Sorry for this LONG delay! I'm back... again! My wife is a witness, I have a little more written (and one last tiny shocker) for you all. I just need to piece it all together now seeing as I've made a few ending changes. The chapter lengths will vary until we get to the end so please keep that in mind!
Thank you for your patience, I love it! I hope this chapter brings a smile to your face. Enjoy!
81.1 - Move Along
Ashley's PoV
The atmosphere was quiet when we arrived home. The girls rushed upstairs to do their homework and Matthew sat on the living room floor playing with his toy trucks.
Spencer put the kettle on the element and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. I studied her movement and I could tell something was on her mind. "Everything okay?"
Spencer glanced at me with an apologetic smile and nodded then paused before shrugging. "Mr. Shapiro was in town today."
Mr. Shapiro was someone Spencer didn't like to mention unless she really had to. By the look she was giving me at that moment, it wasn't a pleasant visit. "You didn't know he was coming?"
She snorted and leaned over the counter, her forehead pressed against mine. "Apparently there was an email sent but I didn't get it. He came bearing some news that was both good and bad."
"Does this have to do with Matthew?" I whispered and she quickly shook her head. It was unspoken but neither Spencer nor I were looking into good homes for him... I think I'd be devastated if Matthew left the family.
I could now say I understood just how hard it was for Spencer to welcome these kids in her home only to know they'd be leaving again. Matthew seemed happy where he was and we knew that the girls had no problems, just as long as Lucas kept her valuables in her room.
"Why the long face?" I stroked her cheek softly and she just closed her eyes, smiling lightly.
"The good news is I'm worthy enough to be amongst the Board of Directors for a weeklong meeting," blonde hair fell over her eyes and I tucked them away, "bad news is I have to be at that meeting next week."
"Okay," I gave her an encouraging smile and tilted my head to the side, "why is that bad news?"
"It's in Toronto." Spencer breathed and moved to the stove, taking the whistling kettle off the element. "I leave on Sunday and I'll be back Saturday."
"Oh." I frowned, instantly not liking the idea. "I'm guessing there's no way around it, eh?"
"Not really. It sounds like a big deal. They're making some changes and he thinks it'd be beneficial if I were there to express just how great things run here. He's hoping I can bring some ideas to the table to allow the larger city departments to be just as successful as small town ones." Spencer carefully passed me my cup of tea and sat across from me at the breakfast bar.
Of course I'd be sad that my girl would be gone for a week and I'd miss her like crazy but the business opportunity was important. Before me, before I entered the picture again, Spencer strived to get where she was with her career. I wasn't about to let me stop her from succeeding and getting further with her accomplishments.
"Well I'm going to miss you and as much as I'd like to throw a pity fit and beg you to find a way out of it, I think this is a great opportunity Spence." I grabbed her hand from across the counter and squeezed it. "Believe me, I'm not happy about spending a whole week away from you."
Spencer bit her lip and smiled softly, making her way to my side of the counter and plopped herself on my lap. "You're amazing, you know that? Here I want to kick and scream because I don't want to be the one leaving and you're being all responsible."
"It's all part of growing up." I winked and brought my lips up to kiss her gently. I held her tightly against me as the kiss continued slowly and lovingly.
"Um, not in front of the boy?" Lucas cleared her throat and grinned when Spencer and I broke apart. "I just wanted you to look over my homework," she placed her notebook in front of us and continued to grab an apple from the fridge.
Spencer glanced over the neat writing of our oldest daughter and smiled. "This isn't homework," she said slowly.
"It's an apology letter." Lucas blushed. "I know I've been kind of mean lately and I'm sorry. Sometimes it's easier to write it down than explain it all so there you have it."
Spencer got off my lap and pulled Lucas in a tight hug, kneeling down slightly. "I get it baby girl, I've been there. It's confusing going through changes at your age. I'm just happy that you can come to us when you're ready, and talk to us about it."
"Jaid's been awesome." Lucas smiled and blushed a little. "I don't mean to be telling her things first but-"
"No need to explain." I interrupted softly and she gave me a hug, her arm wrapped around me loosely as she pulled out of the embrace.
"Ukas!" Matthew glanced up and noticed the older blonde hanging off of me. "Mine." He pouted and made his way over to my leg, hanging off of it. "Right?" He glanced up at me and my heart melted yet again.
