Author's Note: Thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 14

Arthur is sitting in Attorney Townes office waiting for Spencer.

"Ron," Arthur says, "this divorce is getting complicated. Spencer's been in Reno for four weeks already and you are not even close to getting to court to dissolve the marriage."

"I know Arthur, Dexter and Glen have tied everything up in court my hands are tied, so to speak."

Arthur continuing his conversation with Ron, "you know I'd like you to work…well I was wondering if"…"if what" Ron asks. "If you would represent me"…"represent you" Ron asks again. "Yes I want a divorce from Paula…"

Just then Arthur's phone rings. "Sorry Ron can we discuss this later?"

"Sure Arthur whenever you're ready."

"Hello! Arthur Carlin speaking."

"Hello, Arthur it's Dexter."

"Dexter how did you get my number?" " Well…um…does it matter," Dexter says "I'm calling about Spencer and the inheritance money." "Dexter I'm not going to talk to you about that."

"Well, I guess you don't want to know what Paula plans to do then?" Arthur calmed down…"talk."

So Dexter told Arthur about Paula's plan to use a phony blond to pose as Spencer and confess that she coerced her grandparents into giving her all the money. "So what should I do about Paula and the phony Spencer?" Dexter asked.

"Just stall her, tell her you need a couple of days to find the right blond," Arthur suggested to Dexter. "I'll be back in a couple of days. Give me a number where I can call you when I get back to New York." Arthur was livid when got off the phone.

"I don't understand Arthur," Ron said. "Paula's a corporate attorney, why is she doing this, she could get disbarred." Arthur shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe she's having a nervous breakdown…I just don't know and it scares me."

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Ashley drove Spencer to her lawyer's office where her father was waiting.

"Ashley will you come up with me?" Spencer asked. "I don't think that's a very good idea Spencer." "Why not?" Spencer asked.

"I don't know, I just got a funny feeling, you know…us being together. Your lawyer and father may get the wrong impression."

"Ashley I don't care what impression they get, I want you with me. I need you with me. Beside I want you to meet my father."

"Okay Spencer, you know I can never say no to you."

"Mr. Townes, Ms. Carlin is here." "Thank your Peggy, send her in."

The two ladies entered the office. Spencer seeing her father ran over to hug him.

"Hi, dad. I've missed you."

"Hi, honey, how have you been?" "Lately, not good with everything going on with the divorce."

"I know honey, it will work out." Arthur said.

"Hello Mr. Townes."

"Hello Ms. Carlin."

"Dad…Mr. Townes, I like you to meet Ashley Davies."

"Ashley this is my father Arthur Carlin and you remember my attorney Ron Townes." "How do you do Ashley," both men said.

"I'm good thank you."

"Dad, Mr. Townes I want Ashley to stay for the meeting, she knows everything already. Ashley has been my support through this trying time. She's my friend and I want her here," Spencer explained.

Arthur and Ron gave each other a "what the hell look," but agreed to let Ashley sit in on the meeting. "Fine if that's what you want Ms. Carlin."

"Ms. Carlin this divorce has gotten really complicated. Your brother has tied up everything in the courts. It looks like we'll have to go back to New York to dissolve your marriage."

Spencer sat in her chair speechless, tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. Ashley who was sitting next to Spencer grabbed her hand to give a squeeze of reassurance. Spencer smiled at Ashley's gesture, staring at her longer then she should have. Arthur and Ron again looked at each other.

"Ms. Carlin I've already petitioned the courts to set a date. It will be in six months."

"SIX MONTHS!" Spencer yelled. "I can't get a divorce or go before a judge to dissolve this ridiculous situation for six months?" "Shit".

"I'm sorry Ms. Carlin, the court system is very busy." Spencer looked at her father for some kind of help. All he could do was shake his head and frown. He blamed Paula for his daughter's distress.

Spencer then turned to Ashley who stayed very quiet during the entire meeting between father, daughter and lawyer. She felt horribly sad for Spencer.

Spencer went over to Ashley and embraced her tightly sobbing in the crook of Ashley neck. She walked Spencer out to the restroom, so Spencer could pull herself together.

"I'm sorry Arthur, right now this is the best date we could get. We have to go before the judge on several issues. We're lucky it's the same judge who will be handling all the issues and not three or four different judges."

"Yes, I understand Ron." "Ah…Arthur did you notice anything strange with…I mean not strange but a little intimate…" "Yes I did…" Arthur said, "that's not good in light of the situation Spencer's in."

"I agree," Ron replied.

"I'm not the lawyer here Ron maybe you can talk to Spencer alone, before we leave and explain to her the repercussions her friendship with Ms. Davies will have on her case."

The two women returned with Spencer more composed. "Ms. Carlin can I talk to you privately."

"Yes, Mr. Townes."

Ashley walked out of the office behind Arthur.

"So, you're my daughter's friend?" Arthur asked. "Um…yes," Ashley replied.

Arthur saw the look in Ashley eyes and wanted to calm the young woman down.

"You have nothing to be afraid of Ashley. I love my daughter dearly, she's a grown woman and can make her own decisions, which I trust. Exception being her decision to marry Dexter," Arthur chuckled. This made Ashley relax a little as she returned Arthur's smile.

"Mr. Carlin," Ashley started to speak, "please Ashley called me Arthur…" "Spencer and I are friends." "From what I could see you and my daughter seem to be more than just friends, am I right Ashley?"

