Chapter 10

Thanks for all the reviews guys!

Disclaimer: Ya'll know the drill.

Spencer POV

It's been two hours since Ashley went home about an hour after our shared little duet in the kitchen. I can't believe she did that; it was probably the sweetest thing anyone has done for me in a long while.

It's amazing how she can go from heartbreakingly desolate and startlingly angry one day but then come back the very next and be absolutely great and cheerful like her episode the other day never happened. She seemed so shaken yesterday, like something terrible just happened. The look in her eyes was…so tortured and alone.

I sigh and continue folding the boys' tiny shirts and pants, placing them in neat little piles on the unoccupied couch cushion beside me.

Earlier in the kitchen, that moment when our eyes connected, sent an odd thrill through my body. It was like every nerve in my body was crackling like a livewire. Her big chocolate eyes had a look that I couldn't decipher in them, one I haven't ever seen before. It was exhilarating; it made me want to get closer to the slightly older marine. And that very thought alone confuses and quite frankly alarms me to no end.

Moaning in pleasure, I stand and stretch my arms above my head.

"I should probably check on the boys." I mumble to myself whilst walking up the stair case. As I'm walking down the hallway I feel my foot hit a small hard object, kicking it halfway down the hall. Curious, I go to pick up the item which turns out to be a ratty yellow tennis ball that I saw the boys throwing around to Rocco earlier today. I chuckle and step into the boy's play room.

I smile when I see the two toddlers passed out on the floor surrounded by a mountain of half unpacked boxes and scattered toys. I lay the tennis ball in my hand on the book self before hoisting both tiny children up into my arms. After tucking them in on the temporary air mattress in my bedroom, I head back down stairs and pick up the wireless phone that Ash hooked up right before she took off on down the road.

I quickly dial the all too familiar phone number waiting anxiously as the phone rings. It's picked up within a few seconds.

"Hello?" My brother's gruff voice questions warily over the line.

"Hey Glen! How are you?" I ask excitedly.

"Spencer?! Oh my gosh! I'm so happy to hear from you. How are you? How are my boys? How is the house? Are they treating you nicely up there, Spence?" He questions like rapid fire, barely taking any breathes in between inquiries.

I giggle at his enthusiasm. "I'm great, the boys are doing wonderful, the house is beautiful, and the people are amazing. How are you and Madi?"

"That's awesome Spence. I'm glad it's working out nicely. We are doing great. Missing you already though. I can't wait until the end of these three weeks. It'll be nice to see my family and my old buddy Clay again." He says excitedly.

I sigh into the receiver. "Yeah me too. It will go by fast I hope. Ashley's told me about a few places we can go see when you two get here. She was telling me about a national park today where we can go camping. We haven't been in forever." I say dreamily. I really love the outside down here. It's so green and full of beautiful life.

Glen laughs. "Yeah that sounds fun, but I don't think Madison will be to into it. You know how my city girl wife is. Indoors only unless we are on the beach or in a swimming pool."

Yeah, Madi can be a little bit of a drama queen when she wants to be when it comes to getting dirty or sleeping somewhere other than a bed. "That's true but I'm sure the two of us could pressure her into it."

He laughs again, snorting lightly. "We'll see when the time comes, I guess," He goes silent, "So, whose Ashley?"

I instantly feel a blush run up my neck and settle on my cheeks, turning them a toasty red. "She is the one fixing up the house for me. She is really…nice."

Oh my goodness, why am I blushing?

I can hear the smirk in Glen's voice when he teasingly says, "Ooooh. Is she a blonde, brunette, or red head? What about her eyes? Blue, green, brown, or hazel. Is she hot, little sis?"

I blush an even deeper shade of red. "What's it matter Glen? You're married."

He scoffs. "I'm just asking. Well what is then? Come on Spence!"

I roll my eyes, the redness in my cheeks residing slightly. "Tall, curly haired brunette with chocolate brown eyes…and yes, she is really pretty."

Glen whistles. "She sounds smoking Spencey…maybe we should come down a few weeks early…"

"Glen!" I scold him lightly. He never will change will he?

He chuckles. "Alright! I kid. I kid."

My mind suddenly wonders over to my mother and Aiden. I grimace just thinking about what probably happened when my husband came home to find me, the boys, and most his stuff gone and cleared out.

I clear my throat. "Hey, um, Glen," I start quietly causing the laughter on the other end of the line to halt, "What happened…what happened with Aiden?"

My brother sighs. "He came up to my house in a whirlwind of anger holding the divorce papers you had written up in his hand and demanded to come into my house. He only stopped when I threatened to call the police, but he has been sitting in front of the house all day today. Waiting for you to come out, I guess. Even after I told him you left."

Oh God. My poor brother and sister in law have to put up with that-that psychopath while I sit down here enjoying the peace and serenity that only comes from being in the country.

