Wind of Change
Summer's mum knew where she had to search.
Not on the streets,not at school.She knew where her daughter would be. She would be at the Cooper's.
Even if she didn't enjoy beeing in relation with the Coopers',she did it for Summer.
"I think we should search at the beach..."Neil softly said.
"Stop it okay,you are the last person who would knew where to search for his daughter." She answered,without giving him any look.
From that on,the whole way was silent. Both did not say a word.
- Senseless to fight for anything now,it is over- Neil sadly thought. Deep inside he wanted that would still turn out different.
He didn't want to loose his daughter. He would fight for Summer,and if it was the last thing he would do in this marriage.
They arrived at the Cooper's house. As Neil realised were they had been driving to,he wanted to kill himself.
Why didn't he think of Summer beeing at Marissa ? Suddenly he smiled. He knew something about his daughter.
He knew,that Summer and Marissa were best friend.
"Why are you smiling ? Are you happy your daughter is gone ?"Summer's mum said.
His mouth formed normal again. He grimaced an angry face at her and got off the car.
Julie,Jimmy,Katilin and the two girls were sitting in the garden,enjoying the great dinner.
Julie and Jimmy were talking about their last trip to Hawaii,while Katilin was more into playing with her food than eating it.
Summer and Marissa tried not to laugh,but it was unpossible.They giggled at the table and they could not stop.
"Come on girls,you aren't 5 anymore like Katilin.Stop it and eat"Julie said.
She was like the total opposite of Summer's mother. She knew how fast her child would be independent.
The girls did not stop giggeling.But then the door bell rang and it was as silent as on a lonely island..
"I'll get it " Julie said and was going to the door.
When she opened the door,she was suprised.
Before she could say hi or anything,Summer's mother was already inside.
Neil was still standing outside looking helpless at Julie.
"Hey Julie, I am sorry to interrupt you,but ..Summer is some kind of lost.Do you know ..?"
He could not finish the sentence,just like Julie could not answer.Neil came in and Julie shut the door.
"Summer,for god sakes here you are,I was so worried about you ! " Summer's mother said in soft hysterical way.
Suddenly Summer was some kind of scared.She put down her fork,and grabbed Marissa's arm.
"Mum,what are you doing here?"Summer said. Her voice was kind of shivering.
" I could ask you the same question,you were gone when I came down my room! Dad did not knew if you had told him,that you had been off to Marissa.So did you tell him?"
Summer's mother wanted to know whether she said or not,if her husband was guilty or not. But in fact for her,her husband was guilty.
Summer did not know what to say.She had told her father that she was leaving. But in fact,she knew she said it not very loud.
If it was true,what Marissa said to her earlier,she should give her father a chance,now was the time.
"No I didn't tell him anything. Last time I saw him was in the hallway. After that I went out by myself,without telling anyone anything"
Marissa was proud of Summer.She knew Summer did the right thing.She looked at her and smiled softly.
Jimmy was sitting wordlessly at the table,still eating.
Neil had come into the garden now too with Julie. Summer's mum turned around and fizzled at him " Your a lucky man"..
Now Julie opened the show.
"Marissa and Summer would you mind to give us some minutes ? You know some adult talk and sort off that stuff...
Oh and Please take Katilin with you."
Marissa rolled her eyes,but Summer was relieved.
Jimmy took Katilin off her childchair and Marissa pushed her softly into the house.
Both girls were curios what was going on,so they had to think off where to go.
"I know Coop.We can look down your window into the garden!"
Marissa nodded and they went upstairs.
They placed Katilin in some corner of Marissa's room with some toys and placed themselfs at the window.
"Julie,I didn't mean to stay here,I just wanted to pick up my daughter."
"It's okay sweetie,just sit down, I think we need to talk."
Neil and Jimmy looked at each other,nodded not understanding what was going on .
Neil sat down ,too.
"Well, I was suprised when I saw your daughter over here today. Marissa did not tell me anything.
But after I heard what happened, I was quite understanding why Summer came up here"
Neil didn't get what Julie was talking about.So didn't Summer's mother either.
"Julie, I don't know what you are talking about.Nothing happened, Summer had the mood to come over,but she didn't tell anyone of us.
That was wrong,that why I rushed in so worried some minutes ago."
Neil was taking some nip of Jimmy's Corona.
"Right, like you had the mood to hault off your hand for Summer ?"Julie said invasively .
Neil was spitting out the Corona immeadiatley " You did what ?" He could not believe what Julie had said.
But he could not imagine that his wife had done that either.
At the same time Marissa was nearly saying to loud "What ? Why..." But Summer stopped her,by holding her hand in front of Marissa's Mouth."Pss Coop,please !"
