Ashton checked in on her father and found him in the living room with Loki at his side. Jack assured her he was doing well and was not near to overexerting himself as he sat and watched television. When he asked if Alex was headed back to work, she explained that it was Matt, and not her brother, who brought her back from returning the car. Jack chuckled as Ashton grumbled about her younger sibling for a few minutes before announcing she was going up to the attic to go through some of her things she had stored there.

"Ashton. Ash—TON!" Alex called as he pounded up the attic stairs.

"Wanna try again? I think there are a few people in Painted Post who didn't hear you."

"Dad said you've been up here a while. What are you doing?" Alex asked and plopped down next to her.

"I'm going through my stuff," Ashton replied and elbowed him lightly as he leaned over to see what she was holding in her lap. "Thanks for sending Matty to pick me up."

"I didn't send him and I said I was sorry I couldn't get there myself. I heard you're working tomorrow and have plans for dinner," he said.

"Dinner is because I agreed to work tomorrow. My going depends if Dad is feeling okay and my mood."

"Why are you looking at those?" Alex asked.

Ashton shrugged. The gesture caused her brother to give her a pleading look as he gently pulled the album that held her wedding photos out of her hands, closed it and placed it aside. Ashton slowly exhaled and gazed upwards before she told Alex what she had witnessed outside the courtroom. He asked if she had said anything to Bull about it and Ashton went on to relate her ex's side of things.

"You're my sister and I love you but I gotta side with Jason on this," Alex said. When she protested he continued, "Ash, Jason has no problem telling anyone exactly what he's thinking. If he was seeing someone else, he'd tell you directly."

"I don't know."

"C'mon, the kids are downstairs. They'll get your mind off this. Benny's here, too," he told her.

As they made their way to the first floor, Ashton's phone rang. She took the call as Alex went on ahead. When she saw Benny, she expressed her surprise and delight that he had eventually decided to come out for the weekend.

Benny pulled Ashton aside and quietly related that Bull might be later than expected. She told him that Bull had just called and told her that himself. Ashton asked how the party went and in the midst of describing the celebration, Benny let slip that Diana had showed up at the TAC office. Before he could say any more Ashton's phone rang again and she answered it as she headed up to her bedroom. She reappeared downstairs minutes later wearing a different top and her hair down.

"Where are you going?" Alex asked as she headed to the door after viewing a text message.

"Dinner."

"What about Jason? What do we tell him?" her brother inquired.

"Jason's busy with work. He'll be coming here tomorrow," she replied with a fixed glare.


"You're taking the long way again," Ashton said.

"Uh-huh," Matt replied with a quick smile.

Dinner that night had gone better than Ashton expected. Instead of going with his usual line of questions, Matty asked about what projects she had going on for work and didn't mention the trial or ask more about who she was seeing. Ashton inquired how his daughters and brother were doing and did her best to put Bull out of her mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked as Ashton stared out of the passenger side window. After her comment a few minutes after getting into the vehicle she had been silent.

"About what?" she replied without turning her head.

"Whatever it is that's bothering you. And before you say you're fine remember who's sitting next to you."

"I've got a lot going on," she said as they drove along near the lake.

He pulled off one of the side roads that went down closer to the water and parked the truck determined to get Ashton to say what was on her mind.

"I haven't been here in years," Ashton said absently.

"I'm not going to let you change the subject. I know you're worried about your dad; he gave all of us a scare but he's home and okay," Matt said.

"He's not okay," she snapped. He didn't utter a word in reply but waited for her to put a voice to what was going on in her head.

"I thought I'd be better at handling it since I'm all grown up, but sometimes it just hits me and I'm back to twelve years old when my mom died," Ashton said her eyes filling with tears and voice shaking.

"Hey…look at me. All of us are here for you. You can call me, my brother, my parents at any time if you or your dad need anything. I told Alex the same thing."

"Thanks," she said and turned to face the windshield.

"I mean it, Ash. Even if you want to vent, talk, cry – just call." His hand gently pushed her hair back so he could see her face better. Their eyes met as she turned to look at him and he leaned in towards her. Ashton began to move towards him as well but then put her hand up to stop him before their lips met.

"Matty, don't," she said quietly.

"Because you're seeing someone?"

"Because I'm sad and angry and scared and confused and everything else right now. I need a friend, someone I can lean on and who will be there for me. I don't need more pressure or questions in my life right now."

"I wasn't trying to pressure you," he said gently.

"I know but neither one of us should be taking advantage of this situation, it'll only lead to a whole lot of angry."

They drove to Ashton's family home in silence. When they pulled up to the house, Ashton thanked him again for dinner before getting out of the truck. Matt smiled and asked if she could use a hug.

"Whatever you need, I'm here for you," he whispered in Ashton's ear as they embraced.


"How did dinner go?" Jack asked his daughter when Ashton strolled into the house and plunked down on the sofa.

"Better than expected," she replied. Jack raised his eyebrows surprised by her answer.

"How are you?" Ashton continued.

"Relaxed. Don't I look relaxed?"

"Very. I think it's the slippers," she replied with a smirk.

"You sure you're okay with working at the tasting room tomorrow?" he asked.

"Only if you're feeling alright. Why?"

"You know Matty will be there most of the day?"

"I know," Ashton told him. "It's okay. We talked a bit. Well, I mostly talked; he listened and seemed to hear me this time. Weird, huh?"

"Not really," Jack said without going into detail. He had been the recipient of countless questions about Ashton over the years especially since her divorce. "We'll see how long it lasts. And Jason?"

"Jason should be here tomorrow if his job doesn't get priority again," she replied.

"Ashton, Jason Bull may be a great psychologist when it comes to helping other people with their issues but he has a hard time dealing with his own."

"I see Alex filled you in," she said.

"Alex, no. Benny, yes. He was concerned when you left. You need to talk to Jason and give him a chance to hear you, too," Jack said.

"Dad, I didn't tell him not to come out now did I?" Ashton replied seriously. "Do you want some tea?"