Dreaming is like Springtime

Summary: This is set a few days after Ruthie's 21st birthday. It turns out that Martin wasn't the father of Sandy's baby, and the baby was weak and didn't survive. Martin is still single, and still cares about Ruthie; but he doesn't have much time for her because of his baseball career. He is doing well, and becoming more and more known to fans. Savannah is six and Lucy and Kevin had another baby, Kaity who is four. As it turns out, Rose and Simon were not happy together (I don't like Rose to much) and got their marriage annulled soon after the wedding. Rose moves and nobody in Glenoak hears from her again. Ruthie has grown accustom to Martin not being around; even though she still has feelings for him. Eric and Annie are going through Sam and David in their early teen years, and as much as they are used to this for some reason it seems harder with two.

-----------------------------

(CHAPTER BEGIN: Phone Calls)

"Ruthie, where's my sparkly pink belt?" Alison, Ruthie's college roommate and current best friend asked.

"What pink belt?" Ruthie responded, looking up from the book she was reading. It was solely for educational purposes; she'd been working especially hard on school to take her mind off of Martin.

"The pink belt that I bought at the mall last Friday," Alison looked up from the pile of clothing and belts and shoes that lay in her closet. "I can't seem to find it anywhere."

"Well," Ruthie thought about it for a moment. "Oh yeah, I borrowed it a few days ago. Here." Ruthie walked over beside her bed and found a sparkly pink belt on the floor.

"Thank goodness! I thought I'd have to wear a whole different outfit." Alison laughed as she walked over and took the belt from Ruthie's hand. "I can't believe you're graduating in two months. I'm going to miss you!"

"I'm going to miss you too, Ali, but I still can't wait. I started college early so I would be out early; not so I could stay an extra year."

"Oh, but Ruthie, we have so much fun together."

"I know, I know. I just think that this is for the best… okay?"

"Alright, I suppose…" Alison said, tightening the belt around her waist and walking out the door. "See me at the café around 1:15?" She called back before she closed the door.

"Sure thing!" Ruthie said, waving her roommate off and walking back over to her desk where her book was left open and askew. "Now… what page was I on…"

Rrrring. Rrrrring. Rrrrrrrrrring. The phone started to ring just as soon as she picked up her book. This time, Ruthie put a bookmark in it before setting it down. Then she hastily picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Ruthie asked into the phone.

"Hey, how are you?"

The voice was too familiar. And yet different. The voice made Ruthie want to squeal, or to throw up, or to cry, or to dance all at once.

"Martin… is that you?"

"Yeah, how've you been? It seems like forever doesn't it? Well, it does to me anyway."

"Yeah… forever." Ruthie paused. "Um, school is going great. I'm graduating college in two months."

"Wow, that's amazing Ruthie!"

He said her name. It had been forever since she heard him say her name.

"Well, you know me. I get what I'm going for, and I wanted to graduate college early. So here I am."

"Yeah, that's you alright." Martin paused shortly, as if he were thinking about something. "So, do you want to meet me out to eat dinner somewhere say… this coming Monday, around six or seven? Happy Belated Birthday, by the way."

Oh wow, he even remembered her birthday. Wait, he said dinner; Monday at six or seven? "Oh um, Monday at six should be fine… where do you want to meet?"

"Oh, it'll be a surprise, so I'm going to pick you up at your dorm. Be ready at five-thirty Monday night, 'kay"?

"Okay but Martin, how do you know where—" But the phone made a clicking sound and the line went dead. 'Great, just great,' Ruthie thought before setting the phone down and picking up her book. Hang on, how did he get her number in the first place? Somebody else knew what was going on.

-----------

Annie Camden was sitting at home in the living room, tired but happy. It was 1:36 PM and she knew that Martin had probably called Ruthie by now. He called earlier and said that he would like to take Ruthie out for dinner; it was a birthday gift to her. He said that it had to be a surprise though, and then he asked for her address and phone number.

