Letters to Juliet- Chapter 14
Ashley proudly watched as her Gran vowed to love the mad they had spent what seemed like forever looking for. In fact in now felt like forever since their little adventure, in felt like forever since Ashley had been close to Spencer and their short kiss was a distant memory.
Ashley realised that the ceremony was now over and snapped herself out of the happy memories and followed the new couple out of the church. As she walked down the aisle Kyla squeezed her arm drawing Ashley's attention to Spencer whose eyes seemed to be glued to Ashley and not on the short dark haired girl next to her. Ashley smiled hoping it would be returned which it was but Spencer quickly broke the silent moment by looking away.
"She hates me" Ashley whispered as tried to her best to smile at the other wedding guests.
"Maybe if you talk to her then you'd know!" Kyla snapped through clenched teeth. Once they were outside of the church Ashley tried to look for Spencer and her girlfriend but she couldn't find them through the crowded yard. Once again she had missed her chance with Spencer and her day continued to get worse.
Spencer had dragged Carmen through the crowd so she could avoid Ashley. She felt stupid for coming to the wedding and even more so now she knew Ashley had a girlfriend. Carmen and Spencer headed to their seats for the meal. Spencer watched as Ashley made her way to the head table followed by the girl she was with. Spencer smiled internally as she watched Ashley roll her eyes knowing that the stubborn brunette was probably complaining about something.
"Take a photo Carlin it lasts longer" Carmen quipped nudging Spencer.
"Do they look like a couple to you?" Spencer asked out loud as she watched the 2 brunettes interact.
"Not really…but they look close. Hey here's a crazy idea why don't you just talk to her?" Carmen challenged pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Remind why I invited you?"
"Because of my hot ass?" Carmen joked getting a death stare from her best friend.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the newly married couple. Everybody stood up and applauded as they took their seats. Ashley stood up and took the microphone raising her glass.
"So I was told I couldn't make a speech so I'll just get right to it….. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I
present for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D'Annunzio..." Ashley said with a proud smile holding her champagne glass in the air and everybody followed suit.
"Now I believe that Mrs D'Annunzio would like say a few words….Gran?" Ashley passed her Gran the microphone and they shared a short hug which was clearly full of affection.
"I won't keep you long as I'm sure most of you have heard the story of how I met my husband…." Clare's words were interrupted by people in the crowd encouraging her to tell the lovely story.
"Fifty Seven years ago I wrote a letter that asked a question….fifty seven years later I got an answer" Clare looks into the crowd and her eyes fall to Spencer who shuffles awkwardly in her seat next to a beaming Carmen.
"Spencer? Dear? Would you stand up?" Spencer hesitates and then stands up as requested. She feels herself turning bright red and this only worsens as her eyes clash with Ashley's.
"Spencer gave me my answer. She wrote me a letter and without it none of this would be possible, none of us would be here today. So it only seems fitting that I ask Spencer to share some of it with us today" Clare smiled sweetly at Spencer knowing that the young writer would have brought the letter with her. Spencer shyly smiled and nodded as she was handed another microphone. Spencer took a folded piece of paper from her clutch and cleared her throat.
"'What' and 'if' two words as nonthreatening as words come. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: 'What if?'" Spencer pauses and her eyes meet Ashley's again and they share a look that makes Spencer more nervous than she already was.
"I don't know how your story ended. But I know that if what you felt then was love- true love- then it's never too late. If it was true then why wouldn't it be true now? You only need the courage to follow your heart" Spencer could feel Ashley's eyes burning into and it was becoming too much for her. Staring intently at the folded paper Spencer continued.
"I don't know what love like that feels like…a love to leave loved ones for….but I'd like to believe if I ever felt it I'd have the courage to seize it. I hope you had the courage to seize it Clare. And if you didn't I hope one day that you will" Spencer could feel her eyes misting over with tears as she folded the paper away and placed into back into her bag. The crowd clapped loudly and congratulated Spencer for her words. Spencer and Ashley were still looking at each other but Ashley looked away as the girl next to her said something into her ear. Spencer felt jealously rip through her and she couldn't take it anymore, noticing that the crowd were now occupied by dinner arriving Spencer excused herself.
