Her Mother's Daughter (14 page)

The sun came up and bright rays filtered in through the old curtains of the bungalow where Matt and Ashley spent the night. It belonged to Matt's uncle, who lived in Toronto and never used it until August. It wasn't hard to find the key in his mother's junk drawer.

They finally slept a little, blissfully happy in each other's arms.

Matt was awake and looking at her when Ashley opened her eyes. “Hi.”

“Good morning.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

She turned on her side and snuggled up to him. “I want to stay here forever.”

“Let's do it.”

She laughed. “Okay.”

They were quiet for a few moments before Ashley suddenly leapt out of bed.

“What's wrong?”

She couldn't answer him as she pushed the doorway curtain aside and ran to the toilet, lifting the lid just before she threw up.

Matt got out of bed and hurried to the bathroom doorway. “You didn't have anything to drink. What's the matter?”

“Go for a minute.”

“But—”

“Please.” She shut the door, flushed the toilet, and turned on the cold-water tap, rinsing her face over and over, and then washed her mouth out. Grabbing a towel, she rubbed her face raw as she glanced in the mirror.

Her reflection showed a girl who looked frightened, and then she noticed something else. Something she hadn't seen before, because she hadn't wanted to look. Her breasts were bigger, with fine blue veins running along the surface of her milky skin. She'd read in a magazine once that that was a sign.

Oh my God
.

Ashley had hoped she was late because of the excitement about the prom. It had happened before. Her periods were never regular, which ticked her off; Maribeth always got them like clockwork.

But Ashley was never this late.

Her hand found its way to her belly. “Oh, no.”

She was in there so long that Matt called out, “What's wrong, Ashley? You have to tell me.”

Ashley took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom. Matt put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

“I don't feel good.” She began to shiver.

Matt gathered her in his arms. “It's okay. I'll take you home.”

“Yes,” she said faintly. “I need to go home.”

It was eight in the morning when he dropped her off. He exchanged cars in the driveway. She gathered up her prom dress, shoes, and change of clothes.

“I'll see you soon,” Matt said.

“Yes.”

He tried to kiss her, but she turned her head. “You don't want my germs.”

“I can hug you.” He did, whispering, “I had the best night of my life last night. I love you so much.”

“Me too.” She turned and ran towards the backyard.

“Feel better. I'll call you later.”

Ashley didn't answer him as she disappeared around the corner of the house. She ran up the back steps and through the screen door. Merlin greeted her first. Her mom would be up early, and sure enough, there she was making porridge. The smell made her sick.

“Hi, honey. How was your night? Was it fun?”

Ashley nodded but didn't open her mouth. The look on her mother's face changed.

“What's the matter? You look dreadful. Please say you didn't get drunk.”

“No, I think I'm sick. I feel really bad.”

Her mother felt her head. “Why didn't you come home sooner? You should be tucked up in bed.”

Ashley dropped her things and hung onto her mother. Bay held her close. “What is it, sweetheart? What's wrong?”

She kept her face hidden in her mother's bathrobe. Ashley wanted desperately to tell her, but she couldn't. She couldn't do it to her.

Her mom stroked her hair. “You can tell me anything. That's what I'm here for.”

Ashley shook her head. Her life, as she knew it, was over.

Gertie stayed away from the Gillis household for a while after Bay called her to say that Ashley had the flu or maybe even mono. She wasn't herself. Gertie couldn't afford to get sick and miss work, so she spent her evenings alone. Tansy continued to show up at the crack of dawn to drag Gertie's butt up and down Main Street, but she wasn't very good company, and eventually Gertie told her so.

“Who put the burr under your saddle?”

Tansy didn't break her stride. “What are you talking about?”

“Why are you so damn cranky? I'm the one who's dying here. I can't breathe.”

“Stop bellyaching, Gertie.”

Gertie stopped to mop her brow. “You see? If you're this unhappy, why are you here?”

Tansy stopped and put her hands on her hips. “You know what? I have no clue.”

Gertie bent forward as far as she could and put her hands on her knees. She took deep breaths in and out. “Let me rest for a minute.”

Tansy crossed her arms and put her weight on one foot. She looked out over the water. “Can I ask you something?”

