Chapter 7
"ASHLEY! ASHLEY!" Christine yelled frantically. Spencer quickly turned to see what was going on. Ashley and Aiden ran up the stairs to see Christine standing in the doorway of Kyla's bedroom staring unbelieving at the sight before her. There was Kyla lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood, both wrists slashed and Kyla looking like she was one step away from meeting her maker.
Ashley yelled at her mother, "Call 911 quickl." "Aiden go get some towels and sheets… when you get the sheets start tearing them into strips. We need to stop the bleeding until the paramedics get here."
Spencer came to Ashley's side trying to help her with Kyla. Aiden got back to Ashley with the towels and the sheets already torn into strips, handing them to Ashley and Spencer.
Both Ashley and Spencer were feverishly wrapping tourniquets around Kyla's wrists to stop the bleeding. Christine finally back at the bedroom, "the ambulance is on its way," "how is she?" "Not good, she's already lost a lot of blood and she's unconscious."
By the time Spencer and Ashley finished wrapping the tourniquets around Kyla's wrists the paramedics had arrived. They inspected the wrappings and the work Ashley and Spencer had done, nodded their approval and continued to stabilize Kyla's condition for the ride to the hospital. As they were placing her on the stretcher, Kyla moaned. Thank God, she's still alive at least, thought Spencer.
"Christine you need to get in touch with Kyla's husband and tell him to get down here," Ashley said.
Christine nodded, still in shock.
Ashley rode to the hospital with Kyla so she wouldn't be alone and to give the hospital information about her.
Spencer and Aiden staying behind, began cleaning up Kyla's room. There was blood everywhere, the bed, floor and bathroom. It was so much blood it made Spencer nauseous. When they finished the cleanup all three ran downstairs to where the liquor was stored to get a shot of whatever was available. The stronger the better. Scotch straight was the poison of choice for all three.
Christine finally spoke, "My God! What could have made Kyla want to slash her wrists?"
"Yeah, I wonder the same thing she was fine until she got those phone calls," Aiden said.
Spencer sitting quietly staring into space, suddenly jumped out of her seat, startling Christine and Aiden. "I'm going to bed. Good night everyone."
Spencer lay in her bed wondering the same thing as Christine and Aiden. What would have possessed the young woman to try and take her own life? She had two beautiful children and a husband who didn't even want the divorce. It was Kyla who initiated the divorce, Spencer had learned earlier from the young woman.
Spencer closed her eyes, but sleep did not come easy for her. With Kyla's attempted suicide and the almost kiss with Ashley, Spencer's head was spinning, she wondered what tomorrow would bring.
After the doctors got Kyla stable, Ashley left the hospital, but did not feel like going home. She wanted to see Madison, she needed to see Madison and so she went. Madison had a drink, several drinks in fact waiting for her Little Butterfly when she arrived at the house.
Ashley drained the glass in one gulp. Madison put another drink in her hand, which she gladly took.
"So, you gonna tell me what happened?" Ashley shrugged her shoulders, "she tried to kill herself. The doctors say she's going to be alright once she regains consciousness. She's going to have to see a psychiatrist. Her husband's going to be here tomorrow. It'll be several days before she can leave the hospital. After she's released he's taking her home."
"Home! What about the divorce?"
"I don't know, I think he's going to try and talk her out of it."
"What else is bothering you, Ashley?"
"I took Spencer to "The Place" today for a picnic." "And" Madison asked anxiously?
"I like her Madison, I like her a lot. When I look at her…when I look into her eyes, I just lose myself. I feel so comfortable with her. I feel like it's just me and her in this whole wide messed up world."
"Does she… like you?"
"I'm not sure…I think so…maybe…I don't know."
"She knows you're gay"…"Yes!..."
"Is she gay?" Madison asks… "she started talking about pretending when were at "The Place". But she didn't go any further with it and I didn't push her to continue. She's in conflict with herself."
"Well, if your interested in her, then you better hurry up and find out, cause she's gonna be gone in six weeks."
"Yeah, I know," Ashley said sadly.
Madison goes over to Ashley, wraps her arms around the slender girl's waist and pulls her into a passionate kiss. Ashley kisses back. Madison leads Ashley into the bedroom and closes the door.
It was already Wednesday of the second week of Spencer's stay. So much was happening with and around her.
Ashley didn't come home last night, which for some odd reason upset Spencer terribly. She wondered where Ashley could have gone, and then she remembered Madison. She wished Ashley had come back home. Spencer found it very easy to talk to Ashley, to be with her, she was kind, considerate and feisty. That's what Spencer loved most about Ashley. "Love", Spencer thought is what she felt when she thought of Ashley. Yes, she was falling in love with Ashley.
Christine and Spencer were leisurely talking and drinking sherry when the phone rang.
"Spencer, the phone is for you."
"Thank you, Christine."
"Hello, this is Spencer Carlin. Hi! Mr. Townes, how are you!"
"I'm fine…Ms. Carlin we need to talk right away. I'm coming out there to see another client so I can stop by there on my way. I'm leaving my office now. I can be there in thirty minutes."
"Okay, Mr. Townes, I'll see you when you get here."
Spencer returns to the living room, "is everything alright Christine asked?"
"I don't know, Mr. Townes is on his way here to talk to me about something. God, I hope it's not a delay with the divorce."
Meanwhile, Ashley walks through the door to find Spencer deep in thought. So deep, that Spencer didn't even notice Ashley standing in front of her talking.
Mr. Townes finally arrives and was lead into the study so he and Spencer could have some privacy.
