A/N: So unlike the last one this one is not finshed but I'm currently working on Chpter 3. I will try to update as regularly as I can, especially since this is a holiday story. I hope you all enjoy. :)

This is a SPASHELY story and well introduce Ashley in the next chapter.

Flashbacks are in italics


The holidays are always the hardest; it's been two years since her husband's death. Every year it has been the same, wishing he was there during that special time of year. And this year she doesn't expect it to be any different.

"Momma, do you think you could read me a story?" She looks down at her daughter, Emma, who is the splitting image of her late husband, light brown hair and green eyes.

She won't deny her child a bedtime story, not today, not ever. Because when you lose somebody close to you she knows these are moments you'll never get back.

"Of course baby girl." She smiles at her Emma lovingly before settling down next to her on her twin sized bed. Emma excitedly hands her mother the book she has picked out.

Where The Wild Things Are

It really was no surprise that her daughter had picked this very book out, it's her favorite. It had been one of her husband's favorites as a kid. When her late husband, James, had found out she was pregnant the first thing he did was buy that very book.

"You bought our unborn baby a book? James, you do realize that this little guy or girl won't be reading for another couple of years?"

"I know that. But I loved this book as a kid and if I can start reading it to our child while it's still in your stomach then he or she will love it just as much as I do. It will be a little bond between the two of us." She smiled at her husband's honestly and realized how lucky she was to be married to such a loving and caring man.

And that's what he did every night James would read to little Emma while in her mother's belly and it continued on even after she was born.

James would read it to Emma every night before bed and with his untimely death Spencer continues reading the story to Emma, hoping that bond would always stay intact even with him no longer around. She knows that's what James would want.

Thinking about the memory, a lone tear falls down Spencer's cheek, she tries to hide it from her daughter not wanting Emma to see her cry.

The tear didn't go unnoticed by her daughter. Emma knows her momma is always sad around this time of the year. Only being seven, Emma is very mature and observant at her age.

"I miss him too momma." Emma leans up and kisses her mother on the cheek. Only being the age of five when her daddy died, Emma has small memories of James. But it's enough to miss him and she has a picture of him on her bedside table that she kisses and says goodnight to every night.

Spencer smiles down so consumed of happiness at the love and thoughtfulness her daughter possess, she couldn't be any prouder. She stops and thinks how proud James would be to know how his little girl is becoming a beautiful young lady.

Half way through the book Spencer notices Emma starts to softly snore but she doesn't stop, she continues to read until she has finished the book, it's what James always did and she was one to keep things routine when it came to Emma.

When the book is done Spencer gets up, tucks Emma in leaving a chaste kiss on her forehead, she shuts off the bedside lamp before slightly cracking the door. If she would have waited a few more seconds she would have heard her daughter's whispered words.

"Goodnight daddy, I love you. Let momma not be sad anymore."

Spencer makes her way to the kitchen, ready to start baking for tomorrow's Thanksgiving festivities at her parents' house. Every year it's the same thing, she's told to bake her famous pecan pies. She used to be in charge of a casserole or two as well, but now her parents just ask her to bring the pies.

She's notice how her parents have asked less and less of her but they're always there offering to do more for her, she kindly disregards their help letting them know she needs to learn how to be independent. She can take care of herself and Emma on her own. It had been a challenge that first year, but since then it has gotten easier.

Spencer pours a glass of wine and sings softly to the music playing in the background as she bakes her two pies. She moves around the kitchen briskly in the light glow of the kitchen.

She'd never admit it to anybody but she's finding out lately that she becoming lonely long after Emma has gone to bed. She lost touch with most of her friends after James's death. It wasn't their fault, Spencer pushed them away and now she's suffering the consequences.

Her brother Glen has tried numerous times to set her up with fellow co-workers but every time Spencer denied stating, "I'm just not ready yet Glen."

He understands but he knows deep down his sister is lonely. They weren't as close as they used to be and he misses her. All he wants is to see her smile again, he misses her smile. He also misses the sound of her laughter and them play fighting like they use to do.

The sister he once had wasn't there anymore; she now was only a shell of who she used to be.

After baking her pies Spencer cleans up the kitchen before making her way to her bedroom to get ready for bed. She knows tomorrow is going to be a long day, a day where she has to put on her fake smile and pretend that she wasn't still hurting inside.

She knows her family will see through the facade but she'll do it anyway because they won't worry as much, they won't probe too much or ask too many questions. Plus she really did owe it to Emma to be the best mother she could be.

Spencer's mind wonders to Emma and how quickly she is growing up and that if she could just get through the holidays, she vows to start the New Year off by being a better mother to her daughter and a daughter and sister to her family.

Spencer picks up the picture frame off the bedside table that holds a picture of her and James on their wedding day and stares at it affectionately before kissing her fingers and placing them over James's face on the picture.

Quietly she says goodnight to her late husband as sleep over takes her.