Chapter 5

Christine was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Usually she would have help preparing the meals, but since there was only the four of them sharing the ranch house she decided it was a good time to give the cook some vacation time. She could handle the cooking chores herself.

"Hi, Kyla you've come to keep me company while I prepare dinner or you just passing through?"

"Um…I thought I'd just get out of my room for a little while. I was starting to feel claustrophobic." Christine contemplated her young boarder, she felt sorry for her, in a tragic of sort away. She didn't know many of the details surrounding her divorce, she did feel something was not quite right.

"What are we having for dinner tonight?" Kyla asked.

"Oh, something simple, spaghetti with portabella mushrooms in a white wine sauce, ceaser salad and garlic bread." Kyla laughed, "you call that a simple meal. The sauce alone is made from scratch." Christine laughed as well. 'It's so hot today I thought a light simple meal would be good.' It was good to see Kyla laugh, Christine thought, but she could tell that Kyla's thoughts were occupied elsewhere. "So, does the dinner sound appetizing enough, Kyla?" "Um… yeah Christine sounds good."

Kyla's preoccupation disturbed Christine. Most divorces in Reno were pretty simple. But Kyla's divorce must be a little complicated, Christine wasn't quite sure. Kyla had seen her lawyer everyday or was on the phone with him for four weeks straight. That's was quite unusual. When she came back from seeing him she would be a nervous wreck. She would close herself off in her room until her mother called to discuss the children. A couple of times her husband called. Those calls from him made her hysterical. She would lock herself in her room and cry for hours. One time she had to be coaxed out by Ashley just to eat.

Kyla suddenly jumped out of her chair, startling Christine. "I'm going for a walk..bye."

Christine sighed, hoping tonight would be uneventful. NO DRAMA!

Ashley and Madison had just finished rehearsing when Spencer walked in. Ashley, seeing Spencer come in, immediately ran over to her.

"Spencer! What brings you here, is your meeting over?" Ashley not waiting for a response… "look Spencer about this afternoon"…"Stop Ashley, if you're going to apologize don't. I should be the one to apologize."

"Ashley, I am so sorry, I don't know why I reacted the way I did. I have no problem with you being gay. I guess you just caught me off guard and I just wanted to apologize. I want us to be friends." Ashley smiled, "me too Spencer. So, are we okay Spencer?" "Yes Ashley, very much okay."

"Umm…Ashley do you think I could get a cold drink?"

"Yeah, sure," Ashley smiled. "Oh! Wait I want to introduce you to my friend." Ashley called Madison over for her to meet Spencer.

"Madison come here, I like you to meet Professor Spencer Carlin, Professor Carlin this is my best friend and band partner Madison Daurate."

"Nice to meet you," they both said in unison. "Please Spencer sit down, I'll get that drink."

Madison and Spencer sat across from each other, sizing one another up. Madison was about to speak when Ashley came back with the drinks. "Jack and coke, right Spencer"…"Yes, thank you." "Madison here's a ginger ale for you." Madison gave Ashley a raised eyebrow. "We're working in a few hours, no drinking alcohol until after the set." "Ah…Ashley you are just so kind, considerate and motherly. I come in a little tipsy one time for a set…one time and you won't let me forget it."

Ashley laughed at Madison then turned to Spencer. Their eyes locked for a brief moment. "So! Spencer, how was you meeting you never answered me earlier." "Fine, I have another meeting next week. I'm not looking for too much trouble from Dexter, he wants this divorce as much as I do."

Spencer got a queasy feeling in her stomach after making that statement, but just shrugged it off thinking it was the drink.

Madison watched Spencer and Ashley with curious eyes for a few minutes before speaking. "Spencer, why don't you come back tonight to see Ashley perform. She wrote a new song for the band to play and I'm sure Ashley would love it if you came back." Ashley stared at Spencer, while Spencer thought about the invitation. "We don't perform until ten o'clock so you have time to go back to the ranch house rest and change then come back."

Well…I don't.." Spencer started say, but Ashley interrupted "Please..please."

"Okay! I'll come back, thanks for the invite Madison." Spencer looked over at Ashley smiling while Ashley had a big grin on her face.

