Chapter 15

Paula's mind was whirling now. Sitting in her living room she watched Glen try to pull himself together after the devastating encounter with his father.

"Glen!" "For heaven's sake!" "Pull yourself together be a man for once in your pathetic life and tell me how much you told your father." "I didn't tell him anything, that's the problem. He blames me for Spencer's divorce issues." "Mom, he hates me. He said he never wants to see me again. All because of YOU!" "ME!" Paula spat out.

"You and this controlling issue you have with Spencer. If you would just let her live her life."

"Your father left me, he wants a divorce." Glen stared unbelieving at his mother. "WHAT!"

"So you must have told him more then you think you did." "MOM!" "I…TOLD…HIM…NOTHING!" "But he knows…"

"Knows what?" Paula asks.

"He knows you're behind all this. That it's your fault Spencer is going through all this Hell."

Paula sat on the sofa in the living room looking at her pathetic son. "Glen you are worthless. I want you to continue the divorce proceedings."

"WHAT!" "NO!" Glen yelled. "Yes! Glen, it's too late to stop anything now anyway."

"But Mom!"

"That's enough Glen!" "Go home, pull yourself together we still have work to do. I want you in my office first thing in the morning…don't disappoint me Glen."

"I need to figure some things out right now. NOW GET OUT!" Paula ordered.

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"You know this reminds me of when you and mom would take Glen and me to the park on Sunday's," Spencer said while she and her father walked towards the lake. "Remember, you and mom would buy popcorn from the vendor and Glen and I would throw the popcorn at the ducks in the pond."

"Yes, I remember that," Arthur said smiling, "those were good times." "Yeah, mom was always afraid Glen or I might fall into the pond trying to feed the ducks that popcorn." Spencer said now laughing.

"Dad, what happen to us? What happened to our family?" "I don't know Spencer…the realities of life…maybe. Some families stay strong and can deal with what life throws at them. But other families become weak and the foundation they had built their lives on start to crumble."

"Dad, I am so sorry for creating this mess. I just wanted…needed to start living my life, which didn't include Dexter. I was so miserable for so many years. I couldn't take it anymore. I realized we only have one life to live and I was not going to waste another day being miserable in it."

"I understand sweetheart, I completely understand. Spencer, don't blame yourself for the events surrounding your divorce or the repercussions. Some things are inevitable."

"Sweetheart, we should get back to the house," Arthur said.

"Dad…" "Yes Spencer…" Arthur turned looking straight into his daughter's eye waiting for Spencer to say what he knew she would reveal.

"I'm…Gay and…I'm in love with Ashley," Spencer finally said taking a breath.

"Yes sweetheart…I know…I mean I knew you were gay and that there may be something going on between you and Ashley."

"How did you know?"

"I don't know…fatherly instincts, perhaps. I've suspected for a while you might be gay."

"Why didn't you say something?" Spencer asked again.

"Spencer this was your rode to travel. You had to find out or realize it on your own. I just hoped and prayed I would be here for you when you finally came to terms with it."

"Spencer you are my daughter, I love you very much and nothing will ever change that. Do you understand?"

"Yes dad, I love you too, so very much."

Arthur and Spencer were still sitting by the lake when Arthur looked at his daughter, still deep in thought.

"What is it Spencer?" Arthur asked his daughter again.

"My lawyer wants me to stop seeing Ashley until the divorce is final. Dad that's six months from now, I can't be without her that long."

"Sweetheart six months is not that long. Have your told Ashley about it."

"No," Spencer said.

"You know, Spencer, you'll be going back to New York. Have you and Ashley discussed where your relationship is going once you leave. Ashley lives here in Reno, her life is here."

"I know dad, so much has been going on we just haven't had a chance to talk about where the relationship was going. I know what I want to do...about my relationship with Ashley, I just haven't expressed it to her…yet."

"And what is that Spencer?"

"I want her to come back to New York with me and not six months from now. She can live with me or she can find an apartment near me," Spencer says.

"Sweetheart, I don't think that's possible right now. Besides you need to sit down and ask Ashley what she wants out of this relationship she has with you," Arthur said.

