DISCLAIMER: Only the plot! Oh and I made upthe show MY LIFE.
Chapter Fourteen: The Truth About Teresa
Summer woke the next morning at seven. She went and had a long hot shower, washing her hair and using vanilla scented shower gel. She dried her hair and curled it a little, tucking the front bit behind her ears. She went and dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans with pale yellow stitching and white wash on the front. She also wore a simple pale yellow snug fitting polo shirt and slipped on white joggers.
Around eight she made her way down stairs where only Ryan was eating a bagel in the kitchen. Summer paused a few steps from the doorway. She didn't have a clue as to where things stood between her and Ryan. Taking a deep breath, Summer walked into the kitchen. She gave Ryan a small smile before making herself a coffee. On the fridge was a note from Kirsten saying her and Sandy had gone out for breakfast and that Marissa would be around at nine of pick Summer up for her fitting.
"You left abruptly last night," said Ryan looking at Summer as she stirred her drink.
"I had some thinking to do. I'm sure you did too," replied Summer glancing up at him before looking back at her black mug.
Ryan nodded, "But all I could think about was you."
"Would be worth it?" replied Summer out of the blue, "Would it? Us giving it another shot?"
"I think so. We could take it slow. It doesn't have to a full on thing."
"What difference would that make?" replied Summer, "I love you, you love me."
"But that is just it," said Ryan standing up, "We love the person from seven years ago! We don't know each other anymore Summer. You have changed, so have I!"
Summer nodded, knowing it was the truth. She sipped her coffee quietly as Ryan placed his plate and cup in the dishwasher. He walked around the island and stood on the other side, directly opposite to Summer. Summer looked at him and lowered her cup.
"You want know something about me?" said Summer, "I hate New York with a passion. I hated it when I moved there but I stayed thinking it was the best thing for me. I never went a day without thinking of you. I love my coffee, my writing, I still listen to the Rogue Traders and have seen them in concert about ten times now. I love watching the show My Life on FOX. My favourite colours are the same as always… there are many things that are still the same as always and some that have changed. What about you Ryan?"
"I love my job, I listen to The Killer's like Seth, I hardly watch TV, my favourite is dark blue like always… like you some things have changed but other's haven't. I guess it will take time for these things to be known."
Summer nodded and looked away before looking at Ryan with interest, "Hey how is Trey? The last I knew he was trying to sort himself out."
"Trey is doing great," smiled Ryan thinking of his now sorted out brother, "Married to a great woman called Lillian, has a son called Jason and Lillian is pregnant again. Trey runs a mechanic shop. Business is going great. His paying off his house and drives around in a Holden S."
"Brilliant. I'm so happy for him!" said Summer seriously, "I've always thought about kids, you know… but not till I am at least 28."
Ryan nodded. He could imagine Summer as a mother, too a little girl with her looks. A small smile came onto his face that didn't go unnoticed by Summer, who looked at him curiously. Ryan looked away but Summer kept on giving him the curious look.
"I can see you as a mother someday," said Ryan finally, "That is what I was imagining."
Summer smiled, "Do you see yourself as a father someday?"
Ryan shrugged, "After my childhood… that's not something I see happening."
"Oh."
"I'm saying I don't want to be a father, I'm just saying its something that… that I never really saw happening."
"But Teresa-"
"Lost the baby, that was practically ten years ago."
Summer nodded, "I bet if she had the baby you would've been a wonderful father."
Ryan smiled a little but the front doorbell rang.
"That'd be Marissa. I'll see you later," said Summer with a wave as she left to go dress fitting.
OC
Summer twirled around in the dark maroon fitted strapless dress that flowed out from her hips. It was simple, yet elegant all the same. In other words, very Marissa. The bridesmaids – Caitlin and Joan, a friend from University, had the same coloured gowns only with thick spaghetti straps. The shoes were white strappy heels.
Marissa smiled at Summer, waiting for her to say something. Summer ran her hands over the dress and turned to Marissa smiling.
"It's gorgeous! I love it. It's very you, Marissa," smiled Summer, "What about Casey?"
"I lost contact with her about three years ago. She moved to Boston with Chilli. After that it was like she disappeared, along with Chilli."
"Would you like her at the wedding with Chilli?"
