Chapter 19 - Here we are

Seth felt Summer squeeze his hand a little as they walked down the hospital corridor. Her beautiful face had a serious look and she was nervous, Seth could tell. She had changed clothes several times, put her hair up and down, changing the jewellery; silver or gold. Summer had also been extremely quiet; she wasn't like Seth who rambled worse than ever when he was nervous. She was pale and walked as slowly as she could. Seth walked by her side, holding her hand and rubbing it with his thumb. As they entered the last corridor Summer stopped.

"You okay?" Seth asked searching her face and taking both of her small hands into his own.

"I…I think I want some coffee." Summer said, biting her lip, not meeting Seth's eyes.

"We just ha…oh, sure, but Summer?" She looked up at him, but she stayed quiet.

"Do you mind if I go see her? Maybe it's easier if I've talked to her, you know, if I've met her." Seth just spilled the words and had no idea why he'd suggested it really. That for he was kind of surprised by Summer's reaction.

"Yeah, sure. If you want to."

"You don't mind?"

"No."

"So, you'll be okay meanwhile?"

"Yeah, I'll go down to the cafeteria or something, I don't know. I just….I'm not ready yet."

"Hey, it's okay." Seth said and pulled her into a hug, lightly placing a kiss in her hair. He could feel her relax as he rubbed her back.

"You sure you'll be okay for awhile?" Summer smiled and nodded, giving him a kiss on his cheek. They both turned and started to walk in different directions.

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Seth carefully opened the door and was met by a person looking very sick. She was looking out of the window and didn't see who the person that entered the room was.

"It's not time for my medication yet so please leave; I'm not up for any company." She said in a bitter voice, almost a little bitchy. Summer sure was her daughter.

"Um, I'm not the nurse." Seth said not knowing what else to. Francesca turned her head towards Seth and he was shocked by how much she looked like Summer, or Summer looked like her. Francesca was taller and older and looked very sick, but besides that they were identical.

"Who are you? You must be in the wrong room, I don't know you." She kept staring at him as he sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"You mind if I sit?" Seth asked politely, but there was no point in asking since he already sat down.

"Why are you here? Are you a friend of Mike's? Because, in that case I don't wanna see you. I bet he forced you to come here in the first place. Listen, I'm gonna die anyway, so I won't bother him." She still had the attitude, but Seth was used to it.

"My name is Seth and I have no idea who that Mike guy is, sorry."

"Oh, then who are you?"

"I believe I'm your son in law." Francesca suddenly got a different look on her face; like she was scared or something, maybe just surprised.

"You're married to my…to Summer?"

"I am,"

"She was here a while ago."

"I know."

"Of course you do. Is she.. is she okay?"

"Well, she's a little upset."

"Oh, I didn't expect her not to be. But she's happy, right? You seem like a nice guy and she was a smart kid. She's fine, right?" Seth couldn't imagine that this woman was one of those who left their children. She seemed as a nice person and he couldn't help to feel a little sorry for her."

"Summer's great. She's an incredible person and we're happy; me, her and the kids."

"She's got kids? I've got grandchildren?"

"Yes. Ava's six and Casey's three. They're great." Francesca didn't reply; instead she looked away from him. She seemed tense and very uncomfortable.

"Tell me about her." She finally said.

"Summer? I don't know where to start. She's amazing. She's beautiful, has a great job. She designs wedding dresses and she's really good at it. Summer's the best wife I could ever hope for; she's caring, understanding, kind, funny. She's a wonderful mother to Ava and Casey; the adore her. I love her so much and I would never, ever hurt her or let anyone else do so either." The last sentence came out in a little anger. Summer really was a good person and he couldn't imagine how it would be to be left by your mother at the age of six, or anytime as a matter of fact.

"I'm sorry." Francesca whispered as tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"I'm not the one you should apologize to." Seth said quickly and maybe he sounded a little hard, but how dared she cry? Of course she made him feel a little guilty too; he had also left. He had left Summer and she was left behind to experience her mother's departure all over again.

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Seth walked with fats steps down to the cafeteria where Summer sat with a cop of coffee in front of her. There wasn't a lot of people there; only about eight. They all looked miserable, but that was to be expected at a hospital.

"Hey!" Seth said as he leaned down next to her.

"Hey!" Summer leaned in to Seth's embrace and kissed his neck as he held her close.

"How'd it go?" She asked as she pulled away a little, still in his arms though, with her legs on top of his.

"Good, I guess. We talked a little. She looks a lot like you. Except she's looking so sick it's almost scary."

"Did you talk about me?" Summer gulped as she spoke.

"Yeah, I told her about you; she asked."

"She did? Well, do you think I should see her?"

"I do. I know she hurt you when she left, but she's dying. You don't have to forgive her, but this might be your chance to finally get to know."

"Yeah, I better do it now." Summer sighed. "The sooner, the better, right?" She said with a little laugh, but instantly got serious again, leaning her head to rest on Seth's shoulder. "Will you come?"

"Of course I'll come with you honey."

To be continued…

I know this is kind of short, but another update will be up in a few days, promise.

I've written a lot on this story lately, though I have to write it over the computer as I've written it by hand. Soon, I'm also gonna update 'When You Say Nothing at all'.

I've also started to work on a sequel to this story called 'Life continues'. What do you guys think? Good name? Should I do a sequel? Should it be years ahead?

Thanks all of you who read and mostly you who review too.