"I want out of this marriage, NOW! I'll give Dexter whatever he wants. As far as the inheritance, I don't want that either. I never wanted it. I don't give a damn about the money. I just want Ashley to be with me."

"I'm…I'm going to call Mr. Townes in the morning. I want him to start negotiations with Glen to end this marriage before I leave Reno. I don't want to be married to Dexter when I get back to New York," Spencer said flatly.

"Spencer is that what you really want to do? You would give up your inheritance," Arthur asks.

"Yes!..."

"Alright sweetheart, then I'll go with you to see Ron."

"Don't you have to get back to New York?" "Spencer you are more important to me. I flew down on the corporate jet. I'll just let the pilot know I'm not leaving until tomorrow evening instead of in the morning. I'll also call Heather and tell her to reschedule my appointments."

"Thank you dad," Spencer said as she hugged her father.

"You think maybe I could get a room at the ranch house tonight, Spencer?"

"Well…I don't know…it's kinda of crowded right now," Spencer said joking with her father. "I'm sure Christine can find you a room for tonight." They both laughed.

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"So, my Little Butterfly what's going on?" Madison asks.

"I don't know what to do to help Spencer, she seems so distraught, overwhelmed by everything going on with her. I mean her husband contesting the divorce, her acknowledging the fact that she's gay. That's a lot to comprehend at one time."

"I'm afraid of losing her." Ashley said.

"Losing her…why?"

"She's not telling me something and I think it's about me, her and Dexter…ugh!...that bastard. I do know she won't be able to dissolve her marriage for six months."

"Six months," Madison said, "why is that?"

"Spencer's brother has tied up everything in court. They have to wait six months just to come before a judge. Madison…he's accusing her of having her own affair and says he can prove it. The money she inherited, he claims she coerced her grandparents into leaving it all to her."

"Wow!...that's messed up," Madison said shocked.

"Yeah."

"Ashley…I thought this was just a short affair or fling for you. What were you going to do when she got her divorce papers in six weeks? She was still leaving, she lives in New York. Have you two discussed the fact that she's leaving?"

"No!" Ashley replied.

"Ashley what is wrong with you? You're not even thinking right. She's leaving, you're not. What kind of relationship can you two have?"

Ashley just sat there listening to Madison rant.

"Has she even asked you what you wanted?"

"No, not yet…" "NOT YET!...Madison still ranting. "She'll be gone in two weeks and for two people to be "sooo" in love with each other…"

By this time Joe comes with drinks, he could tell Madison needed to calm down before she said something she would regret. "Mads," Joe said, "calm down and drink your bourbon and coke."

"Thank you Joe, you always know what I need." "You're welcome babycakes. I'm making some snacks Ashley, are you staying tonight?" Joe asked.

"Um…I'm not sure yet Joe." "Okay, well you can decide later. I'll leave you two ladies alone."

"Ashley!" Madison said.

"Madison!" Ashley said.

"Ashley!...don't play with me." "Madison, I want to be with Spencer and if that means following her to New York then that's where I'm going…if she wants me." "Hell!...I would travel to the ends of the earth to be with her."

"You would leave your family, school, Reno?" Madison asked.

"Yes!..."Ashley said.

"Ashley…you would…leave…me?" Madison whispered.

Ashley hugged Madison tightly caressing her cheek, putting her lips close to Madison's ear. Ashley whispers, "I love you Madison, you have been and are a good friend, the best…but I'm in love with Spencer and I need to be with her. That's what my heart desires. I have to go now, see you later."

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Morning finally came, not too soon for Spencer. She wanted to see Ashley before she left, but Ashley had an early class. So, Spencer and her father left the ranch house to see Spencer's lawyer.

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Ring, Ring!

"Hello!"

"Hello mom?" Glen said.

"Glen, you were suppose to be in my office this morning."

"Mom I know, I got a call from Spencer's lawyer early this morning. Spencer wants to negotiate a settlement. I called Dexter, he's on his way to my office."

"Glen don't do or say anything until I get there. Goodbye!" Paula quickly said.