Marissa smiled and nodded, a little sadly, "Well, would you like to see my dress?"
"Yes! Of course I would Coop!"
Marissa grinned and went into the dressing room. Summer changed out of her gown and changed back into her normal clothes. She exited her dressing room as Marissa stepped out in a strapless, silk white gown. It was fitted to the top of her hips were it belled out, only a little, not like the whole ball gown from the French era where women wore those gowns. The trail was a meter long with the front of the dress brushing along the ground nicely. She wore white shoes with a nice sized heel.
"Oh, Coop! That gown is just… its beautiful!" cried Summer circling her friend with a grin on her face, "Who designed it?"
"Sassi Holford. I saw it and instantly loved it. Mum did too, which was a surprise."
"Sassi is good. She is a UK designer, too," nodded Summer, "You picked the perfect dress."
Marissa smiled and went and changed out of it. Summer sat at the window watching cars and people drive by. Marissa came out dressed in her skinny leg jeans and a black singlet top.
"How about a coffee?" asked Marissa as they walked out of the shop, Julie was going to drop by later to pick up the gowns after Summer's fitting.
"Sounds good," nodded Summer, "So, are you nervous?"
"Yes and no," said Marissa, "I've been with Seth for a long time, I know literally everything about him. But there are still things I am learning, like last night I found out he wasn't fond of Hugh Grant movies. But I'm also going to become Mrs Cohen… it's a big, big exciting yet nerve racking step."
"I'm sure you two will be together for a extremely long time."
Marissa smiled, "How are you going with the Steve thing?"
"I never really… loved him. I got a letter from Anna last night. It was written a few days before the crash and it really opened my eyes up to things in my life, choices I made, mistakes… everything and I finally realised that I remained with Steven because he was the closest thing I had to Ryan."
"Why didn't you come beck here to be with Ryan?"
Summer was silent for a few moments, mulling over Marissa's question in her mind before she answered speaking slowly, "I was scared. I was scared my past would come back to hurt me. Plus Dad was out of jail at the time… then he died. I still couldn't come back. I thought Ryan wouldn't want me too, he was with Taylor after all."
"He does love you still," said Marissa, "Why don't you just tell him?"
"He knows, but we are both in love with the person from seven years ago," replied Summer as they entered a café, "I think we are just taking it slowly- Teresa?"
A dark haired woman spun around and looked at Summer and Marissa startled. Sure enough, it was Teresa, Ryan's ex-girlfriend from long ago.
"Summer, Marissa," she said looking a little surprised to see them, "H-how are you both?"
"Good, yourself? It has been ages!" cried Summer, pulling Teresa over to a table to sit with her and Marissa, "You work here? At the Coffee Shop?"
"Yeah. I have for a year now… I really should go."
"Oh, please stay. I'll shout the coffee's," persisted Summer, "So how has your life been?"
"Busy. I would love to stay b-"
"Mum! Nan is waiting!" cried a blonde haired girl with Teresa's eyes spotting her mother sitting with Summer and Marissa.
Summer and Marissa looked at the girl, surprised, taking in the blonde hair, the face shape with Teresa's feminine features. They recognised the child instantly and looked at Teresa who had stood up, looking at the ground.
"Oh my god," whispered Marissa as Summer stood to follow Teresa.
Summer grabbed Teresa by the arm as she reached her mother's car. Teresa looked at Summer, guilt evident on her face.
"That's Ryan's child!" said Summer, "You told him you had lost the baby!"
"He wasn't happy Summer," said Teresa calmly, "I did what was best."
"By excluding him from his child's life? Teresa… you have to tell him! He can help out now… he deserves to know the truth and you can't put the blame on him, by saying he hasn't been there for the first years, because he didn't know!"
"Mum, what's going on?"
"Nothing Isabel," said Teresa glancing at her daughter, "Ma, can you take Isabel home. I need to talk to my… friends."
Her mother nodded and Teresa kissed her daughter goodbye before shutting the door and letting her mother leave with her daughter.
"Isabel is a pretty name," said Summer as Marissa ventured over to them.
"Isabel Dawn," smiled Teresa of her daughter, "Nine and a half."
Summer just nodded, "That's nice and all Teresa, but hello, what about Ryan? That is his child and having one… would make him happy."
