My note…here's another chapter. This will probably be the last plot 'building' chapter before the main focus of the story is revealed.
FATHER KNOWS BEST
CHAPTER 4: SUNDAY BRUNCH
Robert was the one up at the crack of dawn, Sunday morning. He barely remembered Toby and Ashley tip-toeing through the door and up the stairs somewhere around two am.
He sat at the kitchen table with Kate and Jeff, enjoying the hot coffee, pleasant conversation and sharing the Sunday paper. The leisurely silence was soon interrupted with a back and forth, but playful banter of the siblings descending the stairs. Kate and Jeff shared a mutual smile….after Ashley's year long absence and Toby's more recent bout with severe depression over JT's death…this was a very welcome distraction.
When the muffled voices became clearer, you could easily hear Ashley laughing and taunting Toby, "Yes you did".
Followed quickly with Toby's defensive, "No I didn't".
They arrived in the kitchen, Toby flushed with embarrassment and Ashley beaming with satisfaction. "Good morning", she sung, her eyes shining brightly and a little added spring to her step. She gracefully rounded the table, gently kissing the cheek of 'all' of her parents.
"Well, someone's on top of the world right now", Kate stated, smiling at Ashley curiously.
"Side effect of being voted prom queen", Toby snickered, popping two slices of bread into the toaster.
Ashley grinned from ear to ear. "And Jimmy was voted king", she added proudly. "We were also voted couple of the year and best dressed".
"Congratulations", Jeff replied first, raising his coffee cup in acknowledgement. Kate and Robert nodded in agreement.
"Toby and Liberty we voted most intelligent couple", Ashley boasted, nodding over to her brother who was trying to disappear behind the appliance.
"That's wonderful Toby", Jeff congratulated his son, with a pat on the back as he walked passed him to fill up his mug.
Toby rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Sure it is", he quipped sarcastically. "Draw even more attention to the two biggest nerds in the school", Toby trailed off, mumbling under his breath. Ashley heard this and walked over to Toby, giving him a sympathetic nudge.
"Well, it sounds like you all had a wonderful time last night", Robert stated as he folded his section of newspaper and stood up. "Ready Ash?".
"Definitely", she answered happily, grabbing her purse and heading to the back door...she was so accustomed to using the kitchen entrance with Jimmy, that she almost never used the front door. "Ouch", she gasped.
"Are you okay Ashley?", Kate asked concernedly as she looked over her shoulder at her daughter.
"Blisters", she answered with a grimmace, sliding her foot out of her strappy sandals and into a comfy pair of dressy flip-flops.
"Yeah well, that's what you get for tearing up the dance floor last night", Toby teased, winking at Ashley as he took a bite of his toast. Ashley shrugged innocently and smiled at her brother."We had to practically drag them out of gym", he added.
"Who, Ashley and Liberty?", Robert asked Toby with a grin.
"No, Ashley and Jimmy", Toby replied, shrugging as if it were the most likely answer on the planet.
Robert stood there in momentary shock. "Dancing?", he questioned once he found his voice.
"Well yeah...of course dancing", Toby answered quickly, his tone taking on just the slightest hint of sarcasim. "They were the best couple out there", he added certainly. Ashley blushed a bit at Toby's compliment.
Robert looked questionably at his daughter. Ashley could tell he was still a bit confused and giggled slightly as she walked over to her father. "Jimmy and I love to dance", she stated simply, her grin growing wider. "It took some practice and a little inginuity, but we've pretty much mastered it".
"You seemed surprised Robert", Kate joked lightly.
"I guess I didn't think that dancing would be possible", Robert replied.
"Oh, it's possible", Kate answered and gazed wistfully as she remembered the first time she saw the pair dancing...it was early December, they were in the middle of the living room practicing for the winter dance. She rose and walked around the table. "And it's quite a beautiful sight", Kate added, smiling proudly at Ashley as she gave her a small hug.
