For the Love of Ash (49 page)

"I don't really care what you think. He has a great heart and is passionate, empathetic, and smart. That's all I ever want him to be. He's a great kid." She was panting, but I didn't know what to do other than stand there.
 

"He'll never go anywhere! All I want is what is best for him." The lady actually looked serious, her eyes filling with tears. I wasn't sure what was going on.
 

"I think it's time you left," I told the woman, stepping in front of Maggie. "Why don't you call Maggie when things are less heated?"

"Don't call," Maggie growled.

"When did you become such a bitch?" The woman laughed to herself. I needed to put my foot down.

"You can't come into our home calling her names. You may not agree with her, but she's doing an amazing job with Asher. You're threatening to take away her son. How do you think she'd react?"

"Intelligently, for once." The woman shook her head.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. But you have to leave now."

"Expect a call from the lawyers. I'm sure they'll love to know how you're living with a boyfriend you've known for all of what, a year?" She picked up her leather purse from the floor, dusted it off, and then slammed the door shut behind her.
 

Maggie crumbled. I reached forward and caught her as she broke down into heavy sobs. She was saying something, but I couldn't understand her.

"Thank you," she said as she started to calm.

"I didn't do anything. That was all you. You're so strong." I lifted her face up and kissed her cheek where tears pooled. She was salty, and I licked her cheek, trying to get her to laugh.
 

"God. I fucking love you," she said, laughing through her tears.

"I love you, too, Sunny." I nuzzled into her neck, kissing her as she wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I have something to show you if you're up for it." She looked up at me with curious eyes.
 

"I'm up!" She jumped up from the floor and hugged me.
 

"Okay." I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Give me one second. Stay here." I spun her around so her back was to the hallway and ran into the bedroom. I found the frame in the top box. I made sure it was safe from being ruined after I got the picture custom fit and framed.
 

I took it out of the box and brushed the tissue paper off of it. I hadn't even taken it out of the box yet; it was so pristine. I put it face down behind my back and found Maggie exactly as I had left her.
 

I lifted the picture frame in front of me so she could see what was behind the glass. My heart was thumping in my chest. She'd either think I was some freak stalker or love it. I hoped it was the latter.

"Turn," I told her.
 

At first, she just looked at it like she was trying to figure out what it was. But when she realized, both hands flew to her mouth, and she began crying again.
 

"No. I didn't want you to cry," I said as I laughed. This was so messed up, but at the same time, it was kind of hilarious. This was our relationship—ups and downs and all around.
 

"Where did you get this?" she asked as she stepped forward. Her finger trailed along the frame, and she took it in her hands, examining it closer. "I love it," she whispered.

"You threw it away." I shrugged.

"I love it so much, Luke." She put it down on the coffee table and ran into my arms, wrapping herself around my body. She kissed my neck and squeezed me so tightly I could barely breathe.
 

I looked over her shoulder at the sun drawing and smiled.
 

"I won't ever give up on you," I promised her.

"And I won't ever change my mind."

Epilogue

My two inch heels clicked down the hallway. It was my first year teaching first grade, and already it was majorly screwed up. I felt bad for letting my mentor, Mrs. Kellar, down. But she said my job was safe, and when maternity leave was over, I would have somewhere to go back to.
 

I rubbed my hand over my growing belly, loving the feeling of having a human inside of me. I was only twenty weeks, but my stomach was growing more and more by the day. It was weird. Yet at the same time, it was almost magical.
 

Luke was supposed to meet me at his truck, but when I looked out the office window, it was vacant. He had been getting caught up on midterm grades, so I figured he was in his office.
 

"Hey, stranger." I leaned against the door frame, staring at my husband. His head immediately shot up.
 

"Oh, shoot. What time is it?"

"Time for you to finish up. We gotta go pick Ash up from West Middle and bring him to practice. Do you want me to go ahead?" If I managed the time right, then I could drop off Ash, come back and get Luke, and then be back to the arena in time to watch his practice.
 

"No. No," he muttered, running his hand through his blond cropped hair. He was still used to his long hair. "I'm ready." He stood up and gathered a bunch of papers on his desk, shoving them into his overfull briefcase.

He pulled me in for a kiss as he walked around his desk and rubbed my stomach. I smiled and kissed Luke's cheek.
 

"How was your day?" Luke asked as he took my hand in his.

"It was all right. My feet are killing me. I can't wait to put my slippers on."

"Do you want to run home and get them?" He looked at me with concern. He thought I was a porcelain doll, and everything I did freaked him out. He thought me even crouching down to pee was going to hurt the baby.

"I have them in the car. I'm prepared." I smiled and winked at him. "Oh, lemme say goodbye." I let go of Luke and skipped into the guidance counselor's room. June was sitting behind the desk on her cellphone. I waved from the door when she saw me.

"Don't forget about Saturday," June yelled as she covered the mic on her phone.

