Returning To A Shocking New Life, Chapter 31
" Hey Dad. " Summer said as she answered Ryan's phone.
" Hi Summer. I was calling Ryan's cell phone and must have called yours by mistake. " Neil said.
" No dad, you called the right phone, I just answered it. " Summer said.
" Oh. " Neil said.
" We need to talk. " Summer said before her father could say anything else.
" Is everything ok ? Do I need to come over ? " Neil asked worriedly.
" I am not sure coming over is a good idea right now daddy. " Summer said.
Neil was worried. He knew that he was always welcome at the home of his daughter and her family.
" What is it ? " Neil asked.
" I saw Melinda earlier. " Summer said.
" Oh ! " Neil said shocked. " Did you talk to her ? " Neil asked slowly.
" I pretty much had to, because she showed up her to get Stephanie. " Summer said.
" So, how was your talk ? " Neil asked.
" Revealing, once I called Ryan and he convinced me to go down stairs and talk to her. " Summer began. " I had thought that she had left us because she didn't love us any more and then today she says that she did love me and still does. Then I went to check on Michelle and Abigail since they were crying. Then Ryan came up after she left and we started talking and I find out that you told him that she left us because you caught her cheating and got sole custody of me. "
" So you know. " Neil said.
" Yeah I know. " Summer stated. " Why did you let me think that she left because she didn't love me any more ? Why not tell me the truth ? "
" You were to young to know that your mother had cheated on you and as you got older, it go harder to tell you the truth. But there were times when I really wanted to tell you, like when you started dating, graduated high school and started college, brought Ryan home for the first time as your boy friend, when you got married, during the months that you were pregnant or when the twins were born. I especially wanted to tell you when your sister arrived. " Neil said.
" But you told Ryan, so it couldn't have been to hard ! " Summer stated as her temper rose.
" When Stephanie showed up at the party and you were talking to her in you room. It got harder and I realized that I had to tell someone what really happened and Ryan was there and I know that he would want to know the truth. " Neil said.
" So now that I know the truth about that, is there anything else that you want to tell me ? " Summer asked.
" No there isn't " Neil said.
" I hope that you wont keep something this big from me again daddy. " Summer said.
" I wont. Is it ok for me to come over now ? " Neil asked.
" Not yet dad. I need some time by myself, so I can think things through. " Summer said.
" Ok, but if you need something, let Ryan or I know. Ok ? " Neil said.
" I will. " Summer responded.
" I love you Summer. " Neil said.
" I love you to daddy. " Summer said.
Summer closed the cell phone and sat it down on the desk. She let out a breath that she didn't know she had held in and stood up and walked out of the office. As she walked into the living room, she saw her husband sitting on the floor playing with their daughters, all three were smiling and laughing. She knew with the stress of Melinda returning, things would be hard. But as long as she had her daughters, her loving husband, her family. She would be fine.
Ryan felt like someone was watching him and looked up to find Summer staring at him.
" Hey. " Ryan said.
" Hey. " Summer respnded.
" Are you still mad at me for not telling you what your dad told me ? " Ryan asked.
Summer shook her head as she walked towards the three of them and sat next to Ryan. As she laid her head on his shoulder, she brushed the little wisp of hair on Michelle's head.
While Abigail and Michelle continued to giggle and watch their parents, Ryan and Summer looked up as Marissa rushed into the room with a worried look on her face.
" Something wrong Coop ? " Summer asked.
" I just found out from Kirsten that your mom was here ! " Marissa said.
" Oh. " Ryan and Summer said at the same time.
" I came over thinking that you might need some comfort. Because I thought you would be crying to bad or something to call me. " Marissa said.
" I am fine for now. Ryan took good care of me. " Summer said as she smiled slightly at Ryan before turning back to face her best friend.
" He better ! " Marissa said as she glanced at Ryan.
" What ? I would do everything I could to take care of my family ! " Ryan said.
" Oh calm down Ry. She is just saying that because she is my best friend and she is concerned. " Summer said as she patted him on the arm.
" What she said. " Marissa responded before asking " So, where is Stephanie ? DId she leave with your mother ? "
" No, she is still staying here for now, but she said she wanted to go for a walk on the beach. " Ryan said.
" Ok. So, since your here, what do you say to some retail therapy Coop ? " Summer asked.
" I don't have anything else left to do today, so it sounds good. We could see if Stephanie wants to go with us. " Marissa said.
" Ok. " Summer said and turned to Ryan once she stood up and asked " Are you alright with watching them for a little while ? "
" Of course. " Ryan said.
Summer smiled before leaning down and kissing his lips, both smiling when they pulled away.
" So, when did Stephanie leave ? " Marissa asked as she watched the love her friends showed for each other.
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Four and a half hours later, Summer walked through the front door, each arm carrying three bags. Each bag contained either a new pair of high heels, sandles, skirt, shirt, undergarment, some type of clothes for one of her daughter or something for Ryan and she still had a couple bags to get out of her car.
She sat the bags she had on her arms down and walked out to the car to get the rest of them. Once she was inside with the rest of the bags, she took them up stairs to her bedroom to sort through. When she came back down the stairs, she caught sight of her husband's short sandy blond hair resting against the arm of the couch. She began to wonder where the girls were.
As she walked the rest of the way down the stairs and into the front room, she found them. Each curled up in one of their father's arms, their heads resting on his chest as a basketball game played on the tv in the back ground and all three slept.
She smiled at the sight and walked back towards the stairs and saw her sister coming throught the front door. She brought her index finger to her lips to show her to be quiet. Stephanie gave her a confused look before Summer signalled for her to follow her up the stairs, each carrying their bags from the mall.
" Put your bags away and meet me at the bottom of the stairs. " Summer whispered and recieved a nod from Stephanie.
Once each of them put their bags away, Summer stopped by the up stairs hall closet and opened it to get out the digital camera before walking back down stairs.
Once down stairs, she found Stephanie waiting where she asked her to and motioned for her to follow her. Once in the front room, both smiled at the sight of Ryan, Michelle and Abigail. Summer raised the digital camera and took a picture. Ryan didn't move when the camera falshed, but both Abigail and Michelle snuggled deeper into their father's loving arms.