Heart's Desire
Final Chapter
Chapter 16
"Christine where's Spencer?" Ashley asked.
"She and her father went to see her lawyer Mr. Townes this morning. She told me to tell you to not make any plans this evening. She wants to talk to you about certain matters concerning you and her," Christine said.
"Spencer's father is still here? He was suppose to leave for New York early this morning on the corporate jet," Ashley said.
"No, he stayed last night. He didn't want Spencer to be alone when she went to see Mr. Townes," Christine said.
"Oh!" Ashley said. She was worried.
"Ashley! Everything is going to work out, you'll see." "I hope so mom, I hope so."
Paula and Dexter are sitting in Glen's office waiting for the conference call from Spencer's lawyer.
"Glen, Mr. Townes is on line one." "Thanks Chelsea."
"Mr. Townes, this is Glen Carlin, how are you today?"
"Fine, thank you," Ron says. "I have Ms. Carlin in my office, she will just be listening in on the conference call and for the purpose of this meeting we will be using Ms. Carlin's proper married name…Mrs. Carlin-Hall. Is Mr. Hall there with you?"
"Yes he is and he will also just be listening," Glen said.
So Glen began the meeting, "what offers are you putting on the table concerning the divorce?"
"Mr. Carlin, Mrs. Carlin-Hall is willing to pay Mr. Hall a lump sum in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars and whatever personal belongings he still has in the apartment."
"Okay," Glen said.
"Mrs. Carlin-Hall wants to keep the apartment since she was living there long before she married Mr. Hall. The lease is in her name only and Mr. Hall did not contribute any monies to maintain the apartment."
"Is there anything else before I respond Mr. Townes," Glen asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Carlin-Hall is willing to forfeit her rights to the inheritance. Now my understanding, regarding the will is that if Mrs. Carlin-Hall contests the will, the inheritance monies will go to Mrs. Carlin-Hall's mother…let me see here…yes, a Paula Carlin." Paula smirks.
"You know Mr. Carlin, I really don't see why Mr. Hall made the inheritance an issue since he was never entitled to any of the monies."
Dexter shot a death look in Paula's direction, but kept his mouth shut.
Paula just continued to sit in her seat, emotionless, all the while staring at her son and Dexter.
"Well, that's not your concern Mr. Townes", Glen snapped back.
Momentary silence….
"Is that all Mr. Townes?" Glen asks.
"Yes."
"Good!" Glen said. "Now here's how this is going to go down."
"First issue, the inheritance…we will make arrangements for Mrs. Carlin-Hall to sign papers to contest. I'll send, by messenger the papers for you and her to look at then sign."
"Second issue, the apartment…Mr. Hall will not contest to keeping the apartment. The apartment belongs to Mrs. Carlin-Hall."
"Third issue, what I call the buy-out…the flat sum of two hundred thousand dollars is unacceptable. Mr. Hall wants spousal support for the next ten years, that's all the years of pain and suffering he received in his marriage to Mrs. Carlin-Hall."
"WHAT!!" Spencer mouthed to her lawyer.
"How much is he asking for Mr. Carlin?" Ron asked.
"Mr. Hall is requesting forty-five thousand dollars a month for the next TEN YEARS."
"WHAT!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, DEXTER, Spencer yelled loudly into the speaker, "that's crazy! I'm giving up the inheritance, which is what you wanted, how the HELL am I going to pay you forty-five thousand dollars a month on a Professor's salary and why the hell should I."
"Because YOU, my dear Spencer…want out of this marriage," Dexter calmly spoke. 'Not I…so you want me out of your life then you will have to pay for that to happen."
Spencer sat back down fuming.
"Mr. Carlin, this is an exorbitant amount of monies Mr. Hall is asking for, I don't think the courts would agree to that especially with Mrs. Carlin-Hall's allegations on record," Ron informed Glen.
"Yes…but we are not going to court are we. If Mrs. Carlin-Hall wants the divorce now and not six months from now she has to pay."
