DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!!
Ok, here's the next chapter, I know it is not any good but please let me know what you think. I really appreciate every review I get. This chapter is shorter but I promise the future ones are gonna be longer and there is going to be more S/S and R/T. These next few chapters though are gonna focus on Kandy and Juki friendship. Also, I've had to work a lot lately and that is why updates have been few and far between. I hope y'all are still interested and let me know what you think. Thanks!
Sandy quickly pulled into the driveway and was relieved to see that there were no cars at home. He knew that once Kirsten started shopping that she would not be home for at least three hours then when he added the amount of time it would take with Julie, Blake, and Sophie in tow he did not expect to see her until later that afternoon.
"What do ya think Caleb?" Sandy asked, his tone harsh. Caleb glanced at the house for a second, thinking about how shocked he had been when his private investigator had brought him pictures of the house, unable to believe that his daughter would settle for such a modest house after living in a mansion for so many years.
"It's small!" Caleb stated bluntly, his disapproval obvious in his voice. Sandy glared at the man for a moment but decided that he would not argue with this man, there was too much they needed to discuss.
"At least we're happy here," Sandy snorted as he stood out of the car and began walking to the front door. Caleb quickly followed behind Sandy, glancing around the small yard where a pink Barbie Jeep and a small picnic table sat.
"Are you sure no one's home?" Caleb asked, suddenly worried that Kirsten would be in the house.
"Cal, all those years of living in seclusion have made you nuts. No one is home, there aren't any cars home. The kids went to a movie, Ma went to finish Chrismukkah shopping, and Kirsten and Julie took the kids to the mall. They won't be home for hours!" Sandy declared as he placed the key in the door.
"As long as you're sure, I don't think I could handle seeing Kirsten right now," Caleb said as he waited for Sandy to open the door. Sandy's eyes narrowed as he heard Caleb and was once again filled with anger. Caleb was so selfish that he did not care what seeing a man that was suppose to be dead would do to Kirsten, all he thought of was himself.
"Caleb, I really don't care what you could handle, I just don't want this to be the thing that pushes Kirsten over the edge. She doesn't need another relapse!" Sandy stated plainly, trying to keep his temper under control.
"Yes, I forgot about her bout with alcohol!" Caleb said nonchalantly infuriating Sandy even more. Sandy continued to remind himself that fighting with his father-in-law would prove completely fruitless as he opened the front door to his house.
"Kiki, I didn't think you'd be home so soon!" Julie called from the kitchen when she heard the front door close. "Sophie's down for a nap in her room if you want to take her medicine to her!" Julie continued to talk as she continued to pour herself a drink. When Julie did not receive a response she placed the pitcher of tea down and quickly walked into the living room where she nearly fainted. Standing in the living room beside Sandy, both men shocked to hear Julie's voice, was Caleb Nichol, her dead ex-husband. "Holy $hit!" Julie gasped, dropping her glass of tea to the floor. For what felt like an eternity Sandy, Caleb, and Julie all stood in the living room just staring at each other. "What the hell is going on?" Julie asked, finally regaining her composure. Caleb glanced at Sandy, hoping he could provide an answer to Julie's question.
"Caleb, I'm gonna let you explain this!" Sandy said as he began to exit the living room, having no idea what to say or what he should do.
"No! Sandy, you are going to tell me what the hell is going on? Why is he here and why aren't you shocked to see him? Why are you standing beside a man that is suppose to be six feet under, roasting in hell?" Julie asked, her voice full of scorn. Sandy froze where he stood, knowing that there was not an easy way out of this. He had been caught helping the enemy.
"JuJu, calm down, please!" Caleb pleaded, knowing that trying to reason with Julie when she was upset was completely pointless.
"Don't you tell me to calm down, you're suppose to be dead! Why the hell aren't you?" Julie had not felt that kind of anger in years but as she stood facing Caleb and Sandy she could feel herself slowly transforming back into Julie Cooper, the ice bitch of Newport.
"Julie, please, let's not do this, not with the kids in the house," Even though Sandy and Julie had clashed many times he knew that Julie would always put the welfare of her children above everything else. Julie stood there a moment, continuing to glare at both men then nodded, knowing that Blake nor Sophie deserved to see what their parent's lives had been like before they were born.
"Fine, Sophie's asleep in her room and Blake's watching a movie in Ryan's room but I want to know what is going on!" Julie continued to glare at both men, still unable to believe what she was seeing.
"All right, let's go into the kitchen and talk about this like rational adults," Sandy said as he led the way to the kitchen. Julie quickly followed behind Sandy but Caleb stood still for a moment, looking around at the photos that were placed around the room.
There were pictures of the Cohen's before Ryan came into the family, pictures of the Cohen's plus one before Sophie was born, and then there were the pictures of all of them. The picture that caught Caleb's attention was not one of Kirsten or Seth but one of Sophie. She was probably about six months old and even then she had blonde curls and bright blue eyes. Caleb sighed, realizing for the first time that Sophie looked exactly like Kirsten had when she was that age. Looking around the room Caleb saw another picture that he figured was the most recent. In the photo a young woman who Caleb knew to be Taylor, was holding Sophie in her arms and pointing to something out of sight of the camera. In the photo Sophie looked lovingly at Taylor, her long blonde curls pulled into a messy ponytail and she had one of the biggest smiles Caleb thought he had ever seen. Caleb was just about to turn and go to the kitchen when he heard the front door open. Caleb quickly turned around and was too shocked to speak when he saw Kirsten standing behind him, a small white paper bag in her hand.
"Oh My God!" Kirsten gasped as tears sprang to her eyes.