"I thought Bull would be coming along," Benny said to Ashton from the passenger seat of a mid-size SUV. She had picked him up at the TAC office early in the afternoon to attend their nephew's birthday party over the weekend. Benny had waited until they had gotten beyond the traffic of the city before starting this conversation not knowing how Ashton would react.

"Why would you think that?" Ashton asked with a sideways glance.

"My standing dart date got cancelled last Saturday night," Benny explained good-naturedly.

"And?... I know nothing of standing dart dates," she told him with a smile.

"Bull and I play darts on Saturday night, usually after work. He's never cancelled until last week," he replied.

"When did playing darts become code for hitting the bar for a couple of drinks?" Ashton inquired in a teasing voice.

"We do play darts," the lawyer stressed. "And Bull gave us the weekend off."

"Most of us are happy when we don't have to work on the weekend," she emphasized. "Before you accepted the position at TAC, I thought I warned you about not drinking Jason's Kool-Aid."

"I think something much more important was happening Saturday. You two have been talking more," Benny stated with a grin.

"Is there a question in there somewhere?" she asked.

"I guess I'm asking if Bull had a date with you on Saturday?" he finally asked.

"We spent time together. Jason's been helping me brush up for a certification test," Ashton admitted.

"Are you going to tell me what brushing up for a certification test is code for?" Benny questioned mischievously. Ashton kept her eyes on the road and did not utter a word. Despite her silence, Benny noticed a slight smirk on Ashton's face so he went on to say, "Why isn't he here then?"

"Benny, we need to get to know each other again, talk, see if Jason is willing to trust me again," she told him.

"Trust you?" he asked not fully understanding.

Ashton nodded. "What you get at the office is only the tip of the iceberg. Jason Bull is complicated and complex and very careful about what he chooses to reveal regarding himself to those around him."

"I think we all know that," he replied.

"I got the whole iceberg and it's much bigger than anyone would guess," she said seriously. "It's going to take time – for both of us."

"At least you decided to give it another chance," Benny told her in encouragement.

"Benny, we're taking it one day at a time. Maybe there's nothing left to save," Ashton said seriously.

"If there wasn't something there, neither one of you would be still talking to the other," Benny stated. "That much I know for sure."

They spend the rest of the way to New York's Finger Lakes region talking about everything else but Ashton and Bull's relationship. Ashton dropped Benny off at her brother's and his sister's home where he was staying and quickly accompanied him inside to say hello. As much as she enjoyed seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Ashton always looked forward to spending time with her nephew and niece. After spending some time with the kids, she drove the short distance to her father's house.


Ashton rang the doorbell and then tried the door handle. Finding it open, she walked inside bag in hand and called, "Hey, Dad! I'm home."

"Ashton, what's wrong?" Jack Catazarro asked his daughter as she looked around with a confused expression.

"I don't smell anything. I thought we were having dinner here," she told him.

"Change of plans. I told them we'd be stopping by the restaurant at the winery. Besides, there's no dishes to do this way," he explained with a smile.

"You have a hard time with the getting away from work thing, don't you?" Ashton teased her father who was mostly retired.

"I take after my daughter," Jack said with a laugh.

Ashton had an enjoyable and delicious dinner with her father. As they sat and ate, many of the employees and other diners stopped by to say hello and chat for a bit. When they finished and her father enjoyed a cup of coffee with some friends, Ashton went to the winery's main tasting room where a few of the employees she knew had gathered. Wine tastings were done for the day so Ashton had time to catch up a bit with them. As they stood talking, another person quietly entered the room and watched from the doorway.

"Well, look who's home for a visit," a man's voice said during a break in the conversation.

Ashton turned around knowing exactly to whom the voice belonged. "Matty!" she said cheerfully.

"Your dad told me I'd probably find you here. How are you, Ash?" Matty asked and pulled her in for a hug. Matthew Wagner, tall, athletic-looking, with blue eyes and dark hair that was now peppered with some grey, now co-owned the winery with his father. He and Ashton had known each other for so long they no longer even remembered when they first met.

"Good, and you?" Ashton said as the others waved left the room.

"I'm doing okay," he told her. "I didn't expect to see the two of you here."

"Dad decided to surprise me with dinner. I guess he didn't want to cook," she replied.

"I hope that dinner met your expectations?" Matthew inquired.

"It was wonderful, as usual," she assured him.

"I take it you were planning on sneaking in and out of town again without seeing anyone?" he asked.

"I don't sneak in and out; I have a long drive," Ashton stated.

"You could move back; save on the drive," he replied. Matthew was two years older than Ashton and they had started dating during her senior year of high school. When it ended a year or so later, they were able to remain friends mainly due to the distance between them at the time. He was now twice divorced and had convinced Ashton to go out with him again while she was home after her own divorce was final. By the second date, Ashton told Matthew it wasn't going to work but he still tried to persuade her otherwise.

"My life is in the city. There's not a whole lot here for me now," she said with an intent stare.

"Aside from your family, there's good food, good wine, and good friends," he said in a friendly argument.

"Okay, maybe there are a few things," she conceded with a smile. "Although there is food, wine, and friends in the city."

"Do you think you could spare some time for an old friend while you're here?" Matthew asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"I doubt it. My dad and I have a meeting with his lawyer tomorrow at eleven and then my nephew's birthday party is later that afternoon. He's the one man I won't cancel on," Ashton told him honestly.