Gertie straightened up and reached into her pocket for more tissue. “Sure, as long as it doesn't involve running or doing sit-ups.”

“What's going on between Bay and Dermot?”

Gertie blew her nose and started to walk. Tansy joined her. “Nothing, that's the problem.”

“And why's that?”

“I don't know. Sometimes I think Bay feels she doesn't deserve to be happy.”

“Would Dermot make her happy?”

“Everyone knows he thinks the world of her.”

Tansy cleared her throat. “That doesn't mean he's right for her.”

Gertie stood still. “You're joking. He's a great-looking guy who runs his own business, has his own home, is unattached, isn't gay, and he's mad about her. I mean, come on.”

“I think she can do better.”

“Like you, you mean?”

Tansy stopped. “Sorry?”

“Are you married with a great husband and lots of kids? Do you have it figured out?”

Tansy glared at her but didn't say anything.

Gertie pointed her finger. “You're as messed up as the rest of us, so don't pretend like you're not.”

Tansy walked away.

“I'm sorry,” Gertie sighed. “I didn't mean that.”

Tansy looked over her shoulder. “See you tomorrow, Gertie.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Gertie walked home with a limp. She had a bad blister and the Band-aid she covered it up with had obviously shifted to a different position. Drat and darn that Tansy for making her life miserable. She finally made it up her front steps and into the house. Jeffrey was there to welcome her.

“Don't even ask, Jeff. I've had it with that woman.”

She pried off her sneakers with her toes and headed for the fridge to get some water. While she was there she reached in and grabbed a leftover piece of pie. Then she put it back. Then she took it out. This went on for a minute before Gertie screamed and threw the pie in the garbage, plate and all.

She marched over to the computer to distract herself. Not that she dared hope she'd have any email. She hadn't told anyone that she'd joined a Big and Beautiful dating service. It was more of a lark than anything. That's what she told herself, anyway, but her heart skipped a beat when she logged on and there were five letters in her inbox, all from B & B. Holy cow.

Bay was worried about Ashley. She spent three or four days in bed but refused to go to the doctor; said it was a waste of time, she was tired, that's all. She didn't even want to talk to Matt when he called.

Bay was at work telling Marjorie Scott about it. Marjorie was a small, feisty woman who had eight kids. She'd seen it all.

“She won't go to the doctor.”

Marjorie rolled her eyes as she filled out her money order. “Of course not, she might have to show an inch of skin. They don't mind showing it to every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the school bus, mind you, but God forbid the doctor take a peek at 'em.”

“She's not eating and she's pale as a ghost.”

“She's pale because she's not eating. Give her a good dose of cod liver oil. That'll set her to rights.”

“Cod liver oil? Yuck, I remember that stuff.”

“Listen, honey, all them new fangled packages of expensive purple and pink pills don't do a thing when it comes down to it. There ain't nothing that cod liver oil, goose grease, and a blazin' hot poultice can't cure in a jiffy.”

Bay felt sorry for Marjorie's kids.

She was so preoccupied she didn't see Dermot approaching the building. She glanced up and gave a start when he came to the counter.

“Hi, Bay.”

Bay stammered for something to say. She hadn't thought of a clever way to seem more aloof. Fretting about Ashley was the only thing on her mind. Tansy's words,
make him wait
, ran through her head.

“Hi…how are you feeling?”

Dermot smiled. “I'm fine now.” He looked behind him to make sure no one was around and leaned closer to the counter. She couldn't help noticing the green flecks in his brown eyes, and the way his dimple deepened when he smiled.

“I've missed you.”

She cleared her throat and straightened up. “Is that so?”

Dermot looked puzzled. “I thought maybe you missed me too. I can't stop thinking about that day in my office.”

He waited for her to speak.

Stay cool
. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Really?”

Now he straightened up. “Yes, really. Has something happened? Has someone said something to you?”

She wrinkled up her face. “Like who?”

“I don't know. You don't seem the same.”

“I'm worried about Ashley.”

Dermot looked relieved. “Oh, is that all?”

“What do you mean, ‘Is that all'? It's not easy to be worried about your child.”