Thanks again for the nice comments everyone. I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter; I love all the Cohen kitchen scenes and bonding. I just finished Season 3 this weekend and was disappointed at how little interaction there was (one of the MANY things wrong with that season IMO). And before anyone asks, it IS possible to burn Cups of Noodles. I speak from experience. In my defense, I was 8. Don't know what Kirsten's excuse is, LOL. Anyway enjoy!
Chapter 4
Caleb found himself in the Cohen kitchen again but this time he watched as Kirsten and Ryan entered from the living room carrying empty boxes.
"That's the last of the decorations," Ryan said, setting the boxes off to the side.
"Thank god," Kirsten exclaimed. "It seems like every year Seth adds more stuff to be put up." Rummaging through the top drawer, Kirsten took out a couple menus. "What are you in the mood for?"
Ryan paused. "Ummm… how about I make something? We're always ordering out."
Kirsten raised her eyebrow. "Really? You want to cook?"
Ryan laughed. "I like to cook. It's relaxing." He smiled at Kirsten's skeptical look. "You should try it someday." Opening the fridge, Ryan pulled out some salmon that had already been defrosted. "Salmon sounds good?"
"Oh, I love salmon," Kirsten praised. For the next few minutes, Ryan took out the ingredients needed for the marinade as well as leftover salad and pasta.
"How can I help?" Kirsten asked as she watched Ryan preparing the food.
"You really want to learn?"
"Sure. Can you imagine the look on Seth's face when he finds out that I cooked?"
Ryan laughed. "All right. This is actually pretty easy so even you can't mess it up." He ignored Kirsten's glare. The two continue to banter gently as Ryan instructed Kirsten what to do and Caleb stood silently observing their interaction. He had never seen Ryan looking so relaxed and for that matter, it's been a while since he seen Kirsten relaxed as well. He silently acknowledged that he's only seen Kirsten at work lately and business-Kirsten was certainly different from at-home Kirsten. He resolved to spend more time with his daughter outside of the office.
While he was quietly musing in his thoughts, Ryan and Kirsten made quick work with the salmon, which was now baking in the oven. Kirsten went back to the dining table where a blueprint was spread out with what Caleb assumed was probably the Anderson Project.
"Something still doesn't look right," Kirsten mumbled her face scrunched up in frustration. "Of course all of our architects are on vacation right now. Everyone is on vacation, except me."
Ryan set the timer on the oven and headed back to Kirsten. After a minute of looking over the blueprint, he nodded. "You're right, something is off," Ryan agreed as he chewed at his lip, brows furrowed in intense concentration. Caleb couldn't help but notice the similar expressions plastered on their faces. No wonder Mr. Whitten thought Ryan was his grandson; Ryan looked more like Kirsten than Seth did. Caleb watched curiously as Ryan turned to the laptop sitting on the table and opened up a 3-D model of the layout. After fiddling with the program, punching in some data, and comparing it to the layout on the table, Ryan exclaimed loudly, "Aha!"
Kirsten looked up eagerly. "What? You figured it out?"
"Yeah. Look at that area right there," Ryan pointed to something on the blueprint. "The dimensions are all wrong. Someone probably just goofed up. But you seem to like this layout right? You could still keep it like this but then you have to move this over here and then this over here. " Ryan continued some more, pointing out various things on the laptop and on the blueprint. Caleb was shocked. The boy clearly knew what he was talking about and his ideas sounded legit.
Kirsten nodded throughout Ryan's explanation and was positively beaming when he finished. "We need to put you on the payroll," she concluded.
Ryan shrugged. "I'm sure someone else could have suggested it."
"Yeah but probably in the middle of construction," Kirsten pointed out. "And remember your suggestion of using solar panels for the new convention building? That was ingenious. Newport Group could use someone like you."
Caleb was amazed again. Installing the solar panels cut the budget of the entire project in half. It also got those environmental groups off of Newport Group's back. Those hawks have been after him ever since the Heights case.
Ryan shrugged again and returned his attention to his laptop. Kirsten watched as Ryan opened up a window and typed in calculations she couldn't possibly understand. The next thing she knew, she was seeing the model transformed to what Ryan just described.
"This is so cool. You need to teach me how to use this program," Kirsten exclaimed.
"No problem. It's really not that hard. Just play around with it a little bit and you'll get the hang."
"Well it's about time us old folks get in tune with technology right?" Kirsten joked.
Ryan smiled. "Is there anything else you have to work on?"
"No," Kirsten sighed happily. "I meant what I said to my dad. I'm taking a vacation." Kirsten couldn't help but notice how Ryan tensed up with the mention of her father.
"I'm sorry for my Dad's behavior, sweetie," Kirsten said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Ryan remained silent and glanced at the floor for a few moments. "It's okay," he said finally. "He's only trying to protect you."
"I don't need protection from you," Kirsten said surprised.
