Chapter 17 – I need you

Summer sat on the bed, her long hair hanging down her shoulders, her face glittering from all the tears. She was exhausted and felt like there were no tears left now; she felt empty.

Should she call him? Yes….or no. She wanted to stay strong and do this, but she wasn't sure she was able to any more. It was too hard, even for Summer. She dialled the number, but hesitated to push the bottom to call. Just push it Summer! She thought and immediately heard the tones into her ear. She was calling, what was she so afraid of? It was just Seth; her Seth. Summer felt the tears well up in her eyes again.

"Hello!" Seth said. He sounded so normal. Why did she call and bother him. She wasn't even sure what to say.

"Hi, honey!" Summer said, her voice a little uncertain, but she hoped that it wouldn't break.

"Summer, it's good to hear from you! Are you okay over there?" Summer had to fight for not breaking down.

"Yeah, everything's just great." The tears burnt in her eyes.

"So, what've you been doing today? I miss you."

"I miss you too." Her words were now in a whisper.

"Sum, are you sure you're okay?" Seth asked sounding worried. He had a special tone whenever he was and Summer easily recognized it.

"No. Cohen. I can't do this." Summer said and released the tears and the lump in her throat turned to sobbing. Why was she so weak?

"Summer, what's the matter? Did you see Francesca?" Seth hated when his wife cried on the phone, he wanted to be there and comfort her, but instead he was at home.

"Yeah, but I can't do this. I thought I could but I can't."

Summer hated to cry, she had never cried until she met Seth. But she also loved to cry, it made her feel better. For so long she never cried because she wanted to be strong: she would never show any sign of weakness. Though the instant she met Seth she knew that he was the shoulder for her to cry to whenever she needed. The shoulder she'd never had before.

Seth, as always, made her calm down and made her promise to stay at the hotel until he came. He had insisted on coming to her and she hadn't fought about it. The truth was that she wanted him to come. To be by herself in a strange town with her mother in a hospital bed sacred the shit out of Summer.

She didn't wanna say that he was her right hand because that depended she would never become at someone. Though he was the one to support her and give her advice and make everything better with his love. No matter what, Seth would always be there for her. She knew that now, but in the beginning it had been so hard to let him in.

Summer never wanted the children to be without her or Seth, but now she was too upset to worry about that. She just wanted Seth. The children would be safe with their grandparents. But maybe she was being selfish, maybe she could do this she just didn't fight enough.

But maybe that was okay.

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Seth had called Kirsten and she'd been very understanding, as always. He was lucky to have such great parents. They'd always support him and be there for him and his new family. Though he had Summer now, his parents were always something for him to fall back on, whenever he needed.

Both Sandy and Kirsten adored their grandchildren. They had two so far, but Seth was sure that they would get more in time. Ryan had one coming and he and Summer wanted at least one more.

Seth had booked the next plane to Minneapolis and he was lucky he'd got one for the same day. He would let Sandy and Kirsten come to their place; the children would appreciate that.

It was now half past four and Seth had to tell Ava and Casey. He knew that they would get sad, but they would be okay. Summer needed him more right now.

They were both in the living room, Ava trying to teach Casey how to play Barbie with her.

"Casey, you have to be careful with her! If you hit her, she will get hurt. Think of Stacey as a person, you wouldn't hurt a person, right?" Ava said, sounding very much as an adult.

"No, I'll be more careful. Promise." Casey tried to do everything perfect; he wanted to be exactly like his sister.

"Hey kids! What are you playing? Barbie, huh?" Seth walked into the room and sat down at the cream coloured sofa.

"Yeah daddy. You wanna play with us? You can be Whitney." Ava held a Barbie with long blond hair up. She was dressed in pink from top to toe.

"As much as I would love too, I can't. Come here, both of you." Seth motioned them to join him on the sofa. Ava jumped up and sat on her knees next to Seth, looking very curious. Seth helped his youngest by lifting him up and placing him on his lap.

"So, what's up daddy?" Ava asked as she tried to make herself comfortable in his lap as well. She moved all the time; Ava must be the most energetic child in the whole world Seth thought; she could never stay still.

"Grandma and Grandpa Sandy are coming over soon. They're gonna watch you for a couple of days."

"Why?"

"I have to go to your mother; she needs me right now."

"Why? Is she sad? Does she want a hug from you?"

"Yeah, she's sad and I need to go there and comfort her. You know when you get sad?"

"Yeah, then you or mommy hugs us and kisses us and everything gets better. Sometimes you make us hot chocolate too."

"Exactly, and you see, mommy's all by herself in Minneapolis and she needs someone to do those things to her. "

"Make her hot chocolate?"

"Sure, we all love mommy and want her to be okay, don't we?"

"I love mommy." Casey uttered his first words. He was just three years old and couldn't have a complete conversation yet.

"I love mommy too." Ava said, understanding that her father had to leave.

"I also love her, very much."

"But what if we get sad while you're in Minnapoleez?"

"Then you can call me or mommy. But you'll also have your grandparents and Ryan. You'll be fine."

"We will and you know why daddy?"

"Why?"

"Because we're the cutest kids in the whole world, aren't we?" Ava said, giggling, looking over at Casey.

"Yees."

"Of course you are. I and mommy love you more than you'll ever know." Seth said and watched his children; they were so cute. He was interrupted by the doorbell.

"I'll get it!" Casey yelled and almost fell of the couch as he ran towards the door. Ava and Seth fallowed, holding hands.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Kirsten lifted Casey up in her arms and Sandy gave him a kiss on his head as they were greeted by such a nice hello.

"You are getting so big, are you sure you're still three years old?"

"Yes, dumber. But I look older, don't I?" Casey said, sounding excited.

"Yes you do son." Seth said as he and Ava entered the room. "Hi folks!"

"Seth. Hello Ava! You're just getting cuter and cuter. She looks so much like Summer." Sandy said and looked over at his wife.

"Yeah, you're gonna grew to be a real beauty Ava." She replied and handed Casey over to Sandy to hug the little girl.

"Do you want me to give you a ride to the airport Seth?"

"Nah, it's okay. I'll just call a cab."

"Okay, so kids, what's for dinner?"

"I don't know. Daddy?"

"Why don't you decide today?"

"Anything?"

"Sure, anything."

To be continued...

Hope you like it. It's just some cuteness. )