That was the happy part. She was tired because the twins seemed to be the hardest of any of her children to be raising in their early teen years. Maybe it was because there were two of them at the exact same time. But whatever the reason, she was getting worn out like a pair of Mary's old basketball shoes. 'Oh, there goes the phone ringing… but where is it?' Annie thought, leaving her comfortable chair and walking towards the clothes hamper. The ringing got louder as she got closer, and when she pulled the lid off she saw the phone sitting there on top of a pair of David's pants. She chuckled.

"Hello," She said when she answered the phone. She saw Ruthie's number come across on the caller ID.

"Hi mom, how are Sam and David doing?"

"They're doing fine dear, really they are." Annie laughed into the phone.

"Good. And you and dad are fine too, right?"

"Of course, why wouldn't your father and I be fine? Your father is working and I feel normal; you know, staying home packing school lunches and shopping for school clothes occasionally."

This time Ruthie did that laughing. "Oh mom, you know you do more than just that." Ruthie paused.

"Okay, Ruth, what is the real reason you called?"

"Okay, it's Martin. Well, he called a while ago… and well how'd he get my number?"

"I don't know. He called you?"

"Yeah, he asked me to dinner this Monday night… he said he'd pick me up at the dorms. But I didn't tell him my dorm number or anything."

"Maybe he asked the Dean or something. Who knows?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Okay, well bye honey. I love you! I have to go start making cookies… the boys will be home soon and it's a surprise for them."

"Alright mom, love you too. See you."

Annie hung up the phone and smiled. Her daughter still cared about Martin, and she knew it. She just didn't want Ruthie to get so over-excited about this dinner. It could be nothing and then Ruthie would be so upset.

"Annie, I'm home!" Eric Camden walked into the kitchen and headed for the refrigerator. Annie smiled and walked into the kitchen.

"Hi honey." She kissed his cheek and gave him a big hug. "I'm getting ready to make cookies for the boys, so that should be fun. Want to help?"

"No thanks… unless you mean help eat them. Then I'm all for it." He chuckled as he found the bologna and pulled it out of the refrigerator. Then he found the bread and went to the counter-top to make a sandwich.

"Oh no you don't mister, the cookies are not being made for you. But you can have one, I suppose." She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. "After they are finished cooking."

"Well then, I guess I'll just wait… and hopefully they are done soon."

Annie smiled and began to gather the ingredients for 'White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Raisin Cookies'. These were a favorite of hers passed down from generation to generation in her family. "Well, it might be a while." She said as she poured some milk into the powder mixture.

"Oh darn; I guess I could get some work done though while I wait. Or you could tell me what's gone on today."

"Oh, well, the second is a good idea. I'll tell you about the day's events."

"Oh goody, I can't wait to hear them!" Eric smiled.

"Well, I dropped the boys off at school and came back to watch some television while I folded the laundry. And then I got a call from Martin,"

"Martin called? He called here?"

"Yes, he did. And I was just as surprised. Anyway, we talked for a while and he asked for Ruthie's phone number and address. He said he wanted to take Ruthie out for a surprise birthday dinner, and we were all invited."

"Really? That's a little to kind…"

"That's what I thought. But we shouldn't assume."

"Oh right, okay. Keep going, I'm itching to find out more about my lovely wife's day."

"Sure you are," She ribbed him and grinned.

"Ouch, I'm serious."

"Okay, well he said we should get there around 7:30. And then we hung up, and I finished the laundry. Then I came into the kitchen and had some Fig Newton cookies."

"Mhm," Eric couldn't resist.

"Yes they were very good. And then, around 1:30 I got a call from Ruthie. Martin had called her and they set up their plans. Then I decided to come in the kitchen to make the boys some cookies, and you came home."

"Oh, what a perfect day!"

Annie laughed. "Yes, I know."

Eric scooped some cookie dough from the bowl Annie was stirring with his finger, and got a smack on the wrist from Annie. "Hey," He whimpered.

"You know better than to do something so childish."

"Do I?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, you should anyway. Go do some work or something. I'm going to call the rest of the family about Ruthie's party."

"Yes dear." He said obediently, leaving the kitchen to go to his home-office.

------------------------------- (CHAPTER END, more chapterscoming soon)