Thanks to my reviews again on the last chapter, and also I can not belive how many hits this story has had, it is really grounding :)
Thanks again to RJMoonspell4 for your comments
Read, Enjoy, review lol :P
"Hey there you guys are" Sandy said welcoming Ryan and Ottilie as they walked towards their picnic on the beach. Their spot was secluded and there was a small fire and huge big blankets on the sand packed with lots of home made food that Kirsten had bought along.
"Auntie Sum" Ottilie said excitedly, Summer smiled at her niece that was running over to her, she bent down to her height and hugged her.
"Auntie Sum, look Aunt Kaitlin gave me another lipstick" Ottilie said as she knelt on the sand next to Summer and tipped the contents of the chanel bag out. Ottilie shook it and her picture fell out, Summer glanced down at all of her old make up falling out of her bag. Until she came across a familiar picture of a familiar face. Summer held up the picture as Ottilie carried on looking through her things, Summer's eyes began to water, her pregnancy hormones running riot. It was her Coop, the person she hadn't seen in face to face in 5 years, her best friend who didn't even write or call or come to her wedding.
"Otty where did you get this" Summer breathed as her tears made her voice shaky. Ottilie looked up at her aunt Summer.
"I found it at Grandma's house in the closet of the room I stay in, there is so much stuff in there, but lots and lots of pictures…." Ottilie said carefully,
"Of my Mom," Summer looked at her confused, Ottilie had never known this before, and Ryan hadn't told them in the car that they had finally had the talk about Marissa. Ottilie crossed her arms over her chest and frowned slightly, to Summer it was the 5 year old Marissa looking at her, not her daughter.
"Oh Sweetie," Summer said as Ottilie tried to take back the picture from her.
"Daddy already told me all about her this morning, but I can't help it Aunt Sum," Ottilie leant into her shoulder and Summer could feel a little tear, she rested against the sand and hugged her niece.
"Auntie Sum, why is it that all girls have a Mommy for their whole life's and never got one"
"Ohh baby, it wasn't your Mom's fault, she just got really really sad when you were born, she had to move to New York but she does love you kiddo" Summer rocked her back and forth, and wiped her own tear away, she felt Ottilie's body freeze and look up at her, her innocent blue Atwood eyes were clouded with confusion.
"What?" Ottilie asked, Summer tried to read her face, if Ryan had explained it all to her this morning, then why did she look so confused, then it dawned on her the look of surprise and upset on Ottilie's face.
"Oh my god, you didn't" Summer said talking more to herself. She gasped and bought her hand up to her mouth,
"Why….. Why would my Mom go to New York, did she not love me? But I thought she was in heaven why is everyone changing the story…why?" Ottilie asked her, Summer looked round and could see Ryan talking to Seth, and then punching Seth in the arm when he said something most probably 'Coheny' .
"Auntie Summer, why wont anyone tell me" Ottilie demanded getting annoyed with the situation, and again crossed her arms over her chest, her lip began to tremble and she sniffed a few times,
"Otty, look lets get Daddy over here" Summer moved Ottilie onto the sand next to her and stood up and rushed over to Ryan,
"Hey Sum" Ryan opened his arms and hugged Summer, when they parted he saw she had tears in her eyes,
"Is everything ok?" Ryan asked concerned, Summer shook her head and looked up at him,
"Look Ryan, I though she knew, she was just talking about her and I… It just came out, I thought you were honest with her……I am so sorry" Ryan looked over Summer's shoulder and could see Ottilie staring out at the ocean, just like her Mother used to when she was confused.
"Oh my god," Ryan said as he rubbed his hands over his face
"How much does she know?" Ryan asked not needing to know any questions, it was weirdly like he had been prepared for this to come out for years.
"New York, I am so so sorry Chino, I just.."
"Don't worry Sum, honestly it was bound to come out sooner or later" Ryan began walking over to Ottilie who had her arms crossed over her chest giving her Dad the 'Atwood Glare'.
"Hey guys is everything ok?" Sandy asked Seth and Summer as they stood at the shore line hugging each other,
"Dad way to kill a mood" Seth said jokingly, Summer laughed at her husband and swatted his chest
"Haha son, your hilarious, I meant with Ryan and my granddaughter she looks a little upset." Sandy said worried as Ryan walked over to where Ottilie was sitting 'brooding' alone.
