Chapter 37
Disclaimer: It's the same as always
I, ClosetRomeo, would like to make a shout out to all of my most dedicated reviewers. It means a lot to me so thank you all very, very much. I deeply apologize for keeping all of you awesome people waiting but I had some massive writers block for this story.
By the way, if you haven't already you should check out my other story Is Love a Fairytale it is co-written by my beautiful wife.
Ashton POV
"Aunt Whitney?" Becca's voice brought me out of my shock induced shock.
I can't believe that this…woman is really standing in front of me right now. She left and she was supposed to stay gone. Never to come back…that's what Ma said. I remember what she told us the night Sandra divorced Ma and left.
FLASHBACK
I'm so happy to be back to the house, those teachers are going to kill me one day. When I die the coroner is going to find high doses of boredom in my system. Don't look at me like that; you know it's highly possible. I have heard that a person could help breathing if they get bored enough…no joke.
I'm brought out of my thoughts by a slap on the knee.
"Ashton are you going to get out of the car or am I gonna have to pull you out by your ear?" Aunt Kayla asks me with a teasing grin.
"No Aunt Ky." I laugh out as I crawl over the front seat along with Kyla's lap and out the driver side door instead of using the backseat door. I laugh when I hear her grumbling something that sounded like "She had to get Ashley's genes don't she?"
I happily walk into the house and into the kitchen, throwing my backpack down in the walkway as I went.
"It's oddly quiet in here." I mumble to myself as I glance around the dining room. Normally everyone is here after my basketball practice sitting around the table with homework sprayed around while eating snacks of some sort. Today no one was in here at all.
Just as I'm about to turn to walk out to the outside court my big brother Raife steps through the door with a sullen look on his face.
"Ash, come up to Ma's room with me. She wants to talk to all of us about something important." He mumbles so low I barely catch what was said.
I nervously stare at him and take a step towards the door. "Do you know what about?"
He shakes his sadly. "No but she says it's very important and she needs to talk to us right now, so come on."
I watch him with obvious questions in my eyes; I know there is more to the story then what is telling me. "Is she okay?" I ask as we slowly make our way up the stairs.
He takes a deep shaky breathe and lets it out slowly. "No. Ma was crying when we got back from school. She tried to hide it from the three of us but, of course, she can't fool us."
We continue up the steps but we come to our mothers' bedroom door for some reason I can't force myself to push it open. Thankfully I didn't have to because Raife moves me gently out of the way and opens it himself. The scene we walk into breaks my heart so quickly and excruciatingly I can't keep myself from griping my chest in pain.
Ma was sitting on her and Mom's bed, her normally confident postured shoulders slumped over as if she was caving in in pain with red, tear filled eyes staring up at the ceiling that were refusing to look at anyone else in the room.
With further inspection I finally noticed the trash bedroom with widen eyes. The closet was over half empty, clothes were throw and scattered all over the floor and dressers, there was even a hole the size of a fist in the wall beside the bathroom entrance. Pictures, knickknacks, and other trinkets were missing off the walls and side tables.
When I look back down at Ma and her miserable, helpless eyes finally met mine it hit me like a sharp punch in the gut. The stuff missing isn't just anyone's stuff…it was all of Mom's.
What the world is going on?
I collapse on my knees in front of Ma and grab her hands, looking up at her with panicking eyes.
"Ma, what's going on…? Where is Mom's stuff…where is Mom?" I ask with a panicky voice and pleading eyes that were begging her to tell me what I'm thinking isn't true.
I feel more then see the rest of my siblings kneel down beside and behind me. "What happened, Ma?" Becca asks lowly as if not wanting anyone else to hear.
Our mother sighs and runs a shaking hair through her messy chocolate colored hair. "Your mom…" She took in an unsteady breath, "Well, Sandra…she…" Ma trailed of and tried to take another breath that get replaced with an almost sob. She covers an injured hand of her mouth…that hole was from a fist.
"She did what, Ma?" Adam asks softly.
Ma suddenly pulls the one closes to her, which happened to be me, into a tight embrace and whispered her answer into the top of my head. "Sandra left me-us. She divorced me and left us."
We sat in a shock silence that I broke with a quiet whisper. "What? Why? How did she do this?" I ask as I pull back so I could look her in the eyes. Her face was red from crying and was smeared with running mascara.
"Doesn't take a long time to get a divorce?" Raife asked. Even without looking I could tell he was crying like the rest of us.
