Howdy! Here's the next chapter in this one….enjoy!
The song in this one is Tracy Bonham "Mother Mother"
Chapter Fourteen
Spencer opened the front door of her home to find the T.V. on in the living room. She and Ashley walked inside and saw Marco sleeping upside down on the couch hugging his favorite bottle of wine.
"I can see your mother drives people to drink huh?" Ashley laughed.
"I was surprised he lasted that long. Last time he went over he grabbed the first bottle of wine he could find and hid in one of the closets drinking away. Eventually, my dad heard some loud snoring coming from the hallway closet so he opened the door and there he was." Spencer shrugged.
"Well should we leave him here? Or should we move him into his room?" Ashley asked while poking Marco's foot that was dangling off the back of the couch. Marco squirmed and grasped the bottle tighter to his chest.
"I wouldn't touch him. We can just leave him a note."
Ashley sat next to the lifeless form of Marco while Spencer got dressed for the evening. Every so often, Ashley could hear a slight gurgle coming from the boy's mouth. She reached over to try to take the wine bottle out of his hands but every time he would slap her hand away. "Mine….No touch" He murmured in his sleep.
"Ok, ready?" Spencer asked Ashley as she grabbed a marker and a pad of post-its from a kitchen drawer.
"Yeah…where are you going to leave the note? Usually people with hangovers don't go looking around for notes first thing when they wake up." Ashley saw Spencer pull out the Tylenol bottle and put a glass on the table with the bottle next to it.
"I know…that's why we have sticky notes." Spencer quickly scribbled on one of the post-its and walked towards Marco. She bent down and stuck the post-it to his forehead and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Well I guess that should do the trick then." Spencer smiled at Ashley as they left the house.
Ashley and Spencer pulled into the dirt lot that was outside an old building which had the words "THE SWEET ESCAPE" in light blue illuminated handwriting. The sound of rock music could be heard blaring from the walls into the night air.
"Looks like Ky and her husband are here already." Ashley said noticing her sister's mini-van parked in the parking lot.
Ashley got out of her car and opened the door for Spencer. They walked hand in hand into the club and looked around to find Kyla.
"Ashley!" Kyla screamed out from a booth that was to the side of the club. Ashley and Spencer walked over and both girls were greeted by a very hyper brunette. Kyla hugged Ashley and then hugged Spencer.
"Ky, this is my girlfriend, Spencer. Spencer, my sister, Kyla." Kyla hugged Spencer again and Spencer laughed at how excited the girl was to meet her. A handsome, dark-haired man stood to greet the girls with a hearty handshake.
"This is my husband, George. Isn't he dreamy?" George shook his head and took his seat back in the booth. Spencer and Ashley both sat down and ordered their drinks. "So…Spencer…how long have you and my sister been together?"
"Umm…well we actually just started dating this past week."
"Oh really? So new love huh? That's exciting. She's a tough one you know. Deep down past that thick exterior of hers she's such a softie." Spencer looked at Ashley and wondered what Kyla was talking about. 'What thick exterior?' Spencer thought to herself.
Ashley shrugged and gave Spencer a kiss on the cheek. They casually chatted some more when Kyla's face froze.
Not knowing why her sister had just suddenly stopped her constant chatter, Ashley followed Kyla's gaze to a woman who was sitting at the bar. The woman had her back to her but she recognized her immediately.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Ashley asked angrily.
Spencer turned to see a brunette sitting next to a man in a business suit. She was laughing at whatever the man had just said and when she turned around Spencer couldn't help but notice how much she resembled Ashley.
"Look, Ash. How 'bout we go somewhere else?"
"Why should WE leave? I am not changing my plans because that woman is here." Ashley said in an angry tone. Spencer couldn't help but think that this woman was Ashley's mother; the mother that had abandoned Ashley so many years before; the woman that caused Ashley so much pain.
"Oh no…we really should go. Come on." Kyla grabbed her husband's arm and her purse starting to get out of the booth. Before she could get up, the woman they had been staring at walked up to them.
"Oh my god! Ashley, darling, is that you? I thought I recognized you." Christine said looking at Ashley with a big smile on her face.
"So you actually remember what my name is? I thought you forgot that you had a daughter…I mean I haven't seen you since my 18th birthday…you remember that day… you said you were going to get something from the 'store' and never came back." Ashley said the anger rising inside her.
"Now honey, you know that's in the past. We should be able to get passed that. I just wanted to come by and ask you a favor."
"A favor? Why the hell should I do a favor for you, CHRISTINE?" Christine was unphased by the reaction she was getting from her daughter.
"You see that man in the suit?" Christine said gesturing towards the bar. "His name is Daniel Stewart. He's my husband and the owner of this club. I told him that you would be more than happy to sing a song tonight."