Jimmy did not now why he was sitting here.And where his wife got those news from,he didn't knew either.
When Neil looked at him,he just shrugged.
"You know Julie,enough is enough. I don't know what makes your imagination that great. But I would never ever slap my daughter!
This is outrageous ! Come on Neil let's go !" She said energetically and stood up.
But Neil did not move." I think I want to here what Julie has to say" He said softly and interested.
At the same moment ,Summer was smiling "Strike" she said.She looked at Marissa who nodded.
Julie smiled at him and said " Thank you Neil,so won't you sit down again?"
So she did.She did not knew why her daughter had told Julie Cooper. But it made her clear,how aggressive she must have been before.
"Okay,well go on Julie with your speculations.I am very interested."
" I am too" Neil mumbled,looking angryly to his wife."Oh you shut up. You don't give a damn about your daughter"
So he was quiet again. He knew for himself that this was different.
" I am quite not sure,if it is like that. Summer thinks her father hates her." She looked at Neil,who was more than just suprised.
-Oh my god,what did I do to my little angel-
"But we are going to talk about that later."She twinkled at him.
"The point is,it is not okay,that you put out your fights on your daughter. She is the last person on earth ,who would give you a reason to fight. And it is even more not okay,if you only think about slapping your child. What is wrong with you?"
Summer's mother was hit in the hay.She needed now any possible reason to delay the right accusations.
Neil couldn't stand the silence."Now say it. Did you hault off to slap Summer or didn't you!"
He was talking to her in an aggressive tone.
"Don't talk to me like that !" She protested.
"That is not the point.Just answer that question!"
"Of course I didn't. What a stupid question",
Enough was enough Summer thought. " I'm going down."
" No Sum,wait ! It could get worse!"
"Believe me, it is the worst nightmare I ever on,let's go."
They ran downstairs.
Julie knew kids don't lie in such situations. She looked demanding at Summer's mother.
"What is it Julie ? "
"Stop it now,all of you!"
Right off the bat it was quiet and everyone was looking at Summer.
"Summer,why.."Summer's mother said.
"Stop it I said. I can't stand your lies. I thought you were caring about me. About how I feel. I thought you would be the last person on earth who would hault off to slap his kid. " She stopped shortly then she went on.
" Now I know I was wrong" She looked onto the ground.
Neil was shocked." That is intolerable . Now I know there is nothing left between us. "
"DAD I SAID STOP IT !" Summer was near tears again.
Her voice was shivering. " I don't know what is wrong with you guys. I heard your fight today,and after that I went off.When I came back,Mum did what was discussed here now. When I came out of my room,Dad saw me crying in the hallway."
Summer looked sad at her dad. His face was telling her how sorry he felt.He felt sorry for beeing not close enough to her,to see what was up with her that afternoon.
" I didn't want to be at home, I was scared. I needed to get out of that hell. Did you ever thought of me ? What you are doing to me ?
I guess you don't."
"Summer,dear that is not true"Summer's mum said. She had turned from the furios to the emotional nearly crying woman.
It seemed like she could play so many roles at the same time.Too many faces she had shown now to the outside.
" Mum,stop it okay. I am 13 now. I know whether it was a little fight,or something serious. And I know that is serious."
Everyone was quiet. Nobody said anything,only Jimmie chewed his steak.Julie punched him into his arm,he stopped.
" I won't go home with you. I will stay here until you guys are not freaking out anymore. I can't stand hearing you yelling at each other and feeling guilty."
"You don't need to feel guilty. It is not your fault,that we are fighting. Please do not feel guilty" Neil staid empathetic .
He stood up. It this was the time to change something,then this was the start.
"ah..thanks.." Summer was happy about what he had said. But she could not express her feelings towards him.
She felt still too far away.
"See what you have done ! You are such an Idiot!" Summer's mother stood up. She was hauling off for some new words,but Julie cut that off.
" I think you 'd better go now. Both of you. Think about her words. I 'll take care of her. And don't think of taking her with you. You need to catch a break.Jimmy please take them to the car."
Jimmy was about to stand up when Summer's mother protested.
"Well, I can do that by myself. Thanks for nothing Julie Cooper"She rushed out to the door,not even saying goodbye to her daughter.
She felt like beeing betrayed by everybody,but the only one who betrayed her,was herself.
"Julie, I don't know...what" Neil stuttered.
" It's okay. Just do the right thing,for her"She was looking over to Summer.
"But , I don't know how. It is like I don't know her"He whispered.
"Time Neil,time . By chance it will all work out." Julie said like an old wise woman.
He nodded and went over to Summer.Her eyes glanced.
He stroke over her forehead,she closed her eyes.
She was reborn.Without any word,he left.
Summer was still standing there with her eyes closed.