Ma hesitantly nods her head. "Yes it does…I guess she has been planning on leaving for a while now."
This piece of information brought tears to my eyes. She was planning on leaving us but acted as though nothing was about to change in a huge way. By the way she handled this; apparently, she didn't and doesn't care how this will affect us.
"She just left? Without saying goodbye?" I ask while trying to hold back the rush of emotion coursing through me.
Ma looks down at me sadly but faintly nods in answer. "I know and I'm sorry. I tried to talk her out of it but she...she wouldn't listen to me."
"Was it something we did?" Adam questions with profound regret filling his big jade colored eyes.
Ma's eyes snap over at my twin in shock. "No, no, no. It has nothing to do with you kids...it's my fault. Not yours. Don't ever think that... Do you understand me?" She asks, scanning us with worried brown eyes.
The four of us nod mutely. I look down at my sneakers as her eyes try to meet mine. I can't let her see the tears threating to fall at any given second.
"Is she going to come back…y'know to see us?" I question finally letting our eyes connect.
By the look in Ma's eyes I think I asked the golden question...and she doesn't have to say anything for me to know the answer. Her eyes say everything.
"No. She told me she wasn't coming back and to move on without her; to keep living our lives like she wasn't ever here."
END OF FLASHBACK
How could she very think that we could just go on with our lives like we weren't just abandoned by one of our parents? I have no fucking idea, all I know is from that day on my family and I have never been the same. We all lost something that day.
So has I'm staring at this smiling woman in front of me I can't help but to fist my free hand at my side as if I was about to dive head first into a fight. I guess in a way I am.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I ask harshly. I had to fight for my question to not come out as a snarl. She is lucky we are in a very public place.
The smile quickly slips from her face and she took a step back, raising her hands in a surrendering manner.
"I-I-I thought you knew I was here." She stuttered out. Her face wore a mask of genuine confusion.
"What do you mean? How in the hell were we supposed to know?" This time I didn't hold back my snarl. I faintly feel someone squeeze my hand. When I look over at Gaby's concerned face and feel the soft touch of her hand on my neck I find my body relaxing without my consent.
"Well, Ashley said-"
The relaxed stance of my shoulders stiffens up again as my mother's name passes that woman's lips.
I jump to my feet and growl at her. "Don't even say her name. Neither you nor Sandra is allowed to say her name. Ever." I hiss with a furious glare directed at the small dark haired woman. If she wasn't a female I'm pretty sure I would have popped her in the face for just showing her fucking face.
"Easy Ash." Gaby whispers in my ear. She tightens her grip on my hand and tugs me a little ways away from Whitney. I glance around the café noticing that we have now captured everyone's attention. They can fucking watch, I don't care.
"I'm sorry. I know your mother and me hurt-" She tried but was cut off by Rebecca, who has finally snapped out of her shock induced silence, instead of me this time.
"Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut is Whitney...It doesn't even come close." After giving our aunt one last glare my big sister wrapped an affectionate arm around my waist on my free side and gently ushered us out of the cafe and back out to the van. The rest of our group silently follows us out and without a word they all slipped into the vehicle.
I'm still standing out the car along with my sister and girlfriend.
Gaby hesitates for only a moment before placing a gentle kiss on my cheek and whispering, "I love you," in my ear then leaving me with Becca.
My sister reaches her arms around my mid-section to tug me into her. Becca lays her head down on my chest and sighs sadly. "Are okay to drive?" She asks into my jacket.
Placing my chin on top of her head, I nod. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
She hugs me tighter and whispers the words into my shirt. "I know how you drive when you're angry…and quite frankly I don't want to die."
I chuckle and place my face in the crook of her neck. "You know I can drive better then Tony Stewart…hell I'm pretty sure I could be a bitching street racer."
I smile when a soft giggle greets my ears. "Yeah, yeah whatever you say Denny Hamlin. Let's go home."
I release her from my grip so I could take a step back. "Alright…We need to speak with Ma anyway."
Becca grabs my arm when I try to grip the door handle. "Ashton, can't we just act like this didn't happen? Just let it go. Please?" She entreats with me.
"No I can't," I say with an unhappy shake of my head, "Even though I don't want anything to do with them doesn't mean Ma should have not told us that Whitney was here LA... I think we deserve to know that much."
Rebecca searches my eyes, for what I'm not sure, before releasing my arm and nodding her acceptance. "I see your point…but try not to judge Ma too harshly. Listen to what she has to say."