"Now, if she doesn't want to pay that amount, Mr. Hall will gladly wait the six months and let the courts decide their fate. There is no negotiating the amount."
"He wants forty-five thousand dollars a month."
"Mr. Carlin, let me call you back in twenty minutes so I can talk to my client."
"Take your time Mr. Townes, but remember time is money," Glen said smirking.
Glen hated to do this to his sister, but having his mother breathing down his neck and wanting to get rid of Dexter, Glen had no other course to take.
Glen was also lawyer and even though he hated what he was doing the lawyer in him was enjoying the adrenaline high he was getting from the confrontation.
"Ms. Carlin…Spencer the decision is yours," Ron said.
Spencer sat there with her face in her hands, shaking.
"Ron can I have a few minutes with my daughter," Arthur asked.
"Yes, I'll be right outside the door, call me when you're ready."
"Spencer…" "Dad I don't…I can't afford that amount every month. If I was still going to get the monthly allowance from the inheritance I could pay him. But I'm giving up the inheritance."
"I know sweetheart, look let me take care of the monies to Dexter."
"No! No! No!" Spencer said. "Spencer let me finish…the check will be from you, I will open a bank account specifically for paying Dexter his alimony. You have a substantial amount of money of your own even though you are not aware of it. It is in no way connected to the inheritance. I put money away for you in your name when you were a teenager. I really can't discuss the specifics with you until I talk to Heather, she handles all of my monies that are not joined with Paula. I can tell you this, it will only be a temporary situation with me paying Dexter. You will be able to take care of his alimony yourself once I transfer ownership of funds."
"And if it makes you feel better, you can pay me back. Trust me," Arthur said.
Spencer laughed, "The bastard doesn't deserve it."
"I agree, but your hands are tied and you need to get on with your life. Yours and Ashley's," Arthur reminded Spencer.
"Ron, you can come in now."
Arthur told Ron what he wanted to do and agreed. "I'll get the paperwork started."
"Glen, Mr. Townes on line one." "Thanks Chelsea."
"Mr. Townes, Glen here."
"Mr. Carlin, Mrs. Carlin-Hall has agreed to your terms giving Mr. Hall forty-five thousand dollars a month for the next ten years. I'm going to next day the paper work and signature. Will you kindly do the same?"
"Yes, Mr. Townes I will take care of it, immediately."
"I will get back in touch with you soon Mr. Carlin," "same here Mr. Townes." "Good day!" Both attorneys say.
After disconnecting the conference call Dexter jumped out of his seat…"HOT DAMN! We did it Glen, Paula."
"Forty-five thousand dollars a month, I wasn't expecting her to agree to that," Dexter said.
"I'm just as surprised as you are," Paula said. "Her father probably had something to do with her decision. I know he went down to Reno to see her. She's always letting someone influence her decisions."
Humph! My children…what a pathetic mess they are. I can't believe I gave birth to them. They are such a disappointment to me.
Glen scowled at his mother, "what's the problem mom your getting the inheritance, you should be rejoicing, what more do you want?"
"Nothing dear," Paula said smugly.
"Well I'm going to celebrate," Dexter said happily. "As Paula put it, I'm going to get a few of my sluts and have a "par-tee." Call me when you get the paperwork together for me to sign Glen."
"Dexter you just get back here this evening, six o'clock," Glen ordered. "The papers will be ready to sign then, I want to finish this."
Spencer was in Ashley's bedroom lying on Ashley bed, exhausted. "Spencer!" Ashley spoke.
"Yes, Ashley come here and lie down with me," Spencer said in a low voice. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Spencer. You look exhausted."
Spencer smiled a tired smile. Neither one of the ladies eyes held that certain sparkle. "You ready to talk about it?" Ashley asked hoping she would be.
"Yes!"
Ashley listened intently to everything Spencer was saying. Spencer held nothing back. At one point in the conversation Ashley started to argue with Spencer about giving up the inheritance and having to pay spousal support just to speed the divorce along.