"Matthew," Lucas picked up him effortlessly and he flung his arms around her neck, laughing, "Momma's ours, kay? We share her."
Matthew's eyes connected with mine. "Momma."
Spencer nearly spit out her tea and widened her eyes.
I nearly felt my heart drop to the floor.
"Yes, Momma." Lucas beamed proudly and squeezed his small body. "Dylan!" She hollered and footsteps came bounding down the stairs. "Matthew just called Momma, Momma!"
"Aww!" Dylan cooed and reached for the boy. He was a little big for her to carry but she hugged the life out of him once Lucas set him on the floor again.
Spencer leaned forward and kissed me again with a soft smile. She pulled back as we watched the three kids get along like they normally do.
Matthew loved being center of attention and he was soaking it in with the girls.
"When should we tell him I'm leaving Sunday?" Spencer whispered, making her way behind me and resting her chin on my shoulder.
"Later," I sighed and leaned back into her, "I wanna enjoy this moment."
"Me too," she whispered and kissed me right below my ear, "Momma." She grinned and pulled me tighter against her.
--
The girls didn't take to Spencer leaving so well. Turned out Lucas really never spent that much time away from her mom and I couldn't blame her for being a little more than upset. She didn't cry in the open but I heard her a few times in her room. She finally came to me the night after Spencer left and confessed she was just so scared that she'd lose her for good.
I had the same fear but I knew Spencer would be as safe as she could be.
Spencer made sure to call every single night and talked to each of us at least once. Matthew would talk about his finger paintings, Lucas would talk about her hockey camp in the summer and Dylan would talk about homework. I'd talk about my day and ask her about hers but it wasn't until after the kids went to sleep that she'd call me back and get her sex voice on.
Sometimes those things would bring me back to high school.
It was Wednesday afternoon when I had picked the girls up from school and Matthew from day care.
"Can Jason come over this weekend?" Dylan asked as soon as she got into the Blazer.
"I don't see why not." I smiled and waited for them to buckle in.
"Can I go to Jaiden's?" Lucas asked from the front seat and smiled at me.
"I don't see why not." I repeated with a grin and looked back at Matthew, "is there anything you'd like to do little man?"
It looked like he was thinking about it and then smiled. "I want movies."
"Movies it is." I laughed and pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards Rapture.
"You're doing a really good job Momma." Lucas smiled and patted my hand that was on the gear shift. "I'm lucky to have you as my other parent."
"Thanks Luc." I blushed a little.
"No, I'm lucky to have Mom as my other parent. Grandpa was nice enough to let me live here, right Momma?" Dylan spoke from the back seat.
"Right." I nodded and the small conversation continued until we arrived at our destination.
Reaching the entrance, I grabbed Matthew's tiny hand and opened the door.
"Aww it's my favourite family." Chase welcomed us and picked up Matthew, squeezing him. "You're just so darn cute!" She kissed his cheek as he giggled and tried to push her face away.
"Aww it's the man of the hour!" Jaiden cooed from behind her mother and pinched his cheek softly before glancing at the booth, to find Lucas and Dylan already reading the menu. "And it's my main squeeze." She grinned and slid into the booth beside Lucas.
"Can I read?" Matthew asked, pointing towards the reading area. "Pease?"
"I know what I want already," Dylan smiled at us and took Matthew by the hand, "we'll go read until the food comes."
I smiled gratefully at my daughter and nodded for them to go quietly. Chase grabbed our orders quickly before taking off in the back again.
"How was school?" I asked Lucas as she played with the bracelet on Jaiden's wrist.
"Good." Her grey eyes looked up at me and grinned. "I aced our spelling test."
"You always ace the spelling tests." Jaiden grinned, nudging her slightly. "I aced my music test, didn't I Miss Davies?"
"Momma, when I go to Beaver Brae, do I have to call you Miss Davies?" Lucas frowned slightly and I smirked a little.
"Probably." I nodded in her direction before glancing at the teenager across from me. "You did pretty good Jai."
"That's it? 'You did pretty good Jai'? Can you be any more vague?" She pouted and glanced at her watch. "Hey do you think it'd be okay if I stole this one here with me later?" She patted Lucas' head lightly.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"We have a hot date." Jaiden winked and got up from where she was sitting. "I'll pick her up after my shift, is that cool?"
