Thanks again for reviewing. I still don't own The O.C. unfortunately.
Kirsten's head hung heavy as she walked into the kitchen. "Mom what's going on? Did Carter have something to do with dad's attack? What did he mean he loves you? Why would he love you like that when you're married to dad?" Seth had so many questions it was making Kirsten's head spin. Ryan was just looking at her, his looks could be worse than Seth's million questions. Could he tell just from looking at her that she had once had feelings for Carter? No, he can't.
"It was Carter who attacked your father, yes. Just wait let me talk" Kirsten put her hand up to stop Seth asking more questions. "You can start the interrogation once I've finished." They followed her to the family room where they all sat down. "After last summer, the summer you were gone I mean, me and Sandy had some problems, we just didn't connect like we used. I'm not sure how much you boys realised but it got quite serious particularly when you dad took an on an old girlfriend's case. When Carter started at the Newport Group things were pretty strained between Sandy and I and I spent more time at work and so more time with Carter. At first he was just someone I could talk to you, he's divorced so he knows what its like to have marriage problems. Anyway to cut a long story short he fell in love with me, so he says and he left for New York." Kirsten looked at them, neither of them would look at her in the eye. She was unsure about telling them about the kiss they shared. They didn't need to know every detail after all she had barely mentioned Rebecca although she was Sandy's to tell.
"Did you have an affair?" Ryan couldn't believe he was asking Kirsten this. He knew his guardians had had their share of problems last year but he never thought either of them would have strayed from the other. They were, are, so much in love. Maybe not.
"No. Definitely not. God no. Boys your dad and I we love each other very much we were just having issues with each other. Carter kissed me when he left but it was just a goodbye kiss. I really can't believe I'm telling you all this but the truth is you need to hear it. You need to know that I hadn't spoken to him until the other day when I saw him at the mall. From now on he's not to come into this house and you two are not to go anywhere near him. I mean it. Sandy won't appreciate you going round to warn him off or anything else so don't go getting any ideas." Kirsten really hoped Ryan heard her on this matter. She was worried he would head straight off to find Carter and beat the living daylights out of him. Of course that is exactly what Ryan had wanted to do and it wouldn't have surprised her if Seth had felt similar feelings.
"I can't believe this, mom. I mean you and Carter. Now he wants you again. Is dad going to have him arrested for the attack? Does dad know he kissed you?" Seth wasn't making much sense but he couldn't really make any sense of what he had just heard. He just couldn't believe his mom would want to kiss anyone but his father. I mean usually he didn't like to think of her even kissing him but her kissing another man, Carter, was just unbelievable. His parents were supposed to be different to the other Newpsies, they loved each other regardless of money or status or anything.
"Seth your dad knows everything. As for the police I'm not sure what he wants to do. I think he's hoping Carter will just see sense and go back to New York which hopefully he will. He knows I'm not going to leave Sandy so there is no point in him staying here." Kirsten was looking at them both, unsure as to how they felt towards her sure that at the very least they felt angry.
"I don't think he's going to leave just like that, Kirsten. You heard him he's not going to just give up." The boys had heard everything. "Maybe you should try and get Sandy to report him to the police at least then it would be easier to keep him away from the house and you. Are you going to tell him about tonight?" Seth turned and faced his mom. "Of course she's going to tell him, Ryan. If she doesn't we will tell him." Seth was starting to get angry and as angry as Ryan was he wasn't sure that this was the time to really be letting Kirsten have it. "Seth you fancy a little play station battle? I'm sure we could all do with a little break."
"As grateful as I am Ryan, you don't need to protect me. Both of you have every right to feel angry with me. God knows I feel angry with me but there are two people in my marriage and we were both to blame for the problems we had. Speak to your dad I'm sure he will tell you the same thing. This isn't me trying to shift the blame. Your dad wouldn't be in hospital if it wasn't for me but there would never have been a situation with Carter if it hadn't been for other things." She sighed she just hoped they could forgive her or understand at least but she was too tired to go over it anymore now. "I'm going to go to bed. Sandy should be released in the morning so I'm going to go handy. We'll see you two after school." Surprisingly both her boys let her kiss them on the head; it was probably the tears that had sprung up in her eyes that she just couldn't hide.
"I can't believe this." Seth said as they sat down to play a little play station. "I mean I knew things hadn't been good between them but not bad enough that she would look to another man. Do you think my dad had an affair too or something?
"Seth! Your mom didn't have an affair and there is no way I could imagine your dad having an affair either he loves Kirsten too much. Shouldn't we look at the plus side, they are still together now and they don't seem to be having too many problems. I mean besides this with Carter now." Seth knew what he meant but he just couldn't believe things had gotten that bad between his parents. He was going to have to talk to his dad about what had gone on it must have been something serious to have driven his mom to even look at Carter never mind kiss him.
Sandy was already dressed when Kirsten arrived to pick him up. He looked awful, his face was so bruised and it was obvious to Kirsten that the painkillers could only work so much. Once the doctor had been and discharged him they left the hospital together. "I was thinking maybe we could go for a drive rather than straight home. What do you think?" Sandy was pretty sore but it wasn't like he was going to feel any less sore at home and he guessed Kirsten must have wanted to talk if she wanted to go for a drive. He quickly agreed to it and made himself comfortable in the seat.
"So Carter was at the house when I got back last night. He wanted to see how you were and I told him he was never to set foot near the house, boys or us again. I had to tell the boys it was him who attacked you; they had already worked it out for themselves anyway. I told them that we'd had problems last year and that Carter had kissed me. I didn't go into detail about Rebecca what they know about her is up to you. I'm sorry you weren't' there but they wouldn't have waited until today. Seth already had a million questions and Ryan's looks were too much."
There was silence between them. Sandy felt guilty, they should have told them together. He didn't want the boys to blame Kirsten; it was both of their faults. "I'm so sorry you had to face them alone. I can't believe Carter came back to the house; he must have a death wish! Maybe we should go to the police. Show him that we are serious, that he won't be coming near us again." Sandy put his hand on top of his wife's. "Do you really think we need to go to the police? I'm sure he will leave; he could already be on a plane to New York. I just don't think we need the hassle of the police." Sandy couldn't believe he was hearing this. Shouldn't she want the man who did this to her husband punished? Now he came to think about it why hadn't she called the police when it first happened? Maybe she did still have feelings for him.