Ashley sat on the porch swing, her legs propped up next to her. She held her book open with her thumb, scanning the words absently. Her mind was elsewhere and she couldn't concentrate on the pages. She thought about how she needed a job to help support her unborn child, about TJ looking for a job to support her and how much that irritated her. She was so independent, the very thought of someone else supporting her without help messed her brain up so much that it drove her crazy.

The sky was clear and the sun shone brightly, keeping her bare legs and arms warm under their rays. A large yellow and green bruise painted her legs from when that wood beam pinned her down a few nights ago. Her hair was in loose, small pigtails to keep from falling into her eyes.

"Hey, Ash!"

She looked up, her thoughts about work receded to the back of her mind. A tall woman was approaching the walkway. She was wearing a knee length yellow sundress and her straight brown hair wisped around her waist. Ashley cocked her head in puzzlement, running names with faces and nothing came to her.

"Hi," she said weakly, setting her book down.

"You don't recognize me, do you?" The woman stopped at the stairs and folded her arms, a smile plastered to her face.

"Uh,"

"It's me, your best friend! Gretchen!"

It suddenly came together, the light brown hair with streaks of blonde kissed by the sun, blue eyes, light freckles sprinkling her nose and cheeks, the slender body. It was Gretchen. They tried to stay in contact after high school but between work and school and the time zone difference from the states to the UK, it was nearly impossible.

"Oh my god," Ashley maneuvered herself to stand up, embracing her old friend into a hug.

"Wow, you're huge!" She looked her up and down, still smiling. Ashley blushed but smiled too.

"Thanks," she sat back down and patted the seat next to her where Gretchen sat down too. "What are you doing here?"

"My dads birthday is tomorrow so I thought I would fly in and surprise him."

"Where are you leaving nowadays?"

"Seattle. I decided to go into real estate and the market there right now is through the roof," she waved her hands, motioning an explosion.

Ashley nodded, pondering what Seattle looked like.

"It's not all sky scrapers and apartments like in New York. They have condos and actual houses like here. Did you know Bill Gates owns a summer home across the Puget Sound from Seattle? It's huge and, get this, has actual giant iron gates!" She laughed, slapping Ashley on the leg. "What about you, I didn't know you were back."

"Yeah, I finished up school and I came back for a job, but they gave my position away before I had a chance to start." She frowned, remembering the conversation.

"It'll be alright. You have a great education. I'm glad you took that scholarship. So many doors just opened up for you."

"Yeah, doors." Ashley said absently.

"No, really. Good things will happen. I mean, look at yourself. You're about to have a baby! How exciting?"

"When will I have time to work if I have to take care of a baby?"

"Maybe not now, but once they start school, you should be able to find a good career to help provide for your family."

"I need a job now. TJ and I can't buy a house with no income."

"I know sweetie, but stay positive," Gretchen wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a hug. "Even after all these years, I still love you and support you. Hey, I'll get with some of my realtor friends and see what we can do for you guys. I assume you have good credit?"

"Yeah, but no one will lend to us if we don't have work."

"Here's what I can do, because I don't want that little one in there living in a cramped home full of boring adults," Gretchen winked at Ashley and the girls smiled. "I have a home here that I hardly stay in. It was the first property I bought. Any who, I wouldn't mind it if you and TJ stayed there until you guys have something steady to work off of. And once then, I can get ahold of some of my friends here in town to sell to you."

"You'd do that for us?" Ashley felt like crying. She and Gretchen drifted so far apart it almost didn't seem right.

"Of course. We've been friends since the first grade and I know I wasn't always the most reliable person to depend on in high school, but I promise, I've changed. And look, since I know you guys are struggling, I won't even charge you rent. All you need to take care of is utilities. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. I'm sure we can handle that. Thanks so much Gretch." She pulled Gretchen into a hug and they sat like that for a few minutes, taking in the moment before it was broken by a cell phone ringing.

"Oh, sorry. My boss. I'll come by later tonight to talk details, okay?" She bent down and kissed Ashley on the cheek before dashing down the porch steps, answering her phone.

Ashley watched her old friend leave. She frowned, glancing around her. A shadow crept back out of view. He eyed the girl from across the street, a grin stretched from ear to ear. The time was soon. Everything was in place except for her. He needed her in his life again. The way things use to be. But this time she will not get away.

Brad turned and headed back to his house. He had moved everything from the cellar to the new house, a house that no one knew about. He didn't have many friends and the ones he does have never talk to him any more. He was all alone, for now. He spent the last year building this house in the country side identical to his current house except he built it the way his father had when he was younger for his dear sweetheart of a wife, before she died giving birth to her youngest child. Rage built up in the pit of his stomach, but he breathed out and kept walking. He just needed one more thing before he got his old life back.

He hopped into his old pickup truck and drove into town, stopping at a particular store. Walking through the door the bell dinged and the clerk looked up from her books. She was a small, petite woman with soft green eyes and smile that would melt any frozen heart. Brad ignored her and walked to the back of the store.

"Can I help you?" The woman followed him, book in hand.

"I need to buy this," he pointed to the object at hand and the woman smiled big.

"Okay, I can get you rung up in no time. Is it a gift?"

"No, its for me."

"Oh, well congratulations." She smiled again, grabbing the edge of the bassinet and wheeling it to the counter.

"Thanks, we're very excited about it," a grin creped onto his face. The final touch for his future child.