Chapter 6

Dreams Past

Everyone stood out on the dewy front lawn of the Cohen's home ready to say goodbye for the night. The sun had set and the sky was speckled with bright stars. The street lights dim light sparkled off the wet sidewalk. Crickets chirped quietly around them. Saying goodbye was always the hardest part.

"Thanks for everything Summer. Dinner was magnificent," Kirsten gave Summer a hug before turning to Seth. "And you mister…thank you for being such a good host."

"Uh huh," Seth hugged Kirsten then Sandy. "Are you two honestly sure you want to take all of us to Disney Land next weekend?"

"Of course we're sure!" Sandy clapped Seth & Ryan both on the shoulders.

"You know if you do the math, that's 6 kids under the age of 13 and 3 teenage girls," Ryan said. "It'll be interesting."

"To say the least!" Kirsten agreed excitedly. "Don't worry Dad's! Everything is under control!"

"We'll talk to you guys during the week," Sandy and Kirsten waved goodbye before taking all the kids into a hug.

"Gamma, are we still going to Disney Land?" Matt asked anxiously.

"Yes sweetie, we are still going to Disney Land," Kirsten assured him.

"What is that?" Adrian asked again.

"Ask your Mommy and Daddy. I'm sure they will tell you all about it pal," Sandy ruffled Adrian's hair. The two got in the car as the kids stood at the edge of the sidewalk and waved.

"Bye Grandma! Bye Grandpa!" Christopher called.

"Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye! Bye!" the twins hopped up and down.

"Okay guys it's time to say goodbye," Marissa took their hands.

"Buh-bye to Auntie Summer and Uncle Seth?" Ashton asked sadly.

"We'll see you next weekend little guy," Seth crouched down and hugged the twins.

"Bye Auntie Marissa," Amanda hung her tiny head sadly as she latched on to Marissa's leg.

"Bye Ms. Mandy. We'll see you really soon okay?" Marissa picked up Amanda and gave her a kiss. The boys said goodbye, trying to act 'grown-up and cool' but the truth was they were just as sad to be seeing the other go.

"Disney Land's going to be awesome!" Christopher exclaimed.

"See you then," James high fived him and then little Matt before climbing into the backseat of the car.

"Well this is goodbye Coop," Summer said, a tint of sadness invading her voice as well. Summer still had a tendency to call Marissa 'Coop' even though her name was technically 'Atwood' now.

"We're so dramatic," Marissa giggled and pulled Summer into a hug. Ashton, in her arms, gave Summer a kiss.

"Thanks for dinner man," Ryan shook Seth's shoulder gently.

"No problem Ry. You know I'm going to be calling you every day with tales of my stress right?" Seth asked. Ryan gave him an obviously sarcastic smile.

"Can't wait."

"Ready honey?" Marissa put her arm around Ryan's waist after all the kids were safely buckled into the car.

"Ready, bye guys."

Ryan and Marissa waved and got into the car. They drove off down the road and Summer sighed as she rested her head on Seth's chest.

"Well that was fun," Seth commented.

"It was," Summer agreed.

"You're so silly Mandy!" Helena exclaimed as her smallest sibling hopped on top of Matt who had been sprawled out on the grass, watching crickets.

"I don't think she's very silly!" Matt cried angrily, shoving his sister off of him.

"Mom? Am I still allowed to go to Disney Land?" Christopher asked innocently, digging into the wet grass with his bare feet.

"Of course boo. Why wouldn't you be?" Summer twiddled with the tag on Seth's shirt.

"I'm…kinda grounded," he reminded her. Seth admired his son's honesty. That definitely didn't come from him or Summer. He guessed it was just the Sandy in him. Summer sighed.

"As long as you behave the rest of the week, you're off the hook come Disney Land okay?"

"Yes! Thanks mom," Christopher hugged Summer around the neck. She tried savoring it. At this age it was hard to have your son hug you. This was his second time in the last two days, and in front of his 18 year old sister.

"But that means, no more fights at school, no more phone calls home from the teachers, and no more hanging out with what's his name," Seth counted the requests off on his fingers.

"Joey. And I promise. Can I have my XBOX back?" Christopher asked hopefully. Summer nodded.

"Aww! Honey I thought you said we could have the XBOX in our room this week!" Seth teased.

"Okay guys. Time for bed!" Summer clapped her hands to break up the brawl that was continuing between Amanda and Matt. Priscilla and Helena just watched and laughed at the rumble.

"Mommy take me!" Amanda held her arms out to Summer.

"Daddy hold you!" Matt took the opportunity to hop up at Seth. The both of them caved in and lifted the little ones into their arms. Priscilla, Christopher, and Helena followed them into the house.

