A big thank you goes out to everyone who reviewed our story. We're glad you liked it, after all we write for you, our peers. D We know many of you want to see a Kirsten-Ryan bonding moment and unfortunately it is not quite here yet. This chapter focuses on Hailey and Kirsten, with a few Kandy moments snuck in. Again, thank you for reviewing. Keep it up! As long as people out there are reading, we will keep writing. edit The once steamy scene has been moved to Back to You: Uncovered.
Sandy, Hailey and Ryan stood at the doorway, empty plates and mugs in hand. They smiled. A genuine Mother-Son, Kirsten-Seth bonding moment. This was rarely ever seen and this was it at it's best. Ryan's gaze altered from Seth and Kirsten to the floor. Would I have a moment like this with Kirsten? Mother-Son? Even if I'm not really her son?
Sandy was the first to break the silence with a "Kirsten isn't a hugger, you know," to Hailey and Ryan, motioning for them to place their dishes in the dishwasher. Kirsten sniffled as she let out a light laugh.
"Honey, you always did know how to ruin a moment," she said, taking the napkin lying on the table.
Sandy smiled,"So what is everyone up to today?"
"Uh, I don't know the girls are coming over to say hi to you, Mom. I'm assuming bearing gifts," said Seth, pretending he never shed a tear.
"What about you, Hail?" asked Kirsten, refilling her mug with coffee.
"Uh, yeah, Kiks. I have to talk to you about that one. I, kind of am packed already. My plane leaves in a few hours," said Hailey, putting her coffee down on the island. The family stared at her; Sandy, in disbelief, Seth, in shock, Ryan, in sadness and Kirsten, broken hearted. Sandy didn't want her to leave. Her presence was good for Kirsten. And although he didn't like to admit it, he liked Hailey, grown up Hailey, who had matured greatly in a matter of months but was still as much fun as she used to be. Seth had missed his aunt. He usually did when she left but her returns always made him smile. They had a connection. They were family, aunt and nephew, even if they were only years apart in age. They related to one another and shared intimate jokes with each other. Ryan had grown close to Hailey in the past few days. They shared a bond deeper than they knew. They were polar opposites. He was serious and had always been, she was fun loving and was rarely serious. Each was struggling to find a balance in the two. They were connected, whether they knew or not.
Kirsten stared at her sister, "Hailey. I thought we could spend some time together. As sisters, you know, shopping, the spas, going down to the Plaza to look at lin—that's beside the point. Why are you leaving so soon?"
"It's not that I don't want to stay. I left work very suddenly when I found out you were coming home. I was on the first plane to Newport but I also left behind some unfinished business, literally. They want me back as soon as possible. They need me over there, Kiks. I'm sorry."
"Doesn't it matter that I need you? Hail, stay. Please?" begged Kirsten, moving closer to Hailey.
"Kiks, I wish I could, really I do. I would love nothing more than to stay here and be with you and the family but I can't. I, really, can't stay here for a lot longer…" Kirsten looked at the ground, tears beginning to well in her eyes. Hailey saw this and thought for a moment. She really does need me. But so does the company. Great, this is why work isn't as much fun as doing nothing. I'll do this for her, then. Hopefully, nothing bad comes out of it. "I can't stay another day but I can stay for a few more hours. I'm sure the company won't mind if I'm a little delayed. That's all though, Kiks, a few more hours." Kirsten's eyes lit up as she hugged her sister, tightly.
"That's fine. Oh, Hailey, let me just get dressed, okay?" said Kirsten, excited. Everyone smiled as she walked out of the room, a little spring in her step. They hadn't seen her that excited in months.
"Where do you think you two will be going?" asked Sandy.
"I don't know. The spa, probably, then South Coast Plaza to look at lin—I guess I should cancel my flight," said Hailey, shrugging.
An hour later, Kirsten emerged dressed in a pair of fitted jeans and an even tighter black tank top, white ribbon that crossed in front on her chest, accenting her features and tied at the back, her purse in her hand. The click of her heels could be heard as she strut through the house, smiling. Maybe things were turning out for the best post-rehab. She walked into the kitchen, greeted by stares from her entire family. "What?" she asked.
"Mom, no. You have got to, no. Ryan, could you…?" asked Seth, turning away. Ew.
"Uh, Kirsten, uh. No, man," said Ryan, shying away and looking at Seth.
"Kiks, what are you wearing?" asked Hailey, walking around her, looking her over.
"What's wrong with it?" asked Kirsten, looking down at herself. She had tried something new. She thought it would be a good idea to go toward a new direction. New start, new clothes, well, old clothes. She hadn't worn the tank top since she was in her 20s or was it 30s? The age escaped her, but she just wanted to change it up a little.
"You know, I never thought I'd say this to you but, you're hot!"
"I… Excuse me?"
"Kiks, you, my dear sister, are hot!" said Hailey, slapping Kirsten's rear. Kirsten jumped as Hailey asked, "Sandy? What do you think?" Everyone turned to look at Sandy, who had not uttered a word the entire time. He was still frozen, staring at his wife, dressed like she hadn't been since they were years younger. He missed the way she used to dress, not that he didn't like her now. Her look more conservative but a little sexy but today was completely different and he liked it. He, really, liked it. "Sandy?"
"Honey, can I see you in private for a moment?" he asked, taking her by the elbow, gently walking her to the hall.
"Someone's going to get in trouble," Seth snickered. Hailey laughed.
"Yeah, right, Seth. Trouble," said Hailey, shaking her head at the boy. Idiot.
They didn't have time to do what they had wanted. Hailey had interrupted them, leaving a frustrated Sandy and Kirsten struggling to fix their hair. Well, leaving a frustrated Kirsten to fix her hair.