"What's going on Mr. Townes?"
"Ms. Carlin, do you know Attorney Glen Carlin?" "Yes, he's my brother. I thought as much, he's one of the best lawyers on the East Coast, a cut throat and will do what ever he has to do to win his cases."
"I'm well aware of my brother's reputation as a lawyer. He's a bastard!"
"Why are you asking about my brother, Mr. Townes?"
Mr. Townes released a long sigh, "he's representing your husband Dexter."
"WHAT!! Wait, no that can't be that's absurd. He would never do that to me. I'm his sister, his ONLY sister," Spencer yelled.
"Calm down Ms. Carlin, that's not all." "Oh My God, what else could there be…the divorce, inheritance." "Yes," Attorney Townes said. "Your husband is going to contest the divorce." "He said he wouldn't," Spencer said, 'ON WHAT GROUNDS!! He's the one who was cheating."
"He states that you never gave your marriage a chance and he felt abandoned and alone. He also states that you were having an affair of your own." "WHAT!" "With a…um…woman." Spencer needed to sit down and calm herself, she needed to think. Spencer was literally shaking with anger.
"You know Mr. Townes his allegations are preposterous. He can't prove any of that because it's not true." "I believe you Ms. Carlin, but remember he has "that bastard", I mean your brother," Spencer smiled at that slip of the tongue, "as his attorney and as you stated earlier, you are well aware of his reputation."
"Yes, I understand," Mr. Townes.
"How much does he want Mr. Townes," Spencer said calmly. "Well, they were a little vague with the amount." "How much?..". "half of your inheritance, ten million dollars." Spencer wanted to cry, but she was too angry and she wasn't going to do it in front of her lawyer.
Well, I have to go see my other client now. Can you meet me in my office Friday morning to discuss strategies against your husband's allegations?
"Yes, I'll be there. Is ten o'clock okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry Ms. Carlin, don't worry, yet!"
As soon as Mr. Townes left Ashley ran into the study to see if Spencer was okay. She and Christine could hear Spencer yelling and upset all the way in the living room.
"Spencer," Ashley said…as soon as Spencer saw Ashley enter the room she ran into her arms. Ashley held her tight, trying to calm down the now crying woman.
"Spencer what's wrong?" a worried Ashley asked. When Spencer finally calmed down, she told Ashley everything. "My ruthless bastard of a brother is stabbing me in the back with my good for nothing husband. Dexter doesn't want this marriage, he just wants the money. I can believe that Dexter is capable of hurting me, but not my brother."
Ashley was still holding Spencer, when she started crying again. "Everything's going to be alright Spencer you have an excellent lawyer on your side."
Ashley wiped the tears from Spencer's cheeks, gazing into her eyes, hesitantly Ashley leaned in toward Spencer and kissed her softly. Spencer raised her hands to Ashley's face and pulled her in for another kiss. This kiss was more passionate, more wanting. Spencer caressed Ashley lower lip begging for permission to enter and Ashley granted. Their tongues collided fighting for dominance. They embraced each other tighter. They were still kissing when Christine barged in the study to make sure Spencer was alright.
"I'm sorry, please excuse me," Ashley and Spencer abruptly pulled apart from each other still breathless from the kiss. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright and now that I see you are, I'll just go and start dinner." Christine winked at Ashley and excused herself.
"Ashley," Spencer whispered shaking her head… "Ashley, I want you, but I can't do this right now."
"I understand Spencer. I shouldn't have… I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here for you." "Thanks, I'm going to my room. I just need to be along right now. I'll see you at dinner." Spencer didn't wait for Ashley's response, she went to her room and closed the door.
Ring, Ring, Ring!
"Hello."
"Hey! It's me, Dexter finally came and asked me to represent him in the divorce."
"Excellent!! You agreed to take the case correct?"
"Yes, I did. You know I'm known as a cut throat amongst my colleagues and a lot of people I represent totally deserve to be screwed over, but this is wrong. I don't feel good about this at all."
"Stop it Glen! You agreed, if Dexter approached you to represent him, you would take it and do what you had to do to get the inheritance away from Spencer."
"SHE'S MY SISTER FOR GOD'S SAKE!!"
"Well, look at it this way Glen, she obviously didn't have any confidence in you. Why else would she go all the way to Reno looking for an attorney, when her brother is the best "damn" lawyer on the East Coast."
That statement being said, made Glen remember why he agreed to be involved in this asinine situation. He was angry with Spencer. Why didn't she come to see him first? He would have represented her without any compensation. It's always about the money with Glen. He never liked Dexter to begin with. Dexter was never good enough for his sister. He was a conniving lothario jackass wannabe, Glen thought smiling to himself.
"Hello, Glen! Are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm here…"
"We'll meet later, to discuss haw to handle Dexter's divorce. He will never get his hands on any inheritance monies. I'll see to that."
"You know I don't understand why I have this reputation of being a "bastard cut throat" lawyer, because you go beyond the code of ethics than I ever would."
"You'll the cut throat, you'll stab anyone in the back to get what you want. Hell! You would probably even stab me in the back."
"You…Are…Such…A…Bitch! You know that?"
"Ha! Ha! Glen, compliments so early in the game. I'm touched."
"Mr. Carlin, your next client has arrived," Glen's secretary announced over the intercom.
"Thank you Chelsea, send him in."
"My client's here, I have to go mom, I'll see you and dad at dinner Sunday."
"Have a nice day Glen," Paula smirked than hung up.