Chapter 18

We had pulled up to the carlins house a minute ago, Riley already was inside. I got out of the car, still drinking my coffee. Spencer asked me to come tonight, then after she wanted us to spend time together. I don't know why, but I was nervous for tonight. I felt like I was meeting the parents again. I thought back to the day Paula and I talked.

Flashback...

"Something is different about you Ashley"

"What do you mean?"

"You are more relaxed, before you seemed very tense all the time" I shrugged my shoulders.

"I feel relaxed more that I don't have anything to worry about, except for Riley"

"And?"

"And what?" I sat down at the table, and took a sip of my tea.

"What about Spencer?"

"I don't know how to answer that Paula"

"Do you love my daughter Ashley?"

"Yes"

"Then why are you not with her?"

"We broke up remember, I cheated"

"No you didn't" I gave her a questioning look.

"What do you mean?"

"Ashley you love my daughter, and I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt her. I remember in high school when you first broke up. I couldn't get you away from her, or this house. Spencer and you were on the phone every night, and you were here every day seeing her."

"I know all of this Paula" I looked away.

"Why did you let her go so easily?"

"I hurt her Paula, I never wanted to. I felt so ashamed. I never want to hurt her like that again"

"Then don't" I couldn't help but laugh.

"Its not that simple"

"Then make it so. Ashley she is still your wife, and the mother of your child. If you want to be with my daughter then be with her. Don't walk away from this, fight for it" She got up from the table to grab a picture off the wall. It was a picture of all of us at our wedding.

"That day was the happiest I ever saw you before Riley was born. Spencer became your family the day you met her, and now you both have gain your own little family. Don't give that up. I know my daughter Ashley, she misses you"

"How do I get her back Paula?"

"You love her Ashley, and you never stop trying"

Flashback end...

I went up to the door opening it. I walked inside to find that everyone was in the back yard. I looked around and thought about all the memories I had in this house. The couch where Spencer and I use to watch movies together, the spot where I told her I wanted to be more then friends, and the table where I asked her parents to allow me to marry their daughter.

"Ash?" I turned to look at Spencer who was waving her hand in front of my face.

"Sorry I was just thinking" I put my hands into my pockets.

"About?"

"The past, and us" she nodded, leaning against the wall.

"We have shared a lot of memories in this house" I nodded.

"How is your day going so far?"

"Its good. I helped my parents with some errands."

"Riley bag is in the car, she said that she had stuff here I didn't know"

"My old bedroom is now hers. She spends a lot of time here, so my parents changed it to hers." I smirked.

"Our child has bedrooms everywhere, Kyla just finished one at hers too" we both laughed.

"Maybe we should try to get her one bedroom and one bedroom only" I nodded.

"She has everyone wrapped around her finger that's for sure"

"Yes she does, anyways ready to come join us outside" I nodded, and she took my hand.

She squeezed my hand to reassure me that she was right beside me the whole time. Even know I talked to her parents before, I was still nervous. This wasn't just a dinner, this was the first dinner Spencer and I went to together as a family again. I walked out and spotted Riley sitting on Paula's lap eating her fruit, and Arthur finishing off dinner on the BBQ,

"Ashley welcome!" I smiled giving Arthur a hug.

"Hey" I took a seat next to Spencer, smiling at my daughter who had a strawberry in each hand.

"Its good to see you Ashley"

"You too Chelsea" I leaned over giving her a hug, then leaning back into my chair. I looked over to Spencer smiling at me, her hand was now intertwine with mine.

Xxoxoxox

We were all done dinner, and of course it was amazing. Glen had shown up, and he was shocked to see me sitting next to his sister. I knew he wanted to say something, but with kids around he just stayed quiet. I did wave hello to him, but he didn't reply. I deserved it.

"Well we better get going, it was nice seeing you Ashley" I smiled at Chelsea giving her a hug goodbye.

Glen had already gone inside, and I felt like I needed to say something to him. I got up from my seat and went inside. I found him outside leaning on his car waiting for his family.

"What are you doing out here?" I walked over leaning against the car beside him.

"I know you hate me Glen, and you want to say some things. I want you to know that I never cheated on your sister, but I still diverse you yelling at me. I made a promise to you that I would never hurt her, and I did. For that I am truly sorry. I'm trying to make things right with her, but I can't if her own brother still had anger towards me. So here is your chance, yell at me Glen. Say everything you wanted to" I waited for him to say something, but he just looked at me.

"I missed you Ashley. I missed how this family felt full. I missed you loving my sister. She was broken Ashley, and I knew you were the only one to fix it. I wanted you to just come back and help her through this, but you couldn't because you caused it. I hated you for what you did Ashley, but I hate that fact that you hurt her and you were the only one to make her okay again. I held her, and let her cry on my shoulders. I heard her talk about how much she hated you, and even held her back when she lost her anger when she thought of you. I changed the station every time one of your songs came on. I did everything I possibly could to help my sister through this heartbreak. Even if I knew deep down It wouldn't do a thing. I'm tired of being angry at you Ashley, so I am done. I want my sister happy again, and if that means with the one person that caused her the most pain then so be it. Just know that if you ever hurt my sister again, you won't make it out alive. You hurt all of us Ashley, not just Spencer." I nodded.

"I understand, thank you Glen" He nodded.

"I'm getting her back Glen, and this time I'm not letting her go"

"Good, don't. She is one of a kind" I smiled.

"She really is. Have a goodnight Glen" I walked back towards the house, when Glen called my name.

"Ya?"

"You owe me some new shirts, and a bill for all the booze I had to buy" I laughed, and nodded.

"I'll write you a check" he laughed.

Next time... Spencer and Ashley time...

R&R Please.