"Spencer you can't do this. I'm willing to wait for you forever as long as I know we'll be together. Six months is not that long." Ashley laughed, "the wait would probably kill me though."
Spencer smiled at Ashley while lovingly caressing her face, admiring Ashley's beauty. "I love you Ashley, living without you would be like living without a soul. I would give Dexter anything he wanted if it meant not losing you. I'm lost without you. I want to start my life over and I want to start it over with you in it. That's if you want to."
"I love you… I was not going to wait one month or six months because of that asshole. Everything's been taken care Ashley. In two weeks or less I will be a free woman. Thank God."
"I'm not changing it. It's done!" Spencer said to Ashley.
"I'm so sorry Spencer." "It's not your fault Ashley. I just want us to be together."
"Ashley!...will you…um…" "What is it Spencer?" "Will you consider moving to New York with me?" Ashley stared at Spencer wide eyed, the look in Ashley's eyes scared Spencer, but she continued to give Ashley reasons why she should come with her to New York.
"I know it means leaving your family, the band, Madison, even this hot desert. But I was thinking you could come and…live…with me. I have a humongous apartment. I wouldn't get in your way or invade your space."
"You could enroll in one of the colleges or universities in New York, you could even apply to Princeton."
"Spencer…Spencer! You don't have to sell me", Ashley was finally able to say through Spencer's rambling. "I would love to move to New York with you. I love you. I would follow you anywhere, if you wanted me too."
"Oh, Ashley I love you."
Spencer kissed Ashley with all the passion in her body, caressing Ashley's lips with hers, tasting the warmth of Ashley's mouth. Their tongues touching, hands roaming over each others body exploring, legs entwined. Ashley hesitantly pulled away, "you know I was going to show you the rest of Reno for your last two weeks here. But I'm going to be too busy."
"Busy…busy doing what Ashley?"
"Packing", Ashley said smiling.
"Ashley! Just kiss me."
"Gladly!"
New York… three months later….
Ashley moved to New York to be with Spencer leaving Christine and Aiden in Reno. Madison was sad to see her Little Butterfly leave but happy that she found love. Ashley applied to Princeton and was accepted. To pay for her tuition she applied for and received several music scholarships. Spencer wanted to help pay for Ashley's tuition, but Ashley refused. The scholarships awarded to her were more than enough to get her through college.
Ashley also got a singing gig at one of the local nightclubs.
There were no words to describe Spencer and Ashley's happiness. They had each other.
Aiden made frequent visits to New York to visit his sister and Spencer and because Christine couldn't leave the ranch house as much, Ashley and sometimes Spencer would visit Christine much to Christine's delight. She finally realized that Spencer was good for her daughter.
Madison and Joe finally married… two months after Spencer's divorce. Ashley was the maid of honor.
As soon as the monies were transferred to Spencer, Arthur told Spencer how she came to be a wealthy woman. Spencer was worth fifty million dollars, due to the smart investment her father made when he started working as an employee for the company he now runs, unbeknownst to Paula.
Spencer and Ashley were shocked when Arthur told them about the stock.
Of course, Glen no longer owns any stock.
Spencer has not spoken to either Glen or her mother since returning from Reno.
Arthur also told Spencer that he and her mother were divorcing. Too much damage had been done that could not be fixed. He told Spencer not to blame herself, it was inevitable.
Spencer understood, but was still sadden.
Dexter was getting his alimony payments and couldn't be happier. Unfortunately, he still found it necessary to annoy Spencer and Ashley every chance he got.
Spencer knew to be completely happy she would have to do something to put an end to Dexter's presence that was still in her life.
Author's Note: This is last chapter to this story. I hoped you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Again I do apologize for the earlier chapters that I messed up. I plan on correcting them soon. Thank you for all your reviews and comments.
This story is screaming sequel, you know I just can't let the Dexter character get away with such selfishness and Paula, well that's another story.
So, sequel yes or no?