Lucas grinned and looked down at her menu, biting her lip when I told them that was fine. "Thanks," she shrugged, "I know you and mom must think that I'm always trying to get away from you."
"Not at all." I sighed with a smile. "Just promise me you'll get your homework done? If your mother comes back to your grades slipping within these next few days, I'm toast."
Lucas laughed, shaking her head. "Won't be a problem, I promise. Jaiden doesn't let me do anything until both of our homework is done anyway." She rolled her eyes and sipped on the coke in front of her.
"Luc," I grabbed her attention and she tilted her head just like Spencer, "do you think you can help me with something?"
"I helped you out with a proposal dude, I can do anything." Her eyes sparkled and she leaned forward, waiting for what I had to say.
I was happy Dylan and Matthew ended up joining us with a couple of books and made themselves comfortable in the booth.
"Well I think it's time we all officially live under the same roof, don't you think?" I smiled as Dylan's head snapped up to meet Lucas'. "So I need you girls to help keep an eye on Matthew with Jaiden Saturday morning so I can get all of my stuff moved into the house."
A couple of high pitched squeals came from where we were sitting as the girls jumped up and down, hugging a baffled Matthew in the process. "Really?" Lucas couldn't wipe the grin off her face.
"Yeah, besides I kind of like the house your mom bought better. It's warmer and definitely more spaced for the five of us, don't you think?" I ran my fingers through Matthew's curls and he nodded, still looking a little confused yet happy by all the commotion.
"Does mom know?" Dylan asked wide eyed.
"No, so when she gets home Saturday night, she'll be coming home to a full house and I bet she's going to love the surprise." I laughed as they jumped up and down.
"What's all the fuss about?" Chase smiled as she made her way over with our orders.
"Oh well we're going to be moving into Spencer's place permanently Saturday." I hummed happily.
--
Dylan's PoV
"La la la." I sang slowly as Matthew scrunched up his face and stared at me curiously. "Come on Matthew, you can sing it."
"Ah!" He grinned and clapped his hands, dancing around before I grabbed him and sat him back down on the couch.
"L-l-l-a." I sang again and he huffed. "You can do it, just put your tongue like this, watch." I placed my tongue to the roof of my mouth and waited until he copied me. "La." I did it quickly and stared at him while he made a few faces.
"La." He didn't seem fazed by his accomplishments. I had been trying to help him say his 'L's and until today, I hadn't been successful.
"Matthew! You did it!" I hugged him and grinned when he wrapped his smaller arms around me.
"La la la la!" He laughed and clapped his hands, finally realizing what he had just said.
"Can you say Lucas?"
He thought about it real hard before placing his tongue to the roof of his mouth and frowned in concentration. "L-lucas!"
I squealed and grabbed his hand. "Momma!" I found her in my bedroom packing up all my trinkets that will be moved over to the other house. "Momma, listen!"
Momma glanced between the two of us and stopped what she was doing before sitting on the bed with an amused smile on her face.
"Ready Matthew?" I grinned and he nodded, almost doing a dance while standing still. "Say Lucas."
Again he concentrated before stuttering the name slightly. "L-lucas!"
Momma's eyes lit up and she clapped. "My little man!" She gave him a high five while he continued to say the name over and over again. "Did you teach him that?"
"I did." I beamed proudly. "I kind of got tired of him calling me Dian instead of Dylan." I blushed and it made her laugh harder, pulling us both into a hug.
"I'm so proud of you baby Dyl." She kissed my cheek before ruffling Matthew's curls. "Can you say Dylan?"
Matthew looked at me with a curious look and I demonstrated how I'd say my name.
"Dylan." He bit his lip shyly before being scooped up in Momma's arms while the three of us danced around in my soon to be old bedroom.
"Your mom is going to love this." Momma grinned and kissed his cheek. "How about you two continue to practice while I finish up here. We should be getting back to the other house before Jaiden drops Lucas off."
"Come on Matthew, let's go see what other words I can teach you." He eagerly wrapped his hand around mine and held on tight.
I was getting used to feeling like an older sister. Matthew seemed to love hanging around me and I enjoyed his company, plus he had pretty cool toys to play with.
I wondered when Momma adopted Lucas if she would adopt Matthew as well?
--
