Thank you for your lovely words etc and I'm glad you're all enjoying this still.
Anyone else but you Chapter 25
Ashley had been sat staring at her phone for about half an hour trying to build up the courage to dial the number that was staring back at her. Her Father had forwarded Christine's number to her at Ashley's request. Looking at Spencer sleeping so soundly she couldn't help but feel bad for causing a rift between the Carlin family. Spencer had suggested coming to San Francisco so Ashley could meet her Mother and she didn't want to let Spencer down. Also she wanted to meet the woman that was incapable of loving her all those years ago but most of all she wanted to know why. Ashley wanted to determine whether this woman could maybe be part of her life and she also wanted to know whether she could one day make such a selfish decision, a decision that would leave a husband heart broken and a daughter just simply broken. Ashley had spent so long hating herself that she was almost unprepared to hate her Mother, she had spent most of her life praying that her Mother would be alive and now she wasn't so sure.
"Hey pretty what you doing?" Spencer asked rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
"Losing a staring contest with my Blackberry" Ashley smiled finally putting her phone down. Spencer took the phone and handed it back to Ashley.
"You obviously want to call her Ash" Spencer said as she stroked Ashley's face softly.
"I don't know Spence…..why now? Why after nearly 18 years has she decided she wants to know me?" Ashley debated out loud.
"Maybe she's always wanted to know you? Maybe she was just too scared to contact you? Maybe she thought that you hated her? Maybe you need to hear her side of the story?" Spencer argued. Ashley loved that Spencer was trying to be the reasonable one and she let her words sink in. She considered the questions that Spencer had posed and came to a decision. Picking up her phone she pressed dial feeling her stomach flip a million times before somebody finally answered.
"Hello?" A delicate female voice answered.
"Christine?" Ashley croaked feeling light headed and terrified.
"Ashley is that you?" Christine asked clearly emotional.
"Yea….erm I got your number from my Dad" Ashley explained feeling quite stupid.
"How are you?"
"Yea…..good…actually I'm in San Francisco and was erm….thinking….erm" Ashley was stuttering all over the place. She had never felt so many emotions rush through her so quickly at one time except when she kissed Spencer for the first time.
"I would love to see you Ashley…..as long as that's ok with you?" Christine interrupted sensing that Ashley was nervous.
"Yes that's ok with me" Ashley replied fighting back all the emotion.
"Wonderful, where are you staying?"
"The Castle" Ashley responded quickly scared she will forget how to talk any second.
"Of course, Raife always loved that place. How about I meet you at the café on the ground floor later today?" Christine suggested.
"Can I bring someone with me?" Ashley asked needing support from Spencer.
"Of course you can, I understand that is strange for you Ashley" Christine added hoping to sooth Ashley's nerves.
"Cool, so how about 4?"
"Perfect I'll see you then"
"Oh how will you know it's me?" Ashley asked suddenly remembering that no photos had been exchanged at any point unless her dad had lied about that as well.
"Trust me I'll know you when I see you Ashley" Christine reassured her as she hung up the phone. Ashley sat in near silence for a few seconds until her eyes met Spencer's and everything felt that little bit better.
"You ok?" Spencer asked holding Ashley's hand.
"Yea I guess so. I just feel weird….I just spoke to a woman that was supposed to be dead. Will you come with me?"
"Of course I will…I'll go anywhere with you" Spencer promised kissing Ashley sweetly to add credibility to her statement.
"Lucky me" Ashley smiled kissing Spencer back wondering how things could be so weird but one person could make it all ok.
"Yes I've agreed to meet her and yes I'm sure" Ashley moaned into her phone rolling her eyes at her Dad's never ending questions.
"Sweetie I'm just concerned and also I'm getting a lot of heat from Paula" Raife moaned back matching his daughter's tone.
"How are things between you two?" Ashley asked remembering that their impromptu road trip had affected people other than themselves.
"I'm not gonna lie rock star…..things are tense. We're just not seeing eye to eye on this whole thing but I'm trying to talk her round" Raife confessed clearly tired.
"Some people can't be talked around Dad and you know that. I'll try and get Spencer to call her later. I'll call you later Daddy"
"Love you too rock star"
Ashley spotted Spencer rolling her eyes in the mirror knowing that the blonde had clearly been eaves dropping.
"Roll those pretty eyes all you want Spencer you will call her" Ashley argued as she put her phone down.
"She is a small minded bigot" Spencer snapped.
"No she is a concerned Mother and she is trying to look out for you. Stop been stubborn and call her at least you know you've tried then" Ashley suggested knowing that her words would work as Spencer had said something similar to her not so long ago about her own Mother.
"God I hate that you're turning into a better person" Spencer sulked grabbing her phone and pressing number 2 on her speed which had been dedicated to her Mother when she first purchased the phone.
"Hi Mom" Spencer groaned awaiting the onslaught of anger or abuse.
"So you're phone does work?" Paula snapped making Spencer want to hang up straight away.
"I'm sorry Mom but I just needed some time"
"At least Ashley has been in contact with Raife so I know you're safe"
"Of course I'm safe, I'm with Ashley"
"When are you coming home?" Paula asked.
"That depends on a few things"
"Such as?"
"Where home is?"
"Spencer things are different now"
"I understand that and I don't expect everything to stay the same. I get that me and Ashley been together makes things weird but we're both going to be 18 soon so you can't stop me. I really don't want things to be like this Mom but I'm not giving up on this just because you don't agree" Spencer explained glad that she was holding her ground.
"Just come home and we can talk about this?" Paula suggested.
"I can't do that right now Ashley needs me"
"I understand that…does she really mean that much to you?"
"She means the world to me" Spencer sighed knowing that this was more than true.
"Well she's very lucky"
"Raife feels the same about you"
"I guess so"
"Remember that Mom…..look I after to go now but I'll you soon"
"Ok bye honey"
"Bye Mom" Spencer said as she hung up the call feeling that she may have made some head way. She looked around the room and saw Ashley on the balcony looking nervous. Approaching the brunette from behind and wrapping her arms around her.
"It's almost time….you ready?" Spencer whispered next to Ashley's ear.
"No but we better go" Ashley replied taking Spencer's hand in hers and headed towards the lift.