So completely sorry for not updating. I've had other priorities, like finals and weird family issues. But everything is taken care of now, so I have time to sit down and write a little. Please do not pelt me with various rotten fruits
Words got caught in Ranger's throat. A wave of dizziness overtook him for a minute, and he felt as if he was going to throw up. A tear rolled down Ashley's cheek, and Ranger brushed it away. He pulled her head to his lips and brushed a protective kiss on her forehead. Ranger slid his arm around his daughters back and led her the rest of the way into the house.
The pair was bombarded with smells of fresh fruits and warm cooking smells. "Mom's been baking since she got off the phone with you." Ashley said softly and detached from her father. She walked to the kitchen door, and said sourly, "Dad's here."
She turned back and walked past her father, up the stairs and presumably into her room. Diana came into the living room. "Well," she said, pausing to wipe flour off her hands. "I assume she told you?"
"Yeah." Ranger sighed.
"Can I offer you a pop or anything?" Diana asked.
"No thanks." Ranger said, trying to be as pleasant as he possibly could. "Mind telling me what's going on?"
"It's pretty elementary, Ric. Your daughter's pregnant." Diana said, leaning against a high chair back.
"I got that far." Ranger spat.
"Ricardo, I know you don't like me very well. That's just fine. But right now, I'm asking for your support." Diana asked.
Ranger looked at her. "Support on what?"
He regret the question the moment he asked it. "Ric, I want her to get an abortion." Diana said flatly, and smoothed out her t-shirt.
"Absolutely not!" Ranger exclaimed. "No. I'm not helping you there."
"It's the only choice, Ric." Diana said defensively.
"The ONLY choice?" Ranger raised his voice. "This conversation shouldn't even be happening." He replied in a softer voice.
"You're right. It shouldn't have. Ashley should have seen how completely screwed up our lives were and tried not to do the same damn thing." Diana quipped.
There was nothing Ranger could say that would turn this around. This woman was no doubt like her father. So, Ranger turned and walked up the stairs, leaving Diana alone in the living room.
At the end of the hall, Ranger could hear sounds of music playing from his daughters room. He rapped on the door with his knuckles. The music's volume got turned down, and Ashley opened the door. Immediately upon seeing her father, her eyes welled up with tears. Ranger pulled her into a hug and walked into her room. He gently closed the door behind her. Ashley broke down into heavy sobs.
A confused father had no idea how to fix this. He simply just sat on her bed, pulling his daughter with him, and let her cry. Finally, she broke away. She smiled at him and said softly, "Sorry."
He had a feeling the sorry went father then her break down, but he didn't press it. There was a moment of comfortable silence before she spoke. "I heard what mom said. I'm not doing it."
Ranger smiled. "I figured."
Out of no where, Ashley's phone rang. She picked it up, and smiled at whatever the person on the other end said. "I'll leave you to your call." Ranger said, kissed Ashley on the forehead and left.
-------------------------------------------- Miami, Florida. 9:47. From Ashley's POV
"Hey to you to." She smiled and twisted a stray strand of hair then flicked it out of her face.
"How are things?" He asked caringly over the phone.
"Good." Ashley sighed.
"Ash, how are things?" He asked again.
"They're alright Ty. My Dad's got in town this morning." Ashley leaned back against her wall and kicked her feet up on her bed.
"Is that good or bad?" Tyler asked.
Tyler had been Ashley's best friend for years, since he moved there in 6th grade. He had been the shy, geeky kid in the back of the classroom. Ashley was the only one who talked to him. Tyler and Ashley had begun dating early in Sophomore year. Now both were almost through with their Senior year. Neither one had huge plans for the rest of their lives. Tyler had been playing around being a surgeon, but that would take years of school that he wouldn't have the money for. But whatever the situation way, Tyler had vowed to Ashley that through thick and thin, he'd be there for her and the baby.
"Good. Mostly." Ashley flinched as a door downstairs slammed and shouting noises made their way through the floor.
"Hang in there, sweetheart." Tyler convinced. "I don't suppose you and your dad would want to come to dinner?"
"Me and my dad? What are you up to Ty?" Ashley gave a little squeal of laughter.
Tyler laughed too. "Well, I knocked up his daughter, I might as well give him a chance to beat me up a little." "Wear a thick helmet." She said to his good natured joke.
"I take that as a yes?" He asked.
"Yeah, we'll be there." Ashley sighed again.
They began to talk about normal everyday things, staying away from topic of pregnancy. In the middle of their conversation, more yelling broke out and the sounds of shattering glass pierced the walls. Ashley could hear her mother yelling, at no doubt her father, about forcing her to get an abortion.
Ashley suddenly got quiet. "Ash?" Tyler asked.
"I'm not doing it. I cant keep putting up with this." She cried, close to sobbing. "I'm going to leave with my dad. He has to go back to Trenton sometime. And I have to go with him."
"Shhh." Tyler encouraged. He had been actually thinking along those lines too. It would be safer for them in Trenton.
"I don't know what to do, Ty. Do I leave you here? Do I put up with my mom?" She was sobbing now.
"Shhh. Hey. Ash." Tyler said to try and calm her down. "Go with your dad. I'll finish out the semester here then I will follow you guys."
Ashley got a hold of herself. Tyler could feel her smile on the other end of the line. "I'm not leaving you or the baby, Ash. Never."
There were footsteps on the stairs. "I should go Ty. See ya later."
"Bye Ash." Tyler said.
Ashley's door was ripped open just as Ashley put the receiver down again. "Downstairs. Now." Diana barked.
With a sigh, Ashley trudged downstairs.