Ashley felt frozen to her seat as she saw the hurt expression rip across Spencer's face. She saw Spencer heading away from the court yard and wanted to after her but had assumed that her girlfriend would follow. The girl with Spencer didn't budge in fact she seemed to be looking at Ashley as if she was trying to tell her something.
"For gods sake Ashley would you go and talk to Spencer!" Clare snapped seeing the emotional moment unearth in front of her. Ashley didn't question Clare or argue back, she just got up and left. Running through the crowd Ashley tried to follow Spencer but lost her. Mentally kicking herself Ashley continued to look around finally spotting Spencer sitting on the pier with her feet dangling in the water. Building up the courage Ashley walked over and took a seat next Spencer on the pier.
"What are doing?" Ashley asked immediately feeling stupid.
"I'm leaving" Spencer replied standing up not been able to look at Ashley.
"Why?" Ashley asked as she followed the blonde.
"I shouldn't have come here!" Spencer snapped continuing to walk away.
"Jesus Spencer did you even listen to the words you were just saying? To what you wrote?"Ashley continued grabbing Spencer's arm and stopping her from going any further.
"I'm happy for you….she's gorgeous not what I imagined at all" Spencer stated changing the subject.
"Who?" Ashley asked confused by the off comment.
"The girl" Spencer stated trying to reign in her emotions.
"That's Kyla…..she's my cousin" Ashley explained.
"Is that even legal?" Spencer continued clearly not listening to what Ashley was really saying.
"Spence she's my cousin and euw. She's like a sister to me, we practically grew up together. Anyway you're the one that brought a date" Ashley was annoyed that Spencer would think so little of her.
"Carmen's my best friend….whatever I'm going" Spencer was no annoyed by the same assumption she had made. This time Ashley didn't follow her, she just watched her walk away but something inside her stopped her apathy.
"Don't go" Ashley yelled stopping Spencer in her tracks. The blonde turned around and marched towards Ashley stopping only a few feet away.
"Why? Why would I stay Ashley?" Spencer challenged.
"Because I have watched my Gran since she met Lorenzo and I cannot wait another 50 odd years" Ashley started to explain as she started edging closer to Spencer.
"I can't wait 50 years to tell you that I love you Spence" Ashley felt all the tension go out of her body and it felt good to be honest.
"What?" Spencer whispered not sure if she had heard Ashley correctly.
"That kiss wasn't a mistake. Badly timed but not a mistake" Ashley added hoping to make everything clear to Spencer who looked dumbfounded.
"You love me?" Spencer asked dumbly.
"Yes" Ashley answered honestly.
"Then why are you looking at me like that?" Spencer wondered as she took in Ashley's expression.
"Like what?"
"Terrified"
"Because I'm fucking terrified that you don't love me back and that I'm doing this with no hope of you loving me back. I'm terrified that you'll be too scared to love me back and that we'll never know what this is or what it could be….what we could be" Ashley explained becoming more and more emotional. Spencer couldn't help but smile as she watched Ashley become more flustered.
"Why are you smiling?" Ashley snapped.
"I love you too Ash" Spencer laughed moving closer to Ashley. Ashley smiled as the relief washed over her body and she took her moment to move closer to Spencer. Placing her hand on the blondes flushed cheek she moved closer so there were mere inches between them.
"I'm going to kiss you now is that ok?" Ashley asked only for Spencer to answer her question by pressing their lips together. The kiss lasted a lot longer than their first one and this felt better. It was sweeter and pure they were able to explore each other without guilt or regret. Spencer built up the courage to move her hands to Ashley hips and she felt the brunettes breathe hitched as her hands found their place.