goddamn religion you want." Sandy said throwing his napkin on to the table. "Thank you for dinner, Mr. Roberts you have my e-mail address, if you have anything else that these kids should be force to do let me know. "
Kirsten followed suit and drained her glass of wine and walked out the door.