I nod my agreement and throw open the van door. Before getting in I turn back and look at my sister. "I will." After starting the van, I pull out of the parking lot and out onto the road.
"Are you okay Ash?" Gaby questions quietly and places a loving hand on my thigh, giving it a soft squeeze.
"Hmm?" I ask and momentarily take my eyes of the road to look at those concerned baby blues that I feel in love with. That shade of blue is the prettiest tone I've ever laid eyes on.
"Are you okay Babe?" She questioned again while continuing to caress my inner thigh. She always knows what to do to keep me calm.
Tightening my hands on the wheel, I shrug helplessly with a sigh. "Yeah, Gabs, I'm okay. I'm just still shaking off the shock of seeing Whitney again...I'm fine."
She gives me an I-really-don't-believe-you-but-I'll-let-it-go-for-now look matched with her please-talk-to-me Bambi eyes. I force a smile onto my lips and nod my head telling her I understood and accepted her silent plea.
Gaby squeezes my leg one more time in appreciation before releasing her grip and settling for stealing one of my hands off the steering wheel to hold it in her lap. Every other turn or stoplight Gaby would press a soft kiss to the inside of my wrist, my fingers, or my palm, keeping me calm. For the entire ride back to the house it's silent except for the occasional hushed whisper. Once Davies Manor comes into view the tension that I had gradually lost came rushing back into my shoulders and other muscles.
It's time to talk to Ma.
Ashley POV
We have been sitting in this dining room forever and I'm pretty sure I have complimented suicide at lease fifteen times in the pass half hour alone. The only thing that is keeping me from ending my life and this suffering is the beautiful woman sitting practically on my lap with both of her arm wrapped tightly around my waist. Every once in a while she would plant sweet kisses on my neck or shoulder every time she felt me tense up under her or when she would hear a low growl slip past my lips. And let me tell you that happened ALOT through Paula's rants about different color patterns. What the fuck is the difference between rose red, ruby red, and candy apple? The hell if I know.
"What do you think Ash?" A sweet voice asks, unintentionally breaking into my thoughts. I look up at the blonde beauty resting on top of me.
"I'm sorry, what was that Baby?" I ask with a short shake of my head, trying to clear the unhealthy thoughts of 'getting rid of' Paula and her arguments about all the colors and exotic flowers and how they are different and why. Kill me…please.
Spencer twists around on my lap and smirks at me. "I said what do you think? Out of the two colors?"
I nod in understanding then look uncertainly over her shoulder at the two colors that Paula is impatiently holding up. I glance between the two shades of...white?
"White? What's the difference?" I ask with a frustrated sigh. This pisses Momma Carlin off. Again.
"The difference, Ashley, is that this one," she holds the sample paper to the right up, "Is that this shade is pure white and this one," she holds up the left one, "Is cream. Pay attention Ashley."
My brow furrows in confusion, anger, and just plain tiredness. "I like the cream. It goes better with the candy apple red you guys got here." I say hoping and praying I gave the right answer. Please God, don't hate me as much as I think you do.
Paul's faces morphs into one of...agreement? Hell yeah! Yay me! Okay I did not just think "Yay me". Damn I watch too many of those teen shows with Kyla. I know what you're thinking. Kyla watch's Teen Nick...well yes, yes she does and it kills me when I see her sitting in the living room completely alone watching ICarly… She even called me a wazbag yesterday. What the hell is a wazbag anyway?
"I agree. Cream is very fitting with the red. Now about the yellow-"
I suck in a deep breath and bite my tongue on the many choice words I have wanting a surge free. How many colors could this one wedding possibly have before this woman thinks it's fit…? And it's not even her wedding, dang it.
Spencer must have seen the look in my eyes and cut her mother off. "Hey Mom?" Spence asked innocently
"Yes dear?" Paula answered with a half scowl at being interrupted. Well big whoop, Crazy Bitch.
"Um, do you think we could take a break for lunch?" Spencer says sweetly. She is delicately stoking my neck with her soft fingers.
Paula stares-more like glares daggers-at me for a moment before looking at her daughter with a bright smile. "Of course sweetie! Do you want to go out or stay here?"
"Go out?" Arthur questions sadly, finally revealing himself, "Why go out when I'm making my world famous Ranch Burgers and multi seasoned fries?" His words cause an instant reaction from my stomach which growls loudly in the need of consuming the tasty food that is Arthur Carlin's cooking.