"Oh, Glen. I'm sorry. The two of you shouldn't have to put up with Aiden like this. I'm so very sorry." I tell him through a sob that's threatening to choke me.

"No, no, no Spencer. Listen to me ok?" I nod, but realizing he couldn't see I answered him weakly, "You've had to put up with him for six years now, okay. You've had to put up with our mother for even longer. I think you deserve the chance to live without all of this bullshit. I want you to make friends, get that teaching job you've wanted for so long….maybe even meet somebody. I want you to live the life you want no matter what anyone else thinks about it. Okay?"

I wipe away the stray tears that had escaped throughout Glen's speech. God, do I love my big brother. I don't know what would have happen to me without him in my corner. "Okay," I whisper, my voice cracking in emotion, "I love Glen."

The Next Day: 7:20

I again wake up with four little feet pressed into my back and stomach with the soft sounds of Skylar's snores emitting from his mouth from down by my knees. It is amazing how I can even get an hour's worth of sleep with these two. I can't wait for their beds to get here. I untangle myself form the boys then wrap my robe around me as I walk down the hall, the wood floors icy on my feet.

As I'm making my coffee I look out the window by the sink, quickly spotting Ashley's beat up truck sitting in the driveway missing its driver. Furrowing my brow, I grip my coffee cup in my hand, walking to the front porch.

When I open up the front door I find Ashley kneeling down by the steps taking measurements with her tape measure, a short pencil hanging out of the corner of her mouth, whilst wearing a mask of concentration on her handsome face. Handsome? Where did that come from?

"Good mornin' Spence." Her gruff voice floats up to my ears, her eyes never leaving the boards.

I blush at the nickname. "Good morning Ash. Could I interest you in some coffee? It's freshly brewed."

She finally looks up at me with a nose crinkling grin. "I'd love some though I hope I'm not too early." She looks at my robe meaningfully, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

I giggle nervously. "No, your fine. Do you take cream and sugar?"

She shakes her head causing the wild curls of her ponytail to bouncy back and forth from under her cowboy hat. "No. Black would be great. Thank you, ma'am."

I give her a smile before going back inside, pouring the coffee in a plain black mug and grabbing two chocolate chip cookies out of the cookie jar.

"Here you are, Ashley." I say, offering her the coffee mug and cookie.

She wipes her hands off on her gray tank top and accepts the mug and the cookie with a raised eyebrow at the latter.

Taking a seat close to her side, I laugh at the look she's giving me. "What? It's never too early for cookies. Plus they are really yummy with coffee." I tell her with a little grin, dunking my own cookie in my coffee and taking a bite. Mmmm so good.

She chuckles. "Yummy, huh? Well I can't pass that up now can I?" she takes a bite of the cookie, her eyes widen as she chews. "This is by far the best cookie ever." She says with awe, looking at the small sweet like it was gold.

I flush. "Thank you. I try."

"Well try no more darlin'! You succeeded." She dips the cooking in the coffee, taking another bite.

I like my lips nervously. "Would you like another one?"

Ashley bobs her head up and down. "Or three?" she asks childishly.

A bubble of laughter makes its way out of my chest. "Or three." I confirm, walking back inside the get her some more of the sweets.

I bring out a plate of cookies and place it into her excited hands. "Thank you, Ma'am!"

I giggle. "You're very welcome."

Its goes silent as she eats, besides her sounds of pleasure every time she bites into a cookie.

"So, Spencer, what did you do out in Hollywood?" Ashley says suddenly, looking down at me with curious eyes.

I freeze up a little. "Oh, um, I was a, um, an art teacher before I got pregnant with the twins. After that my hus- ex-husband," I correct myself, "didn't allow me to work."

Ashley froze up little and stared at me. "He didn't allow you to work?" She whispers angrily.

I scoot away from her quickly, looking down at my feet. "I, uh, I'm going to go check on the boys and start breakfast." I mumble while retreating into the house, away from Ashley's pleading expression, begging me stay and apologizing at the same time.

Later That Day

Ashley has been quiet since my slip up out on the porch. I can tell she wants to say something but every time I think she is going to she snaps her mouth shut and continues repairing the upstairs flooring.

I send Scotty and Skylar up to tell her dinner is ready and when she walks down, one toddler cradled in each arm, she smiles a gentle smile at me. I return it and relieve her of Scotty to place him on his booster seat while Ashley does the same with Skylar.

"It looks great, Spence." The marine says softly when I place her plate of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and Mac &Cheese in front of her.

After a messy meal thanks to my sons, Ashley helps me clean up the kitchen. Its silent like the rest of the day has been.

"Thank you." I whisper to her when she dries the last plate that I handed over to her.

"No problem, Spencer," She hesitates, "If ya ever need someone to talk to I can, um, lend an ear. If ya need it that is." She reaches up and ever so slowly brushes a stray lock of my blonde hair from my forehead.

I grip her hand in between my own. "Thank you, again, Ash."

Review!