"You know, when you three were little, you wanted your mom and me to carry you all the time," Seth said, reminiscing a bit.

"Really?" Priscilla and Christopher asked together. Helena just smiled. She was used to her dad saying stuff like that. But it never failed to warm her up inside. Matt was already asleep, his head nestled on top of Seth's shoulder.

"Really," Seth whispered.

"You bunking with Priscilla, Helena?" Summer asked, tucking Priscilla's curly hair into the back of her shirt. Helena nodded.

"Night mom, night dad." Seth handed Matt over to Christopher. The two had been sharing a room since Matt moved out of the nursery at two years old. They had needed to make room for Amanda. Seth followed Summer into the nursery and they both tucked Amanda in to her bed.

"The nursery's not really a nursery anymore," Seth said, putting his arm around Summer's shoulder. "She's growing up."

"Yeah," Summer looked up at the love of her life. "Unless of course another little Cohen comes along." They both looked at each other and giggled at the same time.

"Nah."

"Goodnight Mandy girl," Seth whispered before closing the door behind them. They got into their bedroom and crawled into bed. Summer snuggled into Seth's protective grasp.

"I cannot believe Helena's 18," she said.

"Where was I?" Seth joked. Summer smacked him playfully.

"You were here next to me goofy!" she replied. Seth couldn't hold it back anymore.

"I wonder where Caden is."

"I hope he's okay," Summer whispered gently.

"I hope to god that Chris doesn't turn out that way Sum," Seth kissed Summer on the bridge of her nose. Summer fell into an uneasy sleep. The image in her mind was that of when Seth tried to get Caden help for the first time.

It was the middle of August, or was it September? All Summer could remember was that it was hot. She felt bloated and uncomfortable on the couch in the living room. Amanda had been born a month earlier. Priscilla was eleven years old; Christopher eight years old, Matt only two, and the twins were fifteen.

Helena had been wonderful helping around the house and with the baby. Priscilla had been eager to help as well. Chris and Matt had seemed to form a 'pact'. Matt seemed awfully jealous of the new addition to the Cohen house. Before this he had been the baby. Chris sympathized. He had gone through it before Matt was born.

Then there was Caden. Seth warned him to stay away from Amanda. The day Amanda had come home from the hospital, Seth found him drunk with a friend in the backyard. Since then he had been lashing out violently towards Priscilla, Helena, and Seth, the three people trying desperately to help him.

"You don't know anything dad," Caden had snapped when Seth told him that he had signed him up for a clinic at the multigenerational center that helped underage alcoholics.

"Don't I?" Seth had asked angrily. "I can't have you acting this way with a baby in the house! It's either that or your grandfather Caden. Your choice." Caden was now afraid of Sandy. Sandy had dealt with kids like Caden his entire life; he just never saw any of it happening to his own grandson. He was ashamed and had offered to take Caden to a 'facility' himself if he resisted. Caden had promised to shape up if Seth and Summer were willing to give him another chance. They had blindly agreed only to have him run away and come back drunk again.

Now on that August (or was it September?) afternoon, Summer watched the 4:30 news. She watched as the mouth of one of the newscasters moved. She didn't hear a word of what he was saying. She was too busy worrying about Caden. It didn't help much that Summer was barely getting over post partum depression. It had never happened to her before and she hoped to god that she would never have to go through it again. Seth, Sandy, and Ryan had taken Caden to his first session. Caden was just like Summer and that worked to their advantage and against them in this situation. He was extremely stubborn, probably blocking out the whole class. Then again he was anxious to prove people wrong. If Sandy and Seth were convinced that Caden needed treatment then maybe he would stop drinking and prove to them that he didn't.

"What are you watching Momma?" Helena sat next to Summer on the couch, handing her a glass of water.

"Thank you baby. Just the news," she answered.

"Scilla's hysterical. She's really worried about Caden," Helena said gently.

"We all are," Summer tucked a strand of Helena's hair behind her ear. "But hopefully this will help." As if god was determined to tell Summer otherwise, the back door slammed furiously. Seth came in, his face flushed and his hands shaking.

"What is it Dad?" Helena whispered.

"Caden…he got away from us," he said, his voice shaking also. He sounded like he wasn't sure if he should break down and sob or go into an angry fit.

"Oh my god. Did you catch him?" Summer asked.

"Yes. Ryan and I are going to check him into a facility. I just came to get…some of his things." Seth saw the hurt flash across both Summer and Helena's faces.

"I'm so sorry," Seth collapsed on the couch and took his sobbing girls into his arms. He allowed tears to slip out of his eyes and onto Summer's head.

"This will help Dad?" Helena was able to ask, between a sob.

"I hope so Helena. I really do," Seth said gently.

But as fate showed, god was again eager to tell the Cohen's otherwise.