"You told him what? How dare you…" Ashley's fists began to ball but she was held back by Spencer who could tell that this woman was nothing but a low-life.
"Come now. After all those years I took care of you the least you can do is this simple favor." Christine said waving back at the man.
"Took care of me?" Ashley laughed out loud in disbelief. "Alright, you want me to sing a song? I'll sing a song…" Ashley said standing up and glaring at Christine. She walked to the stage where the band was playing and Christine hurried back over to Daniel. Christine whispered in his ear and he made his way to the stage.
Spencer saw Ashley talking with the band and watched as Daniel picked up the microphone. "Excuse me. Good evening everyone. I have a great treat for you tonight. We have a star amongst us this evening and she was kind enough to agree to perform a song for you. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Ashley Davies!" The crowd roared and Daniel joined Christine back at the bar.
Ashley stepped up to the microphone with a guitar hanging on her shoulder still clearly angry. She picked up the microphone and looked at her mother. "I wanted to dedicate this song to my mother." The crowd clapped and Spencer felt a lump in her throat as she watched Ashley shoot daggers at the woman she used to call her mother.
The lights dimmed and the music began.
Mother, Mother, How's the family
I'm just calling to say hello
How's the weather, How's my father
Am I lonely Heavens no.
Mother, Mother, Are you listening
Just a phone call to ease your mind
Life is perfect never better
Distance making the heart grow blind.
When you sent me off to see the world
Were you scared that I might get hurt
Would I try a little tobacco
Would I keep on hiking up my skirt.
I'm hungry
I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind.
EVERYTHING'S FINE
I'm freezing
I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death
EVERYTHING'S FINE
Ashley glared as her mother smiled at her oblivious to how much she had done to her daughter. She shook her head and strummed her guitar harder feeling the blood on her hands.
Yeah, I'm working, making money
I'm just starting to build a name
I can feel it around the corner
I could make it any day.
Mother, mother, can you hear me
Sure I'm sober, sure I'm sane
Life is perfect, never better
Still your daughter, still the same.
If I tell you what you want to hear
Will it help you to sleep well at night
Are you sure that I'm your perfect dear
Now just cuddle up and sleep tight.
I'm hungry
I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind.
EVERYTHING'S FINE
I'm freezing
I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death
EVERYTHING'S FINE
DON'T MISS YOU
SO FUCK YOU
Ashley screamed the last line and everyone in the club looked on with confused looks as the girl began to break down. Spencer watched as Ashley dropped the microphone and guitar before she raced out the doorway of the club into the parking lot.
Spencer ran out to the parking lot and found Ashley with her head on the steering wheel sobbing. "Ash…Ashley?" She asked reaching out to the brunette lightly touching her shoulder.
"I can't Spencer. I have to go…I have to…" Ashley put her car in gear and sped off leaving Spencer standing there in the parking lot staring into the darkness where Ashley had just been.
Spencer heard the sound of footsteps and turned to find Kyla and her husband. "I swear I had no idea she would be here. God, Ashley must be going out of her mind." Kyla began to cry.
"Do you think you could take me to Ash's house?" Spencer asked Kyla. The brunette nodded her head and they all got in the van. "It's not your fault, Kyla. Sometimes things just happen…no one can stop them…they just happen."
They pulled up to Ashley's house and Spencer was relieved to see her girlfriend's car in the driveway. Both Kyla and her made their way up to the front door. "I don't have a key." Spencer suddenly realized.
"Oh don't worry. Ashley gave me a key over the holidays when she bought this place. Here take it." Kyla said handing the key to Spencer. "I would go in with you but I really don't think she wants to see me right now. Please call me tomorrow to let me know how she's doing." Spencer nodded and gave the smaller girl a hug.
Spencer took a deep breath and opened the front door of the house. When she walked inside she could see that all the lights were off and that the house was eerily quiet. She made her way to the stairs and walked up not knowing which room was the bedroom. Making her way down the hallway, she opened each door and eventually found the brunette in the final room at the end of the hallway. She walked inside and saw an empty bottle of Jack Daniels lying on the floor. Stepping closer to the brunette on the bed she saw that there was a half-empty bottle of vodka in the girl's hand. 'Oh Ashley.' Spencer kneeled down and took the bottle from the girl's grip.
"I hate you…mother…I hate you" Spencer heard Ashley mutter over and over while she slept.
"Shhh…Ash…its ok. I won't let her hurt you again." Spencer laid down next to the brunette and stroked her hair kissing her forehead again and again. She laid there for what seemed hours and eventually fell asleep holding onto Ashley tightly.