"What's Saturday?" I played dumb because I knew it was really going to tick her off. She had planned a huge baby shower for me with the help of Lindsay and Lilly. Even Lauren was coming and had gotten involved. I was happy that she was getting closer with her sisters.
 

I asked all of the girls to be bridesmaids at my wedding, but only Lilly and Lindsay said yes. I knew it was going to happen. Luke even told me. It worked out because June and Janet took Lauren and Lisa's places.
 

Lindsay stood beside me while Asher stood to Luke's right, and the day could not have gone better. Even Luke's parents seemed happy about the union, although we didn't see much of them. I hated them for what they did to Liam and Luke, and I didn't think my view would ever change.
 

"Go to your husband and dress nice, okay?" June glared at me as I retreated into the narrow hallway and caught up to Luke. I saw one of my students' pictures on the wall where we had a student of the week from each class. I felt guilty that I was leaving them.

"Hey," Luke said as he spun me to face him. "What's the matter?" I hadn't realized that I was crying. God. I felt like such an idiot. I was usually so emotionless, but this pregnancy was making me into a crazy person.

"I just feel bad. I love my first graders. I don't want to leave them."

"You're only going to be gone a few months. Trust me, you'll love your leave. You have four more months with them anyway. Don't think about it now."

"You're right." I let out a deep sigh as I shook my head and tried to calm down. "Am I stupid for feeling so bad?"

"Of course not!" Luke immediately said back. "You love your kids, and they love you. But Luke Junior will need you more."

"He will not be named Luke Junior." My nostrils flared.

"I'm kidding, Sunny. Let's go get Ash."

Asher was sitting on a brick wall with Lynn at the front of West Middle School in the middle of Norwalk. It was hard to think of Asher as a teenager, but he was thirteen now and scaring the crap out of me. My heart clenched as Asher leaned over, kissed Lynn on the cheek, and then waved goodbye as he ran towards the truck.
 

"Hey!" he said as he jumped in the back.
 

"How was school?" I asked him as he threw his bag on the floor and buckled in. His mohawk had fallen to the side, and now it looked like he had a toupee on. I laughed a little to myself.
 

"I got an A on my physical science test." I looked back, and he was beaming.
 

"Awesome job. Should we celebrate at Prime Time?"

"Sure. Is Aunt Lilly working?"

"I don't know," I said as I looked across the truck at Luke. He just shrugged. I turned and faced Asher, knowing that I only had a few more minutes of talk left. "How are things with Lynn?"

"She goes by Lynny now," Asher said with disgust in his voice. "And she's good. Her birthday party is next weekend. I have to go and get her something."

"What were you thinking?" I asked him.
 

"Like a necklace or something. She wears a lot of jewelry."

"Is she your girlfriend?" I hoped that I wasn't pushing it.
 

"I guess. She went to disco skate with me on Friday. But Tara was there too and got mad. I probably like Tara more."

"But you just kissed Lynn—Lynny."

"I like to kiss them both." He shrugged, and I widened my eyes in shock.
 

"But Dad said it's called playing the field."
 

I gasped and turned. Luke's face was beet red. He was fucking caught.
 

"I didn't say to kiss them both. I just said to be friends with them so you can decide who you like better. You shouldn't kiss them both, just for the record."

"Oh," Asher said, turning to look out the window. He didn't seemed fazed at all when I just was in shock. My little baby Asher had not one girlfriend, but two! He was a womanizer.
 

"Get in there. Don't forget, you're captain now, so be mature and supportive for everyone. When you're dressed, go help set up the cones and stuff. You understand?" Asher nodded and jumped out of the truck.
 

"You told him to play the field. Are you trying to send me into labor?"

"Maggie, relax. I was trying to help him figure out who he liked more. I didn't know what else to say. He shouldn't have kissed them both. Sorry if he took my advice bad."

"It's okay. Sorry," I said because I knew I was overreacting. He leaned over the center console and kissed me, threading his fingers in my hair. He bent down and kissed my stomach, too.
 

"I just thought of a name," Luke said as he helped me out of the truck.
 

"Please tell me it's not after a hockey, football, or really any professional sports player."

"It's not. What about Landon?" I let the name sit in my head as Luke held my hand. We walked towards the building as I rolled the name around. Landon Wilson. Landon. Lan-don. Hm…I actually liked it.
 

"I think that may be our best name." I smiled up at Luke as he nodded down at me.
 

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For The Love of Ash
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Acknowledgements

Thank you to my husband for letting me do what I love to do. Your support and constant feedback helps me in ways that are beyond measure. Plus, I kind of love you. And our four-legged dog. He's the most amazing.

Thank you to Danielle Rose, my wonderful editor/marketing expert/promotion guru/supporter/fangirl, from Narrative Ink Editing. We had a rough time squeezing this baby in, but we did it. As always, thank you for being so helpful through the process and working with me in more ways than one. Also, you designed the cover, which I freaking love. Your talents are beyond measure, and every person should tell her how much she rocks.