Chapter 501: Waddle and Dobbs Funeral Parlor

Thursday, February 16th, Evening

Going to a funeral parlor is not always one of everyone's top ten favorite places. Yet she found herself at one. The casket was open, and she felt a surge of mixed emotions as she walked over to it. She didn't want to be here, nobody wanted to be at these things, but she felt she had to be.

Ashlyn looked down at the face of the woman that was once her mother. James rested his hands on her upper arms for comfort. She let out a sigh and thanked God that the doors weren't open. A private time with the family, no matter how broken it was. Ashlyn was still feeling numb; for almost two decades, Maddie Pierce didn't treat Ashlyn as her youngest daughter but as an outcast.

Ashley Buckingham "Buck" Pierce III waited for her and James just past the casket. Ashlyn looked coldly at her dad. She had come to view him as a weak man that Maddie steamrolled on everything. He rarely tried to reach out to her over the last, almost, twenty years.

Savannah had tried to mend the rift; things had been going well in that regard. That was until Savannah, her husband, and her stepson died in that car accident. Maddie almost seemed to double down in reaction to her grief.

"Thank you for coming, Ash," Buck said; his aged and weather face seemed to have aged even more.

"You're welcome," Ashlyn said coldly and mechanically.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Mister Pierce," James said.

"Thank you, James," Buck said.

"If you need anything, please, feel free to contact me," James said.

"Where are the kids?" Buck asked.

"The younger ones are with the babysitter, while Brett is at her dad's this week," James said.

"Will Brett be coming?" Buck asked.

"That is up to her," James said.

"Where are Joplin and AB?" Ashlyn asked.

"They are also with a sitter," Buck said.

Ashlyn nodded. Buck looked around the room, almost empty except for him, Ashlyn, and James. This seemed to make Buck sadder. His face hung like a sad puppy dog, but his eyes perked up when he saw a flash at the door. James and Ashlyn noticed Buck looking past them. They turned to the door and saw Brett standing there. Ashlyn noticed for the first time her oldest, Brett standing there.

Brett rarely wore dresses, she was always a pants girl and would maybe wear a skirt, but when she did wear dresses, she always looked good. Ashlyn noted that Brett's black dress looked tasteful; that was her stepmom Chase's influence. Brett stood at the door tentatively; finally, she walked over to the casket. Brett could barely look into it. Finally, Brett came over to Ashlyn, and Ashlyn hugged her daughter.

"Momma," Brett said and hugged Ashlyn.

"I'm here, Baby Girl," Ashlyn said.

Brett nodded and turned to look at James. Her eyes lit up just slightly as Brett gazed upon her stepdad.

"Daddy James," Brett said and hugged him.

"Brett," James said and hugged her back.

"It's good to see you," Brett said.

"Yes, it is," James said.

"Brett, this is your grandpa, my dad, Buck Pierce," Ashlyn said.

Brett nodded and looked at Buck. They looked at each other, trying to size each other up. Neither one seemed to want to make the first move. The deadlock was broken when the funeral director walked in.

"We're about to open the doors," the funeral director said.

"Okay," Buck said.

James, Ashlyn, and Brett went to sit in the common area, which would still look upon the casket. Buck looked them over.

"Ashlyn, Brett, please join me," Buck said.

Both Ashlyn and Brett looked at James, questioning. James looked at the doors, the casket, Buck, finally to his wife and stepdaughter. He sighed and met Ashlyn's eyes. "Sit with your dad," James said.

Ashlyn nodded and brought Brett with her. Ashlyn sat next to Buck, and Brett sat next to Ashlyn. Buck looked at the funeral director and nodded. The doors opened, and people started to enter. Ashlyn looked at the first person in the line.

The line of people just kept moving. Ashlyn knew most of them, at least by name. Some she knew only on reputation. There were a few faces she knew and didn't want to speak to because of what they did in the past.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Ashlyn," someone said.

Ashlyn looked up and studied a face looking down at her. The dark-haired woman Ashlyn noticed she dyed her hair. This woman was hiding her age. "Thank you, Ms…." Ashlyn said.

"Wettin, Mrs. Jessalyn Wettin," the woman said.

Ashlyn's eyes narrowed as her mind connected the name and the face. The two women looked at each other. Ashlyn gripped the arms of the chair.

"Thank you for coming, Mrs. Wettin," Ashlyn said.

"You're welcome," Jessalyn said.

Ashlyn nodded and watched Jessalyn walk away. Ashlyn leaned back and looked at the line. Two young women come over. Ashlyn slightly smiled as they walked over.

"Sorry for your loss, Mrs. Pierce-Scott," Baylee said.

Ashlyn nodded and looked at the second girl. The tall young woman looked at Ashlyn sadly. "I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Pierce-Scott," Avril said.

"Thank you, Avril," Ashlyn said.

"You're welcome," Avril said.

Ashlyn watched as the two girls moved over to where Brett sat. Brett stood up and hugged Baylee and Avril. Ashlyn listened to the three young women talk and even got Brett to laugh a bit. Ashlyn smiled and watched her oldest and her two closest friends. Brett, Baylee, and Avril reminded Ashlyn of her small group of friends, Angela, Ashton, and herself. They were called the A's, but Brett's group hadn't earned a name yet, as far as Ashlyn knew.

"I'm sorry, Ash," a voice said, a familiar voice. Ashlyn looked up and smiled. Standing up, Ashlyn hugged the woman.

"Thank you, Ash," Ashlyn said.

"You're welcome," Doctor Ashton Perry, MD, said.

"I didn't expect to see you," Ashlyn said.

"Where else would I be? Ash, you're one of my best friends; where else would I be?" Ashlyn asked.

"I don't know," Ashlyn said.

"Have you spoken to Angela?" Ashton asked.

Ashlyn nodded, "Yes, and so has James, she's going to try to get here, but it's up to work to give her the time," she said.

"You know Angela, she'll be here, hook or by crook," Ashton said.

"I hope you're right, Ash," Ashlyn said.

"I know I am," Ashton said.

Ashton and Ashlyn separated and went on their way. Ashlyn sat down and watched. The rest of the visitation was a blur. One thing Ashlyn knew was by the end of the night, Huck showed up, even though her parents hated him. Chase showed up with Huck. Lucas and Kiera showed up as well, but no Angela.