Teresa looked at Summer, finally connecting something or realizing something at least, "Why do you care so much about Ryan? Shouldn't you be the one on my case, Marissa?"
"Why would Marissa be on your case?" questioned Summer in annoyance, this was not what she wanted to discuss.
"Marissa is the love of Ryan's life."
"No," said Marissa, "I haven't been with Ryan for years. In a few days I am getting married to Seth Cohen. Summer is the one who is with Ryan… well sort of… it's complicated."
"Everything with Ryan is complicated. Or it becomes complicated."
"Mainly when someone finds out the truth," snapped Summer, "You have to tell Ryan. He deserves that at least."
"It isn't a simple thing to do, you know? What do you expect me to do? Walk on up to him and say, hey Ryan look I lied meet your nine year old daughter."
"Well that would be a start," replied Summer, "Then you can tell him why you lied in the first place… drama never ends in Newport."
Marissa nodded in agreement before they looks at Teresa.
"No," said Teresa, "I am not going to put Isabel through this. Ryan has moved on and so have I. This will just… make things difficult."
"You made it difficult on your own Teresa," said Summer a tone of finality in her voice, "If Ryan doesn't find out in the next two hours, I will tell him myself. I love Ryan and I seriously believe he deserves to know the truth."
Without another word Summer turned and headed back up the street towards Marissa's car, with Marissa herself hurrying along behind her.
"Will you seriously tell Ryan?" asked Marissa as they drove back to the Cohen place.
"I will. When I say I'm going to do something, I do it," replied Summer, "If Seth was in this situation, would you keep something like that from him?"
"I guess not," said Marissa flicking the blinker on into the Cohen driveway to see a taxi pulling in at the same time, "Another visitor. I wonder who?"
Summer shrugged and they both got out the car. Summer shut the door and fixed her jeans up at the legs. She walked around the car, as Marissa walked over to the visitor, enquiring who they were.
"Steven?" said Summer seeing her cheating ex-boyfriend.
Steven looked over at Summer and stepped towards her, but Summer back away, around in a circle till she stood beside Marissa. Steven stopped and just looked at Summer.
"Sum, babe, I'm sorry," he said, "I'm a complete tool."
"A tool?" scoffed Summer, "That does not even come close to my opinion of you! Would you like me to tell you because I surely am dying to say it."
"I deserve it," he said with a sad sigh, taking a step closer, "You must be Marissa."
"And I should go inside," replied Marissa running up the steps and into the house, leaving the door open a crack.
Steven looked at Summer a false look of heartbreak on his face. Summer glared at him and crossed her arms.
"Don't even try the puppy dog eyes," hissed Summer with hatred, "They don't work any more Steven. Why did you bother flying out here? I'm not taking you back again… I am fool to have even remained with you for two fucking years!"
"You stayed with me because I gave you what no-one else could."
"What? Sex, because, honey, even that was lousy!" snapped Summer, "You… you gave me nothing, Steven, nothing! Even when I was with you I was alone! You are a drunken, cheating, scheming bastard!"
Steven stepped closer to a fuming Summer and tried to reach out to her, but Summer slapped his hand away in anger.
"Summer, I love you."
"And I hate you. I hate you with the same level of hatred that I held for my arsehole of a father!" screamed Summer, "I have had a chance to work things out while being back home. They are, I hate New York, I hated working at Vouge, and I never loved you! Not one single bit!"
Steven grabbed Summer roughly and pulled her towards him, "You don't mean that. Get in the taxi. We're going back to New York."
He shoved Summer towards the waiting taxi, the driver watching on in silent shock. Summer stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground. She caught her balance and turned back to Steven, slapping him hard across the face.
"I AM NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND ANYMORE!" screamed Summer, "You can't push me around anymore Steven. I was blind to it all before but not anymore."
Steven grabbed Summer by the hair and pushed her towards the car, ignoring her scratching at his hands and whimpers of pain.
Suddenly Steven was yanked away from Summer causing her to fall to the ground. Marissa was by her side, but Summer sat up in time to see Ryan slam a punch directly into Steven's face. Steven stumbled backwards but lunged for Ryan in the middle. Ryan who was ready for it, stepped to the side and met Steven when he turned around with a second punch, that broke his nose. He keeled backwards, moaning at the pain. Sandy and Kirsten ran out the door, having called the police.