Spence giggles and pats my belly fondly. "I think we just got our answer." My fiancé declares giggling again at the faint blush running up my neck.
Mr. C laughs with the younger Carlin and nods his graying head. "I think so to."
Not even two seconds after Spencer slides off my lap I am off and running towards the kitchen right behind Mr. C with Spence being dragged by the hand behind me. She was laughing all the way into the kitchen. Don't look at me that way! I'm a hungry woman here!
There are already six plates made and placed on the counter. The extra two plates are most likely for my sister and Aid.
"I smell food!" The deep and familiar voice of my brother-in-law crows from down the hall. Speak of the devil.
Aiden walks into the room with a giant smile on his face. "Well it looks and smells like Arthur has yet again taken over the kitchen." He says with delighted grin.
Mr. C laughs loudly. "Yep, I am. I just love this wonderful kitchen." His smile slowly falls from his face and his looks suddenly penitent. "You don't mind do you? I just thought that-"
I interrupt his apology with a wave of my hand. "It's cool Mr. C. I for one love you coming into my home and dictating my kitchen. Better you than my little sister." I say with a grin at Kyla's expense.
Aiden snorts but shakes his head in approval. "Yeah, I agree with you on that Ash. I love my wife but if I didn't sneak my food out to the neighbors dogs everyone once in a while and go get me and the kids burgers or something I think I may have gone crazy years ago."
I can't hold back my laugh. "I know! All that woman can cook or wants to cook is green organic crap. I need something with meat and grease every once in a while."
We both break out in laughter of agreement. That's until I feel a sharp slap to the back of the head. Aiden and I groan in sync and rub the back of our heads.
"Who the hell-" I cut myself off at my sister's angry look.
"Hey Sis!"
"Hey Honey!" Aiden and I greet his wife and my little sister at the same time, both wearing virtuous smiles.
"How long were you standing there?" Aiden asks with a hopeful expression. I see him cross his fingers behind his back.
"I heard your entire conversation." She says matter of factually with a death glare at the both of us. She watches our expressions with a scowl. I can hear the Carlins holding back laughter behind us.
"Oh, come on Ky you know we were just playing." Aiden tried with a sad look.
I snort a laugh causing Kyla's cold coffee eyes to land on me.
I gulp. "Yeah, Sis, we were just talking smack. You know us; we just love mess around."
She huffs at us, unconvinced, and turns on her heel to march back up the flight of stairs. Aiden only lets her get halfway up before he finds the balls to run after the haughty brunette.
"Sucker." I snicker watching my best friend chase his wife around the corner.
Another sharp slap to the back of my head causes me to spin around to face my frowning girlfriend. "That wasn't nice Ashley Davies." She scolds me with a cross of her arms.
"But it's true." I defend myself weakly.
She gives me a look and I sigh. Throwing up my hands I start up the stairs. "Fine! I'll apologize to Mrs. Organic Foods."
After giving my sister my not-so-sorry apology the three of us make our way into the dining room to join the Carlins for lunch. I can't stop the goofy smile that creeps onto my lips at the sight of my baby laughing with her head throw back and her baby blues shining with absolute joy.
"Do I get to hear the joke?" I question as I sit myself down beside the gorgeous blonde.
Spencer grins over at me and gestures across the table at...Adam? When did he get back here?
"Hey Adam? I though you guys went out?" I ask with an inquiring smile.
"We did but I decided we should come back home. Didn't really feel like sitting around the beach today." He answers taking a second to flick his hair out of his face.
"Oh...okay. So do I get to hear what's so funny?" I question yet again.
Spence giggles again and kisses my cheek sweetly. "Adam was telling us about a certain vacation you all took to France two years ago."
It takes exactly one mil-second for Aiden and Kyla to bust out laughing.
"Adam!" I yell with embarrassment. I can't believe he told them about that.
"What?" He queries with an innocent expression.
"You know what. Why would you bring that up? We promised to never speak of it again!" I grumble causing another round of laughter even from Momzilla.
Just as he opens his mouth to answer me when I hear the garage door slam open then shortly after bang shut.
I wonder what their problem is.
Before I could question it further both of my daughters walk into the door with matching frosty expressions.
"This can't be good." I told myself quietly.
"Hey kiddos." I say with caution, "Are you alright?"
Ashton is just studying me with those never ending green eyes while Becca just stands there with fidgeting fingers at her sister's side.
