About two weeks later, Ashley realised what she wanted to do with her life after the great loss she suffered. After taking care of some issues in her company and ensuring that things were fine, she put her house on sale and decided to visit the people that needed to be visited.

The first stop was Francine’s place.

So, once she found her way to that house, Ashley walked onto the porch of what used to be the happy abode she shared with her parents, her wheeled bag lazily dragging behind her.

After her fisted right hand announced her arrival, the front door came open.

“Ashley…” Francine greeted her, and Ashley noted that her mother didn’t look good.

“You look terrible,” Ashley pointed out, but emotions were void in her tone.

“I feel terrible too.” Francine’s slightly swollen eyes travelled to the luggage behind Ashley, causing a small frown to appear on her forehead. “Are you travelling?”

“I am moving away.”

“Uh?”

“I came to say goodbye.”

“Uh?”

“I came to say goodbye.” Francine, who looked lost at first immediately shook her head and offered that Ashley came in. Shaking her head, Ashley continued her talk. “I tried so hard to forgive you so that I could achieve some level of rest. But the fact that I am constantly finding my way into your arms is not allowing that. I am still hurt. The pain is going nowhere. And if I have to heal, I need to stay away from you and your betrayal. So…”

“You have to leave,” Francine completed.

“Don’t ever look for me, I beg you. The fact that you are my mother will always remain true, so if you do look for me, I will stupidly accept you back and I don’t want that to happen. You don’t deserve that. I deserve to be happy.”

Francine lowered her head and released a deep, depressing sigh. Then, she murmured, “I guess my punishment has started.”

“What?” Ashley asked because she could barely hear the woman who she wished to take a good look at before moving far, far away from her.

As seconds of silence ensued, Ashley was reminded of how ridiculously silent Francine was when Kevin was speaking to her rudely at the wedding ceremony. That scene was the one thing that kept playing in Ashley’s head when she was deciding what to do about Francine.

To break the brief silence, Francine lifted her head to look into Ashley’s eyes, took a step backwards, and said, “Kevin packed out yesterday, and I don’t think he is coming back.”

Mouth wide open, Ashley had no idea what to say. She watched her mother who looked like she was on the verge of tears. As soon as she realised there was nothing she could say, Ashley reached for her mother and embraced her in a very warm hug.

“You will be fine, I promise,” she finally said. “I survived. I am sure you will as well.”

“I guess I will.”

Giving her a soft pat, Ashley released her and continued, “I also have something to say.”

Francine stylishly brushed off the tear at the side of her left eye. “What is that?”

“I was pregnant. But, I lost the baby.”

Her voice was so monotonous, you would think she was a cold-hearted bitch.

But, the truth was that she had already accepted her fate. Despite the hole that had been dug into her heart, there was nothing she could do but move on no matter how hard it was to forget the incident.

But that didn’t mean she didn’t think about it. During the two weeks she spent planning her life, Ashley regretted the way things played out the day she lost her child. Things could have been different if she had stayed at Tamara’s for a few more days.

Ashley had such thoughts and regrets, and it was very hard for her.

Francine stretched her hands towards her daughter, worry all over her face. “Oh my… my baby. You must be hurting.” It was Francine’s turn to engulf her in a huge hug. “You must be hurting so, so much.”

“That is part of the reason I am moving away,” Ashley said as she leaned on her mother’s shoulder. “I want to start afresh.”

“Are you going alone?”

“Yes.”

“But… Oh… ” Francine gave up what she wanted to say. “I am going to miss you, Ashley.”

“I don’t think I will. I want to forget you for a long time. You understand that, right?”

The hug dissolved and a wedge formed between them. It was the wedge that would forever separate them.

“This is the punishment I deserve. I let my selfish needs affect you in the worst way possible.”

“Good. It’s good that you know. I think I will say goodbye now. Thank you for the good years you gave me while you raised me.”

Francine cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes lovingly. “Take care of yourself, Ashley. I am sorry for every pain I have caused you.”

Ashley smiled and bade her goodbye again.

And, after a few glances and reluctant walking, Ashley finally found herself heading toward her next stop.

~

“You seem to be busy,” Ashley called to the majestically-seated woman who was enjoying the feel of the morning sun in her robe-like dress. The posture Carla assumed was definitely one that could turn heads. The woman was a goddess in her own way.

Carla quickly sat up and put the phone in her hand aside. “Athena… I- I mean, Ashley. You are here.”

Ashley walked to the lounge chair beside hers and sat down. Once the bag she was dragging with her was seated on the lawn, Ashley focused on the alert woman.

“You still haven’t come to look for me,” Ashley started the conversation, her voice pleasantly tender.

“You seemed angry last time, it was hard to reach out.”

Ashley stared at the green ground ahead.

“I just lost someone close to me and I won’t lie, I don’t think that pain will leave anytime soon.” She faced Clara who set aside her sunglasses as well. “That pain is the reason I came to see you.” Clara frowned. “I don’t know what is in your heart, but I finally understand to some extent what you felt when you lost me. I am sorry you had to go through that. And I am sorry I was not willing to empathise with you last time.”