"Your dad's first impression of me was a juvenile delinquent who just burned down his prized model home. I can understand his suspicions." Ryan paused for a moment and taking a deep breath, added quietly, "sort of like how I understand your initial reluctance."
Kirsten gasped. "Oh Ryan, I am so sorry about that. As you can probably tell, it's not easy for me to open up to people. I don't have Sandy's ability to see the good in people right away. Growing up in Newport and living with my Dad, I guess I just put these walls up to avoid getting hurt. I was completely wrong about you, and I wish my dad understood that the model home thing wasn't your fault."
Ryan sighed. "Look Kirsten. Your dad has good reason to be suspicious of me. I would be too if I was in his shoes. He loves you and he just doesn't want to see you get hurt."
"Kind of ironic," Kirsten said bitterly. "Since over the years, my dad has probably hurt me the most out of anyone."
Ryan didn't say anything, sensing that Kirsten wanted to say more and was trying to formulate her thoughts.
"All I ever wanted was his approval. Some acknowledgement that what I was doing was good," Kirsten sighed. "I even started to become him, putting work ahead of my family. That scared the hell out of me. I'm starting to accept the fact that I'm probably never going to get it." Kirsten finished sadly. Caleb was shocked.
"Why would she think that?" Caleb wondered out loud.
"Have you given her any reason to not think otherwise?" the spirit asked, startling Caleb. Caleb had forgotten about the sprit since he'd been so quiet. Caleb was going to argue but closed his mouth as he remembered past conversations with Kirsten. Telling her that marrying Sandy was the worst decision she made in her life, how her over-protectiveness of Seth was messing up his life, how she should focus more on work. Caleb sighed. He had a lot of fixing up to do with his daughter.
Coming out of her train of thoughts, Kirsten looked up to see Ryan's glum expression.
"Oh Ryan. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to start going off about my messed up relationship with my Dad," Kirsten apologized.
Ryan shook his head. "It's all right Kirsten. I know what it's like to want approval from your parents," he finished quietly, staring back at the floor.
Kirsten went over and pulled Ryan into a hug. Surprised at first at the action, Ryan relaxed into her arms and turned his cheek to rest on her shoulder. Kirsten pulled away but tilted Ryan's chin so he was looking at her. "I don't want you to ever forget how proud Sandy and I are of you. You're smart, polite, hardworking, and possess this hero-complex that's giving Sandy and I more gray hairs than we would like. Any sane mother would be proud of you but I'm glad that you're my son."
Ryan's eyes widen at the word of son and a blush spread across his features. It wasn't the first time he had heard Kirsten mentioned him as such but it was always spoken to someone else and not at him directly. Kirsten resisted the urge to apologize for the comment even though she knew it made Ryan uncomfortable. He needed to know how she felt about him. As she saw the creeping smile emerging on Ryan's face, she was glad that she said it.
"Thanks," Ryan mumbled quietly. Kirsten smiled and pulled him in closer to ruffle his hair. Ryan didn't pull back so Kirsten gave in to instinct and pressed a kiss on his head. Ryan's blush redden and Kirsten laughed delightedly before pulling away to clean up their now finished work.
Caleb watched the intimate scene play out in front of him in fascination. Despite Kirsten's protests, he always thought Kirsten merely tolerated Ryan for Seth and Sandy's sake. He knew about Kirsten's reluctance to admit Ryan into the house and he had used that knowledge over Kirsten ever since. He figured that Kirsten finally gave in because of Seth who obviously needed a playmate. However it was obvious now that their relationship had deepened considerably and perhaps Seth wasn't the only one that needed Ryan.
The sound of laughter shook Caleb out of his reverie as he watched Sandy and Seth bounce into the kitchen.
"Hey! Something smells good," Seth said excitedly. "Where did you order from, Mom?"
Kirsten shared a smile with Ryan before turning to Seth. "No take out tonight. Ryan taught me how to cook."
Seth's jaw dropped and he raised an accusing finger at Ryan, "How could you?! You broke the pact!"
Ryan looked at Seth and shrugged. "I thought that was just for Thanksgiving. Come on man, give Kirsten a chance. What's the harm?"
"What's the harm?" Seth asked incredulously. "Dude Ryan, do you have any idea what horrors you've just unleashed by allowing Mom to cook? I'm too young to die! Dad, you'll back me up right?"
Sandy laughed and nodded, trying to ignore Kirsten's glare. "I'm sorry honey but you cooking is a scary thought. Remember how you burned Cup of Noodles back in Berkeley? I didn't even know that was possible."
"Humph," Kirsten grumbled. "That was a long time ago. I could have gotten better."
"You burned the turkey last year!" Seth pointed out, still shooting a glare at Ryan.
"Hey I was here to supervise. Dinner is going to be great," Ryan insisted.
"Well I'm glad someone in this family has confidence in me," Kirsten said, moving to stand next to Ryan. "And if you want your presents Seth, you better eat up."