"I'll see you tonight."

"How did things go with your lawyer today?" Christine asked Spencer. They were both in the living room having a glass of sherry. "Good, I have to see him again next week and if that goes well I won't have to see him until we come before the judge." "Great!" exclaimed Christine.

Ashley stayed in town with Madison, so Aiden, Christine and Spencer ate dinner together. Kyla ate in her room. Everyone was quiet except Aiden. It was one question after another, all directed at Spencer or he was bragging about his new girlfriend. Spencer liked Aiden, but she wondered when did he develop diarrhea of the mouth. He was talker, but tonight it was excessive, he could hardly eat his dinner.

With dinner finally over, Spencer was on her way back to the Lonely Hearts Nightclub.

Spencer arrived at the club just before the band began to play. The club was located on the West End of downtown Reno. She got somewhat turned around being it was her first time traveling at night. With all the bright lights from the nightclubs and casinos lit made the streets look completely different.

Spencer found a table near the back of the club and ordered a drink. While she waited for the band to start, she noticed things about the club she hadn't noticed earlier. The nightclub stayed open 24 hours, offered live entertainment 4 nights a week, had dancing and food. There were pool tables and gaming machines available in the back rooms.

Aiden had told Spencer that the West End of downtown Reno was the most popular area for local bars, nightclubs, sports bars, strip clubs and a few gay bars. Aiden also mentioned that The Lonely Hearts Nightclub was owned by Ashley's former boyfriend, Bill Stanton. He also owned one of the lesser known casinos located off the strip.

In actuality, Ashley and Spencer's background with the male species were similar. Ashley had dated Bill Stanton briefly six months ago. Bill fell totally in love with Ashley. She thought she felt the same, but she realized she just enjoyed his attention. She let his attraction for her get in the way of reasoning. She didn't love him and by the time she expressed those feelings to him, it was too late, he was whipped. She told him she was attracted to women, but he said he didn't care, he wanted to marry and if Ashley wanted to fool around with women he would ignore it. Ashley couldn't believe Bill could live in a relationship like that so she ended it. So, Bill decided if he couldn't be Ashley's husband, he would resign himself just to being her friend. Having some part of her in his life was better than nothing. When Madison approached him about the band performing at his club he was elated. He thought this would give him more time to change Ashley's mind about him.

The band came on stage, besides Ashley's guitar there were two other guitarist, a drummer, pianist, and saxophonist. The band played for thirty minutes with Madison singing lead. The time finally came for Ashley's solo. Spencer sat in her seat mesmerized by Ashley's voice and guitar playing. Ashley was wearing skintight black leather pants and a silk button down white shirt, wide leather studded belt and black western boots. Besides her singing Spencer thought she looked amazingly sexy.

Oh my God! Did I just think that. I don't know what's going with me. I've never thought of another woman that way. But it didn't help that she was looking directly at me singing her song and looking incredibly hot. Ugh! I am so screwed.

When Ashley finished her song the crowd went crazy. They ended the set and the band left the stage. Ashley was making her way to where Spencer was sitting, being congratulated for performance along the way…a big smile on her face.

I stood up when she finally got to me and I gave her a big hug. Ashley you were wonderful, amazing. I gave Ashley another hug, it just felt so comfortable to do so. We looked into each others eyes and just got lost. Then Madison came over, tapped Ashley on her shoulder and said she would be ready to leave for her place in ten minutes. "Okay, Madison"…Ashley turned to Spencer who was looking at her questioning. "I told Madison I would spend the night at her place, since Joe was out of town. She doesn't like to be alone."

"Oh," Spencer said sadly, "I just thought…I thought we could ride back to ranch house together."

"I'm only staying the night," Ashley stated quickly, "how about we go for a picnic lunch tomorrow? I liked to show you the quieter nature side of Reno, if you don't have any plans."

"That would be great Ashley."

"Great!" Ashley said, "we can leave around noon. See ya!"

"Bye Ashley," Spencer said somewhat annoyed with Madison's invitation to Ashley and annoyed with herself for feeling…jealous.