Author's Note: Update #2!
Aiden Dennison. This was Ashley's cousin. This was her confidant other than the blonde. This was the only person who would know something, anything about the deceased soldier that the widow didn't. So, when he agreed to meet up at Davie's Place for a quick lunch Spencer didn't hesitate to take advantage.
Through the years Chad had maintained the charm of his restaurant, never changing the name or décor, only changing seating arraignments, menus and guests. It was still one of the most talked about ones in the whole area, never getting a negative review. Spencer had continued to keep in contact with him, keeping him up on Ashley's well being and whatnot. Chad had permanently put her on the never need to wait for a table list, so her and Aiden didn't have to wait.
After ordering, and asking to make sure Chad knew she was here as she wanted to see him before she left, they got down to business.
"So, Aiden. I wanted to ask about that present from you and Ashley. You know the one I'm talking about."
"Damn Spence, at least let me take a bite of bread before I tell you." She nods as he ingests the bite of food. "Okay, here's the deal. Remember about a year ago when she came home on leave and spent like 2 days with me?" Spencer nods. She remembers that Ashley just left for a day and a half saying she was going somewhere with him but wouldn't tell her, not even in any of her letters… Aiden noticed she was lost in her thoughts and took a chance at getting some more bread in him.
Their food is delivered, and after about 5 minutes, Aiden continues. "Well, back to that. She told me, that if she ever died suddenly while she was serving, I had to help take care of you."
"Whoa whoa whoa. I do NOT need to be taken care of."
"I know that. I told her that. But, she made me swear to because she would disown me otherwise." Spencer pursed her lips and sighed. Ashley only used that as a threat if it was necessary. "After that, she made me promise to film this for you." Reaching into his jean pocket he places a homemade dvd on the table and slides it towards her.
"What's on it?"
"I'm not entirely sure what's on it. I know that what I filmed should be, but who knows what else there is. You know how she is. Er, I mean, was…" A single tear makes its way down his cheek.
"I know Aid, I know." She grabs his hand in hers, and it's so much bigger that he smiles before putting hers in his. "Okay, that still doesn't answer my question about the gift though."
"Yeah, well basically here's what happened, and please don't hate me. She told me she was getting scared. That she loved her job and career, and loved everything she was doing, but she told me she had a feeling she was going to die soon. She wasn't sure when, and she wasn't sure how, but she told me she just knew it. I asked her how she knew, and how she was so sure, and she just started bawling. Like, you know how she was when her parents died?" Spencer nods her head. She remembers how Ashley's mom had gotten uterine fibroids (tumors). How her mom had to have a hysterectomy and how there were complications. How the surgeon came out of the double doors with blood on his torso. How Ashley and Raife were completely heart broken when the doctor stated they lost her. She remembers holding both of them in that waiting room, trying to comfort her lover and father-in-law to no avail. She remembers having to call all the family members and delivering the news. She also remembers how Raife never recovered. She remembers waking up to the phone ringing at 2:30 in the morning. She remembers hushing her voice at first to try and keep Ashley from waking up, but the second his name was stated she yelled. She recalls how the brunette was up in an instant and by her side asking what was wrong. And most vividly, she remembers how Ashley dropped to her knees when she heard about her father crashing his car while drunk driving, and how Ashley didn't stop crying for almost a week. How during that week, Ashley was pushing her away and drinking a lot.
"Well yeah, she was scared shitless. She asked me if I had any pot, and I did."
"Aiden why did you have it to begin with?"
"Come on Spence, I'm not as innocent as you. But yeah, I had quite a bit that day because I had just visited my dispensary." Spencer rolls her eyes. "I showed and described what I had, and she took some and started to get down to business. We both smoked for about an hour before deciding to listen to music. She just started telling me all about everything, and I mean everything. Even all the stuff she refused to tell you." He looked slightly guilty at that. "I always told her if she tells me, she has to tell you. She said she can't tell you because she doesn't want you to be scarred for life." Both young adults chuckled at this, as Ashley was always trying to protect Spencer.
"After getting it all out, we both fell asleep. When I woke up she wasn't where I left her, so I started looking for her. I looked through all the rooms and outside but couldn't find her. That's when I looked over at the treehouse we used to play in at a kid. I figured she might be in there, she wasn't too heavy to break it. Well, I was right and she was lying on the floor staring at the ceiling. When I asked her what she was doing, she gave me this empty look while stating nothing. I was about to just leave her there to herself when she called my name. That's when she asked me to film."
"That's it?"
"That's it. Other than what's on the dvd."
"Okay, so she didn't tell you why you had to give me what you were using?"
"Nope. Oh, and by the way I was using a pipe and lighter too. I just didn't want to give that to your brother."
"I don't blame you there."
"So, want to stop by my place?"
Shaking her head while looking back down at her food and chuckling, she says, "Sure Aiden. But just don't make fun of me."