I only own Ashley, Adrian, Lucas, and the parents

Chapter 7: The Return

June 1999

Ashley was home for about a week our father was very sick so she had left her house in "The Lawrence Estates", which was the snobbishly rich side of Medford, to spend time with him. I lived in New York at the time but I was also home. This was the first time I had seen my sister in almost 2 years. We both had jobs that kept us busy, I myself was a lawyer for a prominent law firm in New York City. I arrived a day before she did. Lucas and Maddie were hanging around when I got home. Maddie was completing her last year at UCLA.

I was sitting around waiting for my sister, a car pulled into the driveway. I leaned against the doorway. Ashley stepped out of the car. Her hair was a deep auburn color.

"Adrian, my favorite sister how are you?" Ashley asked as she pulled me into a hug.

"What did you do to your hair?" I asked.

"I needed a change" she replied.

We walked into the house our mother hugged Ashley tightly.

"Your father is going to bed glad you are here" she said.

Ashley smiled weakly at our mother, everyone knew that the strong Russell Mercer was dying but nobody had the heart to say it out loud.

Ashley walked into the bedroom. Our father was hooked up to a machine to help his breathing.

"Hey daddy" Ashley said softly.

Dad removed the mask from over his mouth.

"Always knew cigarettes would be the death of me" he said.

He started having a coughing fit so he had to put the mask back on.

"Rest now daddy I'll be here when you wake up" she kissed his forehead.

It was funny how one day our father was a healthy 54 year old man and now he could barely breath on his own.

"How long does he have left?" Ashley asked when we were outside of the room.

"Doctors say a month or two" I replied.

"Mom should have called me sooner maybe there is something I could have done… a treatment maybe" Ashley ran a hand through her hair.

"Ash dad is dying and there is nothing we can do about it" I said "just accept that fact and enjoy the time we have left with him"

"I'm going for a walk" Ashley stated before walking out the front door.

She had gotten halfway down the driveway when a car came speeding out of nowhere almost hitting her. Ashley jumped out of the way just in time.

John got out of the car " I am so sorry"

"No harm done" Ashley said brushing herself off.

"No it's not Shel it's not ok I could have killed you" John said.

"I'm ok so just drop it" Ashley snapped.

"What brings you back here?" John asked.

"My dad is dying I need to be with him right now" She replied.

"You know it isn't the same without you around here" he said.

"That's nice but the last time I checked I'm pretty sure I hate you" she said.

"Come on Shel don't be like that" John said.

"First off it's Ashley to you… you lost the right to call me Shel when you tossed me aside" Ashley spat "second … tell me John what was it that you told me… oh yes I believe it was I just don't love you anymore"

John stood there looking at the ground.

"So please give me one good reason why I should even be having this conversation with you"

"We used to be best friends" John said.

"Yeah well there is a saying never date your best friend because if it ends badly there goes the friendship" Ashley said "guess you missed that one huh"

"I don't even know why I bother to try you haven't changed at all" he said.

"That is where you are wrong John I have changed" Ashley said "I worked my ass off in medical school to earn a degree and I live in a nice neighborhood and probably make more in a week than you do in a year"

"Life isn't always about money" he said.

"Well then what is it about and if you say love I will throw up right here because you aren't capable of loving anyone"

"I loved you" he said.

"You had a funny way of showing it" she retorted.

"So I screwed up I was fucking 16 years old!" John exclaimed "I may have ended it wrong but at least I can say that I was always faithful to you"

"I'd love to believe you but you see I can't because you lied to me all those times when you said you loved me and that seems to stick out more than the fact that you were faithful to me"

"How is it that you are 22 years old and still acting like a child?" John asked.

"A CHILD… A FUCKING CHILD YOU CAN'T KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS BUT I'M THE CHILD" Ashley yelled.

John tried his best to contain himself but he had always loved when Ashley was mad, she had this fire in her eyes when she was yelling at him. Without thinking he kissed her. She pushed him away.

"Stay away from me" she said walking back towards the house.