Robert looked expactantly at Ashley, but was eager to get the spotlight off of herself. "So Dad...are we still going to brunch?", she inquired anxiously.
Robert looked at his watch and laughed. "Of course. But if we don't hurry, it will be more like just plain lunch", he joked, holding his arm out for hers. Ashley accepted his gesture by looping her arm through his and happily walked out of the house, arm and arm with her father.
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"Thanks Dad, this is really nice", Ashley said, from the seat across from her father.
"It is Ash...very nice", he replied, holding his water glass in toast. Ashley mirrored his action and took a small sip, Robert smiled. "We haven't haven't had much time to talk since I've been here...what's new with my lovely daughter?".
"Not that much since Thursday", she chuckled and perused over the menu.
Robert smiled at Ashley. "So prom was nice?", he asked, making small talk.
Ashley nodded and blushed. "Prom was nice...but afterward was amazing", she beamed. Robert raised his brow in curiosity. Ashley took a deep breath and continued. "The gym looked so beautiful. We got there a little early and ended up snacking on the buffet before the dancing started", she explained excitedly. "Like Toby said, we stayed until it was over. There were only about twenty of us left...", Ashley chuckled and trailed off a bit.
She smiled at the memory, still very fresh in her head. "Then Jimmy told us, when we got back into the limo, that he had a surprise waiting for us", Ashely face shone so brightly at this point, Robert was sure she'd burst with happiness. "His dad chartered a boat ride for out group...", she sighed dreamily. "We spent the rest of the evening, eating this unbelievable four course meal underneath the twinkling stars".
Robert bit back a smiled, but couldn't hold in his amusment. Ashley was always a hopeless romantic...very, very much like her father. "Which is probably why you're not that hungry this morning", he joked, motioning to the small cup of soup and side plate of fruit in front of her.
Ashley blinked back into reality and blushed with embarassment. Robert cleared his throat and changed the subject. "And school is going well?", he questioned nonchalantly.
"Great", she answered quickly, gently stirring her soup. "Jimmy and I are both graduating with honnors...all A's and B's".
"That's wonderful Ash", he praised sincerely, taking a bite of his steak and eggs.
Ashley noticed a small change in his demeanor and could tell where this conversation was heading. She swiftly braced herself. "Mom said you declined your acceptance at NYU", Robert stated, almost questionably.
Ashley shrugged slightly. "Yeah, w...I decided to accept the offer at Toronto U instead", she replied, using a storng certain tone. She could see he father wasn't completely satisfied with that answer, so he pointed out, "They have an excellent pre-law program".
Robert nodded in agreement. "But NYU's is better", he offered.
"I know, but it feels like I just got settled back home. This is where I belong Dad, and I don't think I want to leave again. I'd miss all of my family and friends...", she trailed off and finished her soup.
"And Jimmy?", Robert smirked teasingly. Ashley bit her lip and smiled sweetly. "Your mom also told me that Jimmy decided to change his major to art and missed the deadline for the program at NYU, but was accepted to the program at Toronto U", he added.
"Dad I...".
"Ash, you don't have to defend your actions to me...", Robert interrupted, taking a long sip of his coffee. "I just hope your not making a mistake that you'll end up regretting for the rest of your life", he stated, in a compassionate, fatherly way.
Ashley nodded, she knew her father only wanted her to have the best education. He offered her a gentle smile and stood to go pay the bill. Suddenly not hungry anymore, Ashley pushed her half eaten plate out of the way and tried to shake off the feeling that her dad wasn't just referring to her choice of colleges.
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Okay, this is coming off a little more intense than I had planned. I just feel that it's going to be interpreted differently than I would like, so I will try to clarify more in the next few chapters. And after this week, I promise to get on a schedule...really I do!!
Thanks to all who have reviewed last chapter...Havocmangawip, Sammi, Raina-Bess, lilfiftyfour and Sunshyne08...sorry if I didn't reply personally. I'll do better next time...promise.
Degrassi does not belong to me.