"What?!" Seth asked aghast. "Ryan, buddy, come on. You can't do this to me. We're evenly matched right now but if you join Dad and me, we can totally take on The Kirsten."
"Cut it out Seth," Ryan said getting annoyed.
Seth turned to Sandy. "I told you it was a bad idea letting these two spend so much time together. Ryan was totally on our side before Mom brainwashed him. Now it's the gentiles versus the Jews and if history serves me well, it didn't end so well for the Jews."
"Seth!" Kirsten warned. "Your presents…"
"Fine," Seth sighed giving up. "No need to get your panties in a twist."
"Seth, don't say panties," Kirsten and Ryan said simultaneously.
"See!" Seth exclaimed to Sandy, pointing at the two. "Ryan has been completely neutered by the Kirsten. You're next Dad and knowing you, you'll succumb in no time. It's going to be poor lonely me fending for myself and trying to preserve our Jewish tradition against our gentile counterparts."
Sandy laughed at his son's antics and wrapped his arms around Kirsten. "Seth's right, I can't resist you honey. Dinner smells delicious."
"Thanks sweetie," Kirsten smiled as she leaned in to give Sandy a peck on the lips.
Seth's gagging noises prevented them from doing anything further. Ryan laughed and dragged Seth away to set the table while Seth continued to ramble on about how Ryan was going to face the wrath of Summer if anything happened to him.
Sandy turned back to Kirsten. "So what brought this cooking thing on?"
"Ryan was trying to get my mind off work." Sandy's eyebrow shot up. "Okay to be more precise, my dad," Kirsten admitted.
"What did he do this time?"
"Nothing new, just wanted me to put work in front of my family again. But Sandy, I told him that I am never going to put work ahead of my family. I've done it too many times in the past." She turned back to watch the playful banter between Ryan and Seth. "The boys are going to be off to college soon. I don't want to miss any of this." She laughed as Ryan threw a napkin at Seth who was undeterred by the action and kept rambling on.
"Your dad has no idea what he's missing out on," Sandy observed.
"Luckily, I do," Kirsten replied. "Come on, let's go rescue Ryan from Seth."
Caleb stood longingly watching the whole scene play out. They were all so comfortable and loose with each other. He didn't have that growing up and he had to admit, he wasn't around much when Kirsten and Hailey were younger to experience that with them either. He couldn't help but feel slightly envious at their easy banter and laughter. He noticed the spirit staring at him intently and realized that the spirit had been unusually quiet this entire time. "What was the point of bringing me here?" Caleb inquired.
"To show you what you're missing out on. You have a wonderful family Caleb, if only you would acknowledge it. Accept that Sandy makes your wife happier than anyone else could, that Seth doesn't need to be a football player or business protégée, and that Ryan's inclusion into the family has only made them stronger. If you could just do that, you could be a part of this," the spirit lectured.
"It's easier said than done," Caleb grumbled. "It's not every day you just accept juvenile delinquents into your family."
The spirit's eyes flashed angrily as he recognized the old Caleb resurfacing. "We need to go someplace else," he instructed and grabbed a hold of Caleb's arm not too gently.
Caleb found himself at the beach. "Why are we here?" he turned around to ask the spirit, only to find him walking towards the pier. Caleb walked quickly to catch up and almost crashed into the spirit when he abruptly stopped.
"Look," the spirit pointed. Caleb followed the direction of his finger and saw a group of young kids huddled under the pier, shivering.
"What are they doing over there?" Caleb asked curious. "It's freezing. They should head back home."
"They have no home Caleb. They're runaways and they have no place to go."
"Well they could get jobs. Make something of themselves. Like I did," Caleb tried to reasoned.
"Who would hire them when they have no permanent address? What they need is guidance, perhaps a little help. Even you got help," the spirit pointed out.
Caleb couldn't argue with that, even though he wanted to.
"I've seen enough," he said angrily to the spirit. "I know that I need to fix my problems with my family but what difference could I make to these kids just from building a youth center?"
"A simple act of kindness goes a long way Caleb."
Caleb looked doubtful. The spirit sighed. "It's my time to go now. You have one more visit left. Hopefully you can see the errors of your ways, Caleb. You have much to offer."
Before Caleb could reply, the spirit vanished. Caleb looked around at his surroundings and was surprised to still find himself at the beach. He thought he would be transported back to his bedroom like last time.
"Where am I supposed to go?" he wondered out loud.
A hand grabbed his shoulder and Caleb felt his blood run cold. He turned around and found himself staring at a clothed figure with a black hoodie. Caleb couldn't see its face and felt maybe he would be better not to.
"Are you the Ghost of the Future?" he asked cautiously. Caleb felt a bad vibe coming from this spirit. He watched the clothed figure nod and then felt his hand being grabbed again. Caleb whispered a slight prayer, hoping that the future wasn't as grim as he felt it was going to be.