Chapter 3: Shoulders

Ashley's POV

"It's okay, Paula. We're just going to be a few miles away," I assure her as she buries her face in the crook of my neck, soaking my shoulder with hot tears. I glance with pleading eyes to Spencer, who only returns amusement at my predicament.

I knew this was going to be bad, but it's not even officially moving day…

"Wi…wi…will you pr…pr…promise to come over ev…every Sunday for family dinner?" She stutters through her convulsions as I comfortingly rub her back.

And she wipes her face along my bare shoulder again.

EW.

I am pretty sure that's snot.

"Every Sunday," I promise as she lifts her swollen eyes to meet mine. Finally releasing me from a near choke-hold, she turns to her daughter, beckoning her with open arms to come take over where I just left off.

Spencer rolls her eyes ever so discretely before taking Paula in her own arms. I reach out and stroke one of her blonde pig-tails gently and smile in understanding as she glances down at her now soaked shoulder.

Pig tails.

Normally adorable, but right now I am thinking of how fun it would be to have one in each hand while Spencer is going down…

"Ladies, soup's on!"

Arthur's announcement jolts me abruptly from the impure thoughts I was having about his daughter.

Shaking the thoughts the rest of the way from my brain, I take Spencer's hand in one of my own, and one of Paula's in the other, and we make our way to the dining room where we join Chelsey and Glen at the dinner table.

"Bout time," Glen moans as we take our seats.

As I open my mouth to insult him, ready to comment on his slightly expanding belly, I see a look of recognition wash over him as he takes in his mom's puffy, red eyes, before turning a sheepish gaze to Spencer and then to me.

I respond with a challenging look, begging him to say just one more word.

And he doesn't.

"So, Spencer, are you all packed and ready to go?" Arthur asks enthusiastically as he begins setting platters of pasta and salad and bread on the table. "Umm…hope family style is okay," he interjects, straying from the subject just as Paula starts to sniffle again.

Good save, Art.

"This looks amazing, Mr. C.," Chelsey states appreciatively as we begin passing the food around the table.

"Incredible," I agree, suddenly realizing I am starving.

"Ashley, since you are stealing my ONLY daughter from me in just a few short hours, I think its only fitting you say the last grace I will ever hear with my family under my roof," Paula suggest, her tone uneven as she wipes a tear away with her napkin.

And I pull the fork of penne pasta that was about a centimeter from my mouth back as quickly as it was traveling towards my lips, and set it down quietly in hopes no one noticed.

"MOM, come on. Don't be so dramatic," Spencer groans as she gives my thigh a small squeeze under the table.

"No, it's alright Spencer. It's the least I can do," I say sweetly, directing my words to Paula, who raises a challenging eye back to me.

Don't get me wrong. Paula and I really do get along fabulously these days. But every once in a while, we hit a small speed bump in the road.

And the fact that I am 'stealing her only daughter' tomorrow morning to come live with me in sin, well, that's the kind of speed bump that could knock a car out of alignment.

And the living in sin thing…not a gay thing, seriously.

No, if you live together before marriage, well, you are living in sin. And regardless of Paula's acceptance of Spencer and my relationship, you can take the girl partially out of the Catholic Church, but you cannot completely take the Catholic Church out of the girl.

"Wonderful. Everyone, please join hands," she instructs before throwing me yet another doubtful look.

"Ahem…" I clear my throat nervously before continuing. "Dear God, thank you for this wonderful meal that Arthur has prepared for this beautiful family. We know that this food, however, is a gift from you, Lord, and through it we will find nourishment and strength."

I peek out of one eye at Paula, who's eyes are still closed, but note the doubt on her face has started to melt away.

"LORD, please be with Paula and Arthur as they begin a new phase of their lives, and lend them your hand, Lord, when they need your strength in the days to follow when their daughter moves into the next phase of her life."

I feel Spencer's hold on my hand tighten before I continue.

"LORD, give your strength to Glen and Chelsey in the months to come, so that they may find peace and security in their love as Chelsey journeys to far away lands. Watch over and protect her, and bring her home safely to us when your plans for her in Paris are over."

I steal another peek at Paula, who is now nodding slowly, her eyes concentrating through closed lids, her lips pursed together in more concentration.

"AND LORD, be with Spencer and I as we continue to grow and thrive in this life that you have blessed us with. Help me to protect her from harm and support her endeavors, as I know your strength will allow her to do for me."

I feel her hand begin to shake, and I am fairly sure it is from the stifled laughter she is holding inside.

"In your name Lord, we pray, AMEN."

I open both eyes and take a moment to glance around the table.

Spencer's jaw is open and she is staring blankly at me, as if I am a stranger who has randomly wandered into the house and made herself at home at her family's table.

Paula is staring adoringly at me, still nodding her head before shaking it in utter amazement.

Arthur is staring at his wife out of the corner of his eyes as if trying to gauge her reaction to my prayer.

Chelsey is glancing around the table, opening her mouth as if to speak, and then quickly shutting it again before fixing her eyes on Glen.

And Glen, his jaw is on the table.

"Thank you, Ashley. That was just lovely," Paula gushes, interrupting the silence before signaling for everyone to begging eating.

"What the HELL was that," Spencer whispers as she pretends to lean over me to grab the salad she already has a healthy helping of.

I just smile innocently at her before helping lift the salad bowl to her.

"Ahem…yes, Ashley, very nice words," Arthur adds, still looking a bit dumbfounded.

"Well, let's eat!" I suggest as I finally shove the forkful of pasta in my mouth.

After a 'rousing' game of Scrabble, Paula and Arthur retire to the bedroom, but not before kissing and hugging the four of us to within an inch of our lives.

Glen, Chelsey, Spencer and I continue to hang out, engaging in intelligent conversation for a little while longer.

"So Ash, that was quite a prayer," Glen says with amusement as he places the lid on the game before throwing an arm around Chelsey and scooting closer to her on the couch.

"Why, thank you, Glen. I don't know, the spirit just moved me," I retort, causing Spencer and Chelsey to chuckle softly.

"Babe, I thought it was really nice…from the heart," Spencer assures me lovingly as she leans into my chest.

"Yeah, if her heart is located in her ass." He looks at me smugly and I see his tongue begin to exit his mouth before he quickly retracts it, recalling the last time he made that mistake.

"Well, babe, I better get you home. And you guys have fun tomorrow. You know, it's not too late to call some movers," Glen suggests smugly as he helps Chelsey put on her jacket.

"GLEN!" Spencer moans, and I just shake my head at him.

"See you at nine, buddy," I retort coolly as we rise to hug Chelsey goodnight.

"We'll be here," Chelsey assures us before throwing Glen an insistent look.

"Thank you, Chels," Spencer says appreciatively as Glen rolls his eyes, realizing there is nothing else to debate.

"See you in the morning," he promises with fake sincerity before closing the door behind him.

Turning to Spencer, I pull her into my arms and she snuggles into my neck.

"I should be going, too," I inform her with zero enthusiasm.

She sighs, displaying her protest, before pulling back and wrapping her arms around the back of my neck. "One more night…" she whispers before pressing her lips firmly to mine.

"One more night…" I respond, longingly, before kissing her again…

And it's one of those Hollywood movie kisses, where the man beds the girl backwards before kissing her passionately.

And when I am truly sure I won't be able to leave her, she straightens up before smiling brightly.

"Goodnight baby. See you in the morning, okay?"

"Goodnight, Spence."

I give her one last puppy-dog look before turning to leave. "Oh, and don't forget, you own me a phone call in about…hmmmm…thirty minutes." And I wink before she closes the door slowly.