Ashley looked away, then back at Arthur. "I think you should talk to Spencer. Why don't you come out to the ranch house for dinner, I'm sure Spencer will be thrilled."

Arthur nodded his head. "I would be glad to have dinner at the ranch. Thank you Ashley."

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"Spencer I'm not here to judge. I'm just your lawyer. But it seems to me that there is more than friendship going on between you and Ashley."

Spencer tensed up…"Don't get defensive Ms. Carlin, it's just that if your father and I…"my father"…"yes, if we can see the intimacy between you two, other people can see it. As your lawyer I need to know what it is between you two."

Spencer took a deep breath before she answered her attorney. Damn, all I wanted was a divorce from that bastard Dexter, which he said he would give me without any problems, then I come to Reno and I meet Ashley who has shown me what love really is and I love her. Now, I'm answering to people like I'm a five year old…this sucks.

"Mr. Townes, Ashley is my lover. I'm in love with her. I didn't look for it, it just happened. I can truthfully say though I was not having an affair during my marriage to Dexter." "I understand Ms. Carlin, but your relationship with Ms. Davies will do nothing but complicate the matter more. I must insist that you separate yourself from Ms. Davies until your divorce is final."

"WHAT! WHY! Ashley is the best thing that has ever happened to me." "Ms. Carlin you are still married and if your husband's lawyer found out about your…Ms. Davies, he can and will use it against you, technically you are committing adultery."

"My advice is to let it go for now. In six months when your marriage is dissolve, you and Ms. Davies will be free to live your lives together."

"Thank you for your advice Mr. Townes, I'll give it some thought. I'm going to stay in Reno for the remaining weeks, so if you need me I'll be at the ranch house, otherwise I will see you back in New York."

"Ms. Carlin, I am really sorry, if you have any problems or questions, please don't hesitate to call me."

"Good day, Ms. Carlin."

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When Spencer left Mr. Townes office, Ashley could see she was upset. She wondered what Mr. Townes had said to her to make her so upset. Spencer did not utter one word during the entire ride back to the ranch house.

Ashley was worried about her lover. Arthur was just pissed. It hurt him to see his daughter going through so much anguish.

Ashley had called her mother earlier to inform her that Spencer's father would be coming for dinner. When they arrived at the ranch house, Spencer went straight to her room to freshen up.

In the meantime Ashley introduced Arthur to Christine and Aiden.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Carlin," Christine said.

"Yeah, a pleasure Mr. Carlin," Aiden said.

"Please call me Arthur. You have a nice place here Mrs. Davies…" "Thank you and it's Christine."

While Arthur, Christine and Aiden talked Ashley went to see about Spencer.

Ashley knocked on the bedroom door…"Spencer can I come in?"

Spencer opened the door, tears running down her cheeks, eyes a dull blue, red and puffy.

"Spencer do you want to talk about it." "No Ashley not right now. Maybe later, I need to think. I also need to talk to my father before he goes back to New York. I want to tell him about us, is that okay Ashley?"

"If that's what you want to do Spencer, yes it's okay. I like your father he seems like a very understanding man."

Spencer walks over to where Ashley was standing and hugs her tightly, whispering in her ear…"I love you Ashley never forget that." Ashley let out a moan when Spencer's breath touched her skin. Releasing her hold on Spencer, she kisses her. First softly, then more aggressive, passionate. Spencer moaned, she wanted more.

"Dinner's ready…whoops," Aiden said bursting through the open door of Spencer's bedroom startling the two women. "Sorry guys…I didn't realize." "It's okay Aiden we'll be down in a minute," Ashley said frowning… thinking to herself why can't Spencer and I ever find any privacy in this house.

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After dinner Spencer and her father took a stroll to the lake that was a half mile from for the ranch house. Ashley stayed to help Christine cleanup.

"Ashley what happened today with Spencer and her lawyer?" Christine asked concerned. "I don't know what else is going on with Spencer now, but it turns out that Spencer can't get her divorce dissolved for another six months. She has to go back to New York for it. It seems her uncomplicated divorce just got complicated."

"Oh my!" Christine said. "But what do you mean what else is going on, the woman is obviously distraught over not getting the divorce." "She…" "No, Christine, something else happened in her lawyer's office, he wanted to talk to her privately, so Arthur and I waited outside his office for her."

"Christine when she came out of his office…she…" Ashley momentarily chokes up with emotions. "Are you alright Ashley?" "No…she looked like someone had taken away her most prized possession."

"Why?" Christine asked. "I don't know Spencer said she would tell me later."

Christine trying to be sympathetic to her daughter…"Ashley you need to…" "I love her mom," Ashley suddenly blurted out.

"I'm in love with Spencer." Tears started falling down Ashley's cheeks. All Christine could do was comfort her daughter. She was afraid this would happen.

Ashley shot out of her seat, "I have to go…I need to get out of here."

"Go, go where?" Christine yelled. "I don't know." "Bye!"

Ashley drove for what seemed like hours… it actually wasn't that long. She ended up in front of a familiar house.

Ding, Dong!

Madison answering the door…"Well Hello, my Little Butterfly."

"Hey Madison, can I come in?"

"Of course!" Ashley went in…hesitantly stepping into Madison's embrace and cried like there was no tomorrow.