Chapter 514: Pierce House

Saturday, February 18th, Afternoon

The door opened after they knocked. The couple on the stoop looked at the older man standing at the door. The three sets of eyes kept moving from one to the other. Finally, he nodded and stepped aside.

"Ashlyn, James," Buck said, "Please, come in."

Ashlyn nodded and stepped through the front door of her childhood home. It was the first time since she had stepped over the threshold in sixteen years. The last time was when her mom kicked her out of the house for exposing Brett's existence. At the end of that school year, she turned eighteen, got an offer to play basketball at Duke University, and became a teenage bride.

Crossing this threshold closed many doors for her but opened others. Ashlyn went through college as a married woman and a mom of one where most of her friends had the college experience that she did not.

"Where are the kids?" James asked.

"They're over, friends," Buck said.

"Okay," James said.

Buck led them to the kitchen and swept a handout. "Please have a seat," Buck said.

Ashlyn took a seat, her old seat at the table, and James took the chair across from her, Savannah's old seat. Ashlyn looked over the kitchen; it hadn't changed much in sixteen years. She knew her mom didn't like change. But the pictures did change; Ashlyn looked at one. That picture was original of her mom, dad, Savannah, and herself; now, it didn't have her in there. The cut-out was crude, but Ashlyn was cut out of it.

"What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Buck asked.

"We're checking on you," James said.

Buck nodded, "James, I believe you've not been there before," he said.

"I have been here before," James said.

"You have?" Buck asked.

"Yes, back in high school, when I picked Ashlyn up for a date," James said.

"Oh, I don't remember," Buck said.

"It's unimportant," James said.

"Alright," Buck said, "Would you like a drink?"

"I'm good, Mister Pierce," James said.

Buck nodded and turned to Ashlyn. "How about you, Ash?" he asked.

"I'm good," Ashlyn said.

Buck nodded, "So, it's been a while since you've been here," he said.

"Sixteen years, to be exact," Ashlyn said.

"What is wrong, Ash?" Buck asked.

"I don't know, the fact we've not been here because I wasn't allowed back here," Ashlyn said.

"That wasn't me; that was your mom," Buck said.

"Yeah, I know," Ashlyn said but closed her mouth when James rested his hands on hers.

"Let the past be the past," James said.

"So, why are you here?" Buck asked.

"Ashlyn," James said.

"Ashlyn took a deep breath, "Have you thought about what happens now? With you? The house? The kids?" she asked.

"I've not thought that far ahead," Buck said.

Ashlyn nodded, "Well, Joplin and AB are getting older; you're getting older; the only other family we have is Aunt Charlotte in Bear Creek and Augusta in Durham," she said.

"That is true, all of it," Buck said.

"We have plenty of room at Jamlyn," Ashlyn said.

"Plenty of room for what?" Buck asked.

"I've been thinking, with James largely living in Miami, it would be good for the cousins to get to know each other and have another adult around the house," Ashlyn said.

"If so, what would I do with the house?" Buck asked.

"It could be renovated and used as a rental, generate some income for you," Ashlyn said.

"You've put some thought into this, haven't you?" Buck asked.

"A little," Ashlyn said.

"If I do this, and I'm only saying if," Buck said, "That's three more people under your roof to you have the rooms for that?"

"There is a wing that has been cleaned out, and there are four bedrooms and baths that could be set aside for you," Ashlyn said.

"You know Joplin and AB go to private school; how will that affect your household?" Buck asked.

"We have a babysitter, who could also watch Joplin and AB, giving you more free time," Ashlyn said.

"I see. Can we look at the house?" Buck asked.

"Of course," Ashlyn said.

"Can we do it tomorrow?" Buck asked.

"Yeah, but don't you have church?" Ashlyn asked.

Buck scratched the back of his neck. "Well, that was more of your mom. You see, I wasn't ever very religious myself," he said.

"I remember us going to church every Sunday, no excuses," Ashlyn said.

"Your mom was always religious," Buck said and shrugged, "More so after Savannah was born."

"Was that because Savannah was pre-mature?" Ashlyn asked.

Buck shook her head, "Savannah was never pre-mature," he said.

"What?" Ashlyn and James asked at the same time.

"That was just the story you tell when the math doesn't add up. No, your sister was born right around on time," Buck said.

"You mean my whole life you've been telling me lies?" Ashlyn asked.

"It was a different time, and those were the stories told back then to save face," Buck said.

Ashlyn nodded, "I see," she said.

"Will Brett be home tomorrow?" Buck asked.

"It's her day to change houses," Ashlyn said.

"Is it her week to be with you?" Buck asked.

James rested his hand on Ashlyn's/ She got silent, and James looked Buck in the eye. "It's been a tough week; we're a little confused on this matter," James said.

"Okay," Buck said.

"We'll see you tomorrow," Ashlyn said.

"We'll be there," Buck said.

"No need to show us out," Ashlyn said.

"Okay," Buck said.

Ashlyn and James stood up and left the house. Outside the house, Ashlyn looked at James.

"Call Brett and strongly encourage her to stay with her dad or aunt," Ashlyn said.

"Are you sure?" James asked.

"Yes, tell her we'll see her in two weeks," Ashlyn said.

"Alright," James said, getting out his phone as they got into their car.