"She finally found out about my bitch of a stepsister and didn't take it to well" Summer said snappily, Sandy raised his eyebrows at Seth and he shook his head, Ryan had taken Marissa just leaving terribly as expected, but what wasn't expected was how Summer reacted, it was like Marissa had died, she never wanted to have contact with her, then one day she just refused to talk about her anymore, she never really had a best friend much after that, they moved to UCLA, in the January of Freshman year, the East Coast not being for them and had helped out as much as they could with Ottilie.
"So she knows then huh? I wondered how long he would keep it a secret?" Sandy said procrastinating out loud whilst walking back to the others.
"It will be ok Summer I promise" Seth kissed the top of Summer's lips as she stood with her arms around her his tiny waist. She really did love her husband.
"Ottilie" Ryan said as he bent next to his daughter on the sand, she ignored her Dad and looked away from him.
"Look baby, you need to talk to Daddy," Ryan was unsure about how to talk about this with his daughter. After he got no response for a little while he tried again.
"Ottilie, you need to talk to me, are you upset or angry?" It would be so much easier if this talk was happening when she was older, a little less stubborn and idealistic so she could see his point of view also.
"I should never of said what I did, but I just didn't expect you to ever-"
"You said she died" Ottilie's lip quivered and Ryan immediately moved to be closer to his daughter.
"You said that she was in heaven, when really this whole time you lied to me" She looked up at her father again that day with demanding eyes
"I never did it to upset you Ottilie, it seemed like a good idea at the time, I never thought you would find out about her, I know you are too young to understand where I am coming from" Ryan sighed again, deciding if he really had to do this he had to be honest with her, even though she was only 5. He picked her up and he felt her squirm, which she he hardly ever did when she was held by Ryan.
"Look sweetie, when you were born, me and your Mom were so happy, but as time went on she got sick. Not anything life threatening it is just a little illness that some people get after they had babies."
He tried to read Ottilie's eyes, but she seemed expressionless.
"She got really bad, to sick to even hold you, or feed you, she was just to ill, then her and I broke up and I would still come to you every day before and after school, It seemed like so much but I learned to deal with it, and so did your Mom in time, Well one night I came to visit you, and I went upstairs to your room, got you out of your crib, you were crying so much and Grandpa Neal came upstairs and he and Grandma Julie told me that your Mom, had……." Ryan shut his eyes, reluctant to relive the memory,
"Your Mom had gone away sweetie, and she left us with a letter. She moved to New York" Ottilie began to cry and Ryan rocked her back and forth.
"Did I make her go away?" Ottilie asked hiccupping more tears.
"Don't ever think that, this wasn't your fault at all, promise me you wont ever blame yourself."
"If its anyone's fault its mine for pushing away, not wanting to be a couple when she was born, none of this would have ever of happened."
"Is she ever going to want to meet me?" Ottilie asked whilst looking out at the sea. That question really did stump Ryan, he had no idea, maybe that was Marissa's ulterior motive for coming back, maybe she wanted to see her baby , who knows Marissa was so unpredictable it was hard to ever know what she was thinking.
"Um, I'm not sure Otty, maybe someday. If she ever comes back from where she is" Ryan said avoiding eye contact with his daughter. He couldn't let his baby be dragged around by Marissa. She would always be travelling and there would be a media frenzy whenever she would go to Marissa's and Jakes, which would most likely scare the little girl, and as sad as it sounded Ryan didn't think he could handle the fact that his daughter and the love of his life where living with another man.
"Daddy," She wiped her eyes and got Ryan's attention,
"I want you to find her, wherever she is" Ryan sighed and Ottilie pleaded with him,
"Please I just want to have a Mommy." Ottilie started to cry again and Ryan nodded unable to handle it when his daughter was sad, it tore his heart in two.
"Ok baby, if that's what you want." He held her close and kissed her temple, now all he had to do was convince Marissa to want to be a part of her daughters life. After her reactions last night he didn't know how hard it would be.
I know this is a short one guys, but it was sort of a neccessary filler chapter, I couldnt write too much more otherwise it would be too much to take in at once. Let me know what you think!
xoxo