Sandy and Kirsten walked toward the door, hand in hand, when the doorbell rang. Seth answered with Ryan close behind him. It was the girls. Summer and Marissa had come, bearing gifts as Seth had predicted. Summer was covered in flowers, while Marissa was holding a stuffed Care Bear and a balloon. "Hi girls," said Kirsten, smiling brightly at them.
"Hey Kirsten, good to see you," replied Marissa, handing Kirsten the bear and the balloon. Kirsten smiled handing the gifts to Sandy and then turning to the taller girl and giving her a hug.
"Thank you," she whispered. She pulled away from the hug and looked at Summer, smiling.
"Hey, Mrs. Cohen," said Summer, looking at Kirsten then passing the flowers to Sandy, who was juggling all the gifts. Kirsten laughed as she took the younger girl in her arms.
"Summer, please, call me Kirsten. 'Mrs. Cohen' from my son's girlfriend makes me feel old,"
"Okay, Mrs. Co—oops, um Kirsten. And you're not old, by the way, you're way too young to have a son like that, " she laughed nervously.
"Thanks. Uh, Summer, I, uh wanted to apologize about what happened at my father's funeral. I know you only wanted to help and I wasn't exactly the nicest person toward you. I shouldn't have addressed you like that. I should have thanked you instead, which I never properly did. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for the way I acted and thank you for your concern," Kirsten said, taking her into her arms, again.
"It was no problem, really, Kirsten. You're Seth's mother and I wanted to help. Maybe, this time around, we'll, um, maybe get to know each other?"
Kirsten nodded, "I'd like that."
"Hey, sis, you ready?" asked Hailey, wandering into the room, keys in hand.
"Uh, yeah. Girls, thanks again for everything. I'll talk to you both soon. Lunch, maybe? Sometime this week?"
Both girls nodded as Hailey said her goodbyes to the boys and to Sandy before turning and leaving, waiting outside for Kirsten. The boys left with their significant others as Hailey yelled for Kirsten once more. She sighed and smiled as she turned to look at Sandy. She laughed at the sight of him.
"Honey, I guess I'll see you in a few hours," said Kirsten, leaning in to kiss her husband before turning around and leaving the house.
Sandy stood, arms still full of Kirsten's gifts, "Help? Anyone?"
Kirsten and Hailey first hit the spa. No words were spoken. They just needed each other. As sisters. Hailey's presence made Kirsten feel a lot better. It hurt her to know that all these years that she had been scolding Hailey about her drugs, drinking and partying, she had been the one not to listen to her own advice. It hurt her to know that she hurt her sister but she was glad she was here. Hailey had forgiven her and they were allowed a fresh start, even if it was for only a few hours. They could become close again, a lot closer. Not acting like mother and daughter, however strange that was but like sisters, real sisters, which meant Kirsten could ask her advice and perhaps ask for a favor…?
"Hail?" asked Kirsten, looking over at her sister, driving the car toward the airport.
"Yeah?"
"Could we maybe stop at the Plaza for a minute? I need to pick something up and, er, I need your input on something," she hesitated, looking awkwardly at the road ahead.
"Uh, sure. What are you picking up? And what is it that Kirsten Cohen needs input on?" asked Hailey, raising an eyebrow at her sister, who was now fidgeting in her seat.
"Something for Sandy and uh, something for, uh, Sandy,"
"Oooh, and what are these somethings?"
Kirsten swallowed hard and mumbled incoherently, "Handcuffs."
Even though Kirsten had spoken in a quiet mumble, she knew what her sister was talking about. You could say it was a sibling connection that they had developed even though they were so far apart. She had a sense about these things. Also, Hailey knew her sister. The only thing that really made her uncomfortable was sex and anything revolving around sex. Hailey laughed aloud, the car swerving a little. Kirsten gasped and hung onto the car as Hailey calmed herself down and slowed the car down.
"Hailey! The road! Look, I can't go into that shop and pick it up myself, so I was wondering, if you could for me?"
Hailey looked at Kirsten and nodded. Kirsten was blushing madly as she tried to gather her courage to talk to her about her next question. She grabbed her purse; pulling out the present Sandy had given her. Hailey looked down to see what she was doing and gasped.
"Kiks, tell me that's not what I think it is!" she exclaimed, still managing to keep the car going at a steady pace and on the road.
Kirsten nodded, "It's lingerie. Sandy bought it for me and, well, I think it's a little too small. What am I supposed to do with it?"
Hailey parked the car and picked up the garments; black bra with matching underwear, which was significantly smaller than Kirsten had obviously expected and a very sheer lacy thing to go overtop. She held it up as Kirsten began to blush again, pulling it down from Hailey's grasp. Hailey laughed as she once again took the garments but this time held the bra and panties against Kirsten. "Sweetie, it's not too small. I'm sure it'll fit you. Look. And it's supposed to be this small. That's kind of the point. Jeez, you'd think you'd never worn any before," said Hailey, noticing Kirsten's look of confusion at the black lingerie and at her sister, "Oh wow. You never have, have you?" Kirsten shook her head.
"It doesn't cover anything! I just wear it like that? The panties are ridiculously small, I mean that's got to start somewhere below my hips. And yeah, Sandy and I never really did the lingerie thing. We sort of just did—" Kirsten stopped noticing the look of disgust on her sister's face, "Let's just get this over with." Hailey nodded as they both walked toward the store. Hailey bought the item and didn't bother putting it in a bag. Kirsten was embarrassed enough without having to flaunt it with a bag with the store's name posted in large letters on it. Kirsten drove the car on the way to the airport, dropping Hailey off. They hugged one last time and said their tearful goodbyes. Kirsten drove home to find a surprise waiting for her in the living room.
"Dawn. Hi."
But please be patient, we're writing the chapter with a Kirsten-Ryan relationship surprise.