“No, no, Ashley.” Clara reached for her hands and she let her take them. “I am sorry I let my fears stop me from meeting you again.”

“You need to stop being reluctant.”

“I do?” The raise Clara gave her nicely-shaped brow reminded Ashley of Dave for some reason.

“I will be leaving soon.”

“Why are you leaving?”

“I want to start my life afresh.” Silence followed for a while before Ashley continued, “After I successfully relocate, I want to feel the love you have for me. Truthfully, you are still a stranger to me. But strangers can become family. And I want that for us. But if you are continuously reluctant, I will take that as a sign that you are not ready to make me your family.”

“I could have been there for you as a mother,” Clara replied, dejection in her voice.

“I hope you realise that it is high time you stopped wishing. As long as you are in my life, you can always start somewhere. You don’t have to hurriedly assume the motherly role. I hope you know that soon.” Ashley got up. “I have to take my leave now if I don’t want to be late for my flight. I will get in touch with you when I can.”

Clara, without a word, got up and hugged her. “I will come looking for you this time,” she whispered to her.

“I would love that.”

“Thank you so much, Ashley,” the woman whispered one last time, and Ashley’s heart warmed.

Once the hug broke, Ashley maintained a small, genuine smile on her lips and said, “I guess this is it for now. I will see you later.”

“We will definitely see later.” Carla, who was reluctant to let her go, bade Ashley goodbye and the latter maintained her smile as she walked away.

Once she was quite a distance away from her birth mother’s place, Ashley paused her steps to take a look at the surroundings. It sure was a blissful morning. The sky was beautifully filled with clouds and the breeze passing by greeted her in a relaxing way.

Feeling a little okay, Ashley decided to resume her walk to the next stop- the airport. And that was when a honk from behind stopped her.

As a familiar jeep stopped right beside her, her smile grew bigger.

Slowly and sleekly, the tinted glass on the passenger side slid down.

“Hey you, are you going somewhere?” Dave asked with a teasing tone, his eyebrows dancing.

“Why? Can you take me there?” She gave him a playful cold shoulder.

“Anywhere you want to go, love, I am here for you.”

Ashley just had to laugh loudly at his dramatic words. Without wasting time, she had her luggage in the back seat and her butt settled on the seat next to Dave who had a beautiful smile that refused to leave his gorgeous face.

“So, where are you headed, sweetheart?”

“To a new beginning,” she replied.

Dave reached for her hand and tangled it with his soft ones. “A new beginning together.”

Ashley scrunched her lips as she recalled something. “Was it really necessary for you to leave a copy of your divorce papers for me to see?”

“Yes. I needed you to know how serious I am about you. And I am so glad you decided to come with me. I am glad we get to start over.”

“I am curious about something.”

“What is that?”

“What did Jasmine do? You seem to hate her.”

Dave sighed. “That woman hurt me badly. She made me believe that Zion was mine.”

“Wait…” Ashley’s eyes showed how bothered she was by that statement. “Zion is not yours? B-but he looks so much like you.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Dave looked drained as he replied and Ashley felt terrible for asking her question. “I almost didn’t believe the truth. But after the DNA tests arrived, I was forced to accept the truth. I am still a father to Zion, but I can never stay in the same room with that woman. She deceived me and refused to take responsibility.”

“Oh my God.” Ashley breathed hard, her forehead wearing creases. “I am so sorry, Dave.”

“Don’t be. I am the one that’s sorry. I am sorry I wasn’t entirely truthful about my life. And I am sorry I hurt you. I am glad I have you in my life. And I like you a lot. No…” He shook his head after a dreamy smile landed on his lips. “I love you a lot.”

Ashley tried to hide her smile. “Oh you know, I like…”

“Like?” He leaned closer with interest in his eyes.

“…like having you around.” Dave gave a playful sneer because she did not say what he expected to hear. “I am also glad that I have you,” she added and his jestful sneer turned into a brief sticking-out-of-tongue moment.

“Well, let’s get going.” Dave kicked the engine to life and their journey began.

Ashley looked out of the window and every incident of the past three months came rushing. Though most of the memories were sad, Ashley was grateful that she was getting a chance to start over. Away from her somewhat murderous environment. And, with the man she loved.

Maybe life wasn’t so bad.

It had kicked her to and fro in a thorough manner. And, no, she did not like it. But the games life played her realise things about herself, made her stronger and led her to meet Dave.

Dave Scott.

The gorgeous man that once asked her what her story was after fixing her damaged pipes.

The man with the twinkling eyes who was now part of her story.

With the need to feel Dave’s touch, Ashley reached for his free hand. And she did it fast because she knew he would complain about…

“Lady, I don’t like being disturbed… You know it already.”

“But I just want to hold you,” Ashley said, her eyes made puppy-like on purpose.

“Oh hell, how can I say no to that beautiful face?”

Admiring their locked hands and the way Dave drove with one hand, Ashley quietly said, “Dave, please never let go of my hand, no matter what.”

“I wouldn’t dare to think of it.”

That was all she needed to hear and it was more than enough to fuel the journey ahead.

The journey of her crazy life.

~

THE END