"I forgot the party's tomorrow. I'll have to try to get out of here early," he said off-handedly.

"Alex didn't mention you were coming," she replied calmly while inwardly annoyed with her brother.

"Yeah. I think most of the gang will be stopping by. I'll see you there," Matthew said with a smile and walked out of the room.

"I guess so," Ashton said to herself as she looked after him.


Ashton's cell phone rang shortly after she arrived back at the house with her father. She excused herself and walked into the kitchen to take the call.

"How's Jason?" Jack asked as his daughter walked back into the living room carrying a steaming mug of tea.

"How do you know I was talking to Jason?" she countered as she sat down in a large overstuffed chair.

"It's been a while but I remember seeing that look on your face," her father replied as he flipped on the television.

"I wasn't smiling," Ashton pointed out.

"With you, it's more a look of contentment…and your brother made a point to tell me that Jason was over for dinner while he was there," Jack said knowing there was sure to be a reaction from his daughter.

"Alex needs to mind his own business," she declared angrily.

"He's just trying to look out for you," her father told her and then teased, "Do you think Jason will survive the weekend on his own?"

"He's very self-sufficient; Jason will be fine," Ashton retorted more amused than angered.

"I take it the curve balls have ended," Jack said.

"Let's just say they've straightened out a little," she explained.

"The game isn't won in the first inning, Ash. You have to give the players time to settle in," he told her with a knowing smile.


After Ashton and her father met with the lawyer the next morning, they grabbed a quick lunch and headed over to her brother's house. The birthday party wasn't scheduled to start for a few hours but Ashton wanted to see the kids as much as she could while she was there. She also knew that Benny might be ready for a break from the constant attention of a six- and two-year old.

A short time after arriving, Ashton managed to corner her brother while he was out on the patio alone. "When were you going to mention that you invited Matthew to the party?"

"Ash, not only have our families been friends forever, he's my boss," Alex replied earnestly. "You two get along fine. What's the problem?"

"You do remember we did go out a few times," she answered.

"I forgot you two were a thing back in the day; my focus was geared more towards cartoons. I'm a bit younger than you," he told her with a wide grin.

"I'm more concerned with the here and now than back in the day," Ashton said and went on to remind to her brother about the more recent events between her and Matthew. "He just doesn't seem to understand that "us" is not going to work."

"As far as I know, Matt's seeing someone, so he probably thinks he's being funny. You know he likes to yank your chain; you're overthinking it," Alex said.

After birthday cake was served, Matthew succeeded in finding Ashton alone in a corner of the yard. She had been deserted by her nearly two-year-old niece in favor of chasing after the older children.

"No kids today?" Ashton asked Matthew. She knew he shared custody with his first ex-wife and Ashton was determined to be friendly in case Alex was right and she was overreacting.

"Not my weekend," Matthew replied. "Your shadow deserted you."

"She finally realized they have all the toys," she said with a laugh.

"Everything go okay at the lawyer's?" he asked.

"It went about as well as it could," Ashton told him. "Dad seems to be taking all of it better than I am."

"That doesn't surprise me. If you need anything, all you have to do is call me, Ashton." Matthew said with sincerity. "You do still have my number?"

"Yes, I still have your number, and thank you," she answered.

"Do you have time for breakfast tomorrow? I know you have a long drive back," he inquired.

"My dad was planning on making brunch for all of us," Ashton said.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to avoid me," he stated seriously.

"Matty, I came home for Cameron's birthday party and a meeting with dad's lawyer. I didn't schedule time for socializing or upsetting people's girlfriends," she answered with a pointed look.

"I see word gets around. It's not serious," he told her as he rubbed his neck.

"I don't need to get in the middle of something, serious or not," Ashton informed him.

"Since I can't get some of your time tomorrow, can you ink me in for your next visit?" Matthew asked.

"I'm not sure when that's gonna be," she replied.

"I figured you'd be home more often with your dad being sick," he said and looked at her intently.

"I have work that needs to get done and I'm trying to get prepared for a re-certification test," Ashton explained.

"You can pretty much work anywhere, Ashton, I know that much," he said curtly. "What about your dad?"

"I hope you're not implying I don't care about my father because we both know that's far from the truth," she replied angrily.

"Ash, I just thought you'd be around more," Matthew said trying to make amends.

"My father knows my plans and agreed with it. I don't even know why I'm explaining this to you," Ashton told him.

"Hey, Ashton, you were right, Alex does make the best burgers," Benny called out as he approached the pair. Alex had been on the patio talking with Benny and watching Ashton speak with Matthew. When he noticed his sister's expression suddenly change he sent Benny on a covert mission to intercede.

"I told you," she replied, happy for the interruption. "Matt, you remember Isabelle's brother, Benny, don't you?"

"Of course. I haven't seen you in a while," Matthew said as the two shook hands.

"I don't get up here as much as I'd like because of work," Benny replied with a smile.

"That seems to happen a lot once you're in the big city. People don't keep in touch," Matthew said with an unmistakable look at Ashton.

"I'm pretty sure that's why the telephone was invented," Ashton replied as she returned the stare. Before anything else could be said, Frank Wagner, Matthew's father called out his name. Matthew walked off and Ashton watched him go with a smile on her face.

"Why do I think that wasn't about me?" Benny asked her.

"Because it wasn't," Ashton stated plainly.

"Are you going to fill me in?" he asked.

"Nope," she told him and began to walk towards the house.