"Are you okay?" asked Ryan kneeling down in front of Summer, worry etched on his face.
Summer nodded, looking at Steven with slight fear.
"He's going away," said Ryan helping Summer stand up, "Come on. Let's go inside."
Summer walked into the house with Ryan holding her with one arm around her waist and the other holding her hand. Ryan sat Summer down on one of the lounges and began checking her over. A bruise was forming on her arm and she had a little graze on her right arm.
"I'm fine Ryan," said Summer smiling at him a little, "Just a bit shaken, that's all."
"I know. But I'm just worried. Marissa came and got me as soon as she heard things getting out of hand."
"Least he knows what I think of him now," sighed Summer, "I didn't expect him to fly out here. I knew I would've have met him at the airport. He wouldn't be game to try anything there."
"It's dealt with now. The police will come and he will never bother you again. I swear."
Summer smiled again and hugged Ryan, surprising him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her closely never wanting to let go of her again. When he had seen Steven holding her roughly a sweep of sudden anger shot through his body making him loose of sense of calmness, his only goal had been to hurt Steven in anyway possible.
"Would you like a drink?" asked Ryan finally pulling away.
"No," said Summer, "I think I'll go have a shower."
OC
The rest of the day passed and Summer had to fill out a report for the police. They informed her that it would be best to get a lawyer to represent her at court if things got out of hand. Sandy told them he was Summer's lawyer and to contact him about anything, he would pass information onto Summer. More then two hours had passed by now and Teresa still had not shown up or contacted Ryan about his secret daughter. Summer got up from her bed, where she had been reading a novel by Christie Golden about people who were the embodiment of elements, and headed down stairs. They had two hours till having to leave for the pre wedding dinner. Summer walked through the empty kitchen and out the back door. She knocked on the pool house door and Ryan yelled for her to enter. He was trying to find his tie for that nights dinner.
"This it?" asked Summer picking up a discarded red tie laying on the end of his bed.
Ryan looked up from a bag he was searching through and grinned at Summer and the tie, "That's the one. I must have over looked it. How you feeling?"
"Perfectly fine. Just another bump in the road. Listen… I saw Teresa today."
"Really? How was she?"
"Fine… Ryan… I don't know how to tell you, what I have too… perhaps it would be best to sit down," said Summer slowly, gesturing to the bed.
They both sat and Ryan looked at Summer expectantly.
Summer bit her lower lip before taking a deep breath. She exhaled slowly and took hold of one of Ryan's hands, covering it with both of hers.
"The simple way to put it is… Teresa lied about loosing the baby all those years ago," said Summer calmly, "She did have your child… a daughter in fact… Isabel Dawn."
Ryan just remained staring at the ground, trying to comprehend what Summer had told him. He looked up at Summer, his blue eyes narrowed, "What?"
"You are a Dad… Teresa did have your baby. Marissa and I ran into her day when she was finishing her shift at the Coffee Shop and we tried to talk to her but she was trying to leave and then this little blonde girl… with your face shape came in calling for her. Just by looking at her, you can tell you are the father. She wouldn't tell you, so I gave her two hours… obviously she didn't call or come over… and I believe you have every right to know the truth."
"Teresa lied to me?"
Summer nodded quietly, watching Ryan as he registered everything.
"She had my kid?"
Summer nodded again.
"Right… right," he said before standing, grabbing his keys and taking off out of the pool house.
"Ryan!" cried Summer running after him. She grabbed him in the foyer and made him look at her, "Going to her place and screaming at her won't make things better! You should speak to Sandy first… or call Teresa from here. Don't let Isabel see you like this – it will only terrify her and she won't want to be near you."
Ryan calmed down, his muscles untensing. Summer ran a hand down his arm soothingly, with a small smile.
"For a second there I saw a flash of the old Ryan streaking through."
Ryan smiled for a second, "I should call her."
He stepped past Summer, leaving her standing in the foyer alone. Kirsten ran down the steps, dressed in a dressing gown.
"Summer! We leave soon," she cried, "Go get ready!"
"Oh, yeah," nodded Summer turning and heading up the stairs.