"Actually Ma... can we talk to you? It's kinda important." Becca asks in a soft voice. Her eyes would not meet my own curious ones.
I look over at Spencer who is watching the girls with concern written on her face. "Um, sure. Why don't we go down stairs?" I suggest with a gesture towards the exit.
As one, they both silently spin around on their heels and walk out the door. With one last glance around the room at the many different expression of our family I quickly follow my daughters down into the game room. I push the door slowly open revealing my children sitting at opposite sides of the room. Ashton is sitting on the navy velvet pool table playing with the cue ball and Becca is sitting on the bar fiddling with a double shot glass from one of my many trips to Canada. They are both watching the objects in their hands not even bothering to look up at my arrival.
"What do you two want to talk about?" I say while taking a seat on the beer pong table right next to the door. Hmm I didn't even know I had a beer pong set.
Speaking for the first time, Ashton answers me. "We went to the mall today, as you know."
I nod my affirmative.
"We stay up there for two hours or so but then we decided to go get a bite to eat...you wouldn't guess who we ran into up at Nico's." Ash continues gruffly finally meeting my eyes.
For some odd reason my heart rate speeds up and my hands go clammy. "Who did you...run in to?" I ask. For some unknown reason I kind of didn't want to know the answer.
Ashton licks her lips and runs a shaking hand through her hair then down to her cigarette pocket letting it rest there. "Guess." She sighs angrily.
I clasp my fingers together nervously and study them with zero interest. "Madison?" I try hopefully already knowing that was the wrong answer.
"No." Becca whispers so quietly I almost missed it.
"No, Ma." Ashton growls slightly.
I have to fight the urge to yell; she has no right to get snotty with me. "I don't know then. There isn't anyone else I know of that you could have run into. I don't know all of LA!" I say with a bit of a defensive edge to my voice. Why I am going all defensive, I don't know.
"Not according to them!" Ashton snarls right back also leaving her seat, opting to pace the length of the poker table.
"Well I don't know what the hell you two are going on about!" I'm finally starting to raise my voice.
"Are you sure Ma?" Becca asks with steel in her normally cheery voice.
This forces me to hesitate. If Becca is acting this way there is a pretty good chance that this argument is not in my favor.
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure about this."
The sisters trade looks before both pairs of eyes land back on my form.
"Then she was lying when she said you knew she was here?" Becca question with a light of...hope in her brown eyes.
Oh god… it can't be. What are the odds of them running into her? LA is HUGE!
"Who?"
"Whitney." Ashton says the name with distaste. That just made this confession even harder than it already was.
"No." I say almost silently hoping they wouldn't hear it.
"What?" They ask with steely expressions.
"I said No...I knew she was in the city."
Have you ever heard the expression "The calm before the storm"? Well that is what is going on at the moment. They are both the picture of calm and peacefulness.
"Why didn't you fucking tell us?" Ashton snarled out glaring dangers at me…and here is the storm. Her sister quickly jumps from her seat and puts a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Why?' Becca asks simply.
"I was going to tell the four of you. I swear but I got thinking..." Ashton's look forces me to trail off.
"Thinking what, Ma?" Ashton grits out between clinched teeth.
"Thinking that it would be better if you didn't see her. All of you were finally getting out of your slump and I didn't want Whitney screwing that up." I try and take a step towards my daughters only to have Ashton back way.
"How did you know she would fuck anything up?" Ashton asks relaxing the glare slightly, just slightly.
"They did a pretty damn good job of it before." I mumble while starring holes into the floor.
"What do you mean by that?" Becca questions.
"Well they tore us apart Beccs. How long has it been since you have gone to the ice rink or spent more than two hours at the house around everyone at a time? How long has it been since Raife dropped off of the Honors society or has actually wanted to go to have a game night? Adam hasn't wanted to even walk past Sandra's old office or even sleep in a room down that hall. And Ashton...look at what all of this has done to her."
The room goes silent and I can practically see the wheels turning in their heads.
"Just because all that shit has happened doesn't mean we didn't deserve to know. You have no fucking idea..." Ashton trails off. I can see tears forming in the teens eyes. "Y'know what? Fuck it! I'm going to my room!" She says roughly before shoving off the table she was leaning on and storming up stairs. I try to reach out to touch her arm but she shrugs me off.
Becca shakes her head at me and follows her little sister's lead. Not even a minute passes and the rest of the group, Carlins and all, make their way down here with questions flickering in their eyes.
"They saw Whitney."
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