Ashling

It was a climb to get in the damn truck, but this time Ash had jeans on so she didn’t flash her undies to all of Grand City when she did it. She slid the seat up. Jessie had the seat so far back she couldn’t reach the pedals. Ash had her weekend bag on the seat next to her. She’d asked Sam what you were supposed to wear to a 21C Championship fight.

“Like if you were going to a club, glitz it up a bit. You’ll be glad you did.” She was glad she’d asked. One of the local crafters that rented space in O’Shea’s warehouse did fashion consignment and loaned her a dress. She’d return it after the weekend, though. Ash didn’t have much cause for glitz when she was arranging flowers and hauling in centerpieces.

Grandma Hoolihan insisted that she take a pair of diamond earrings and a necklace to match.

“I’m going to watch here with my sister. I want to see that sparkle on television.” Fighters set Grandma up with the pay-per-view, and anyone who couldn’t go to the fight was going to watch at her house. Grandma had started cooking snacks at the beginning of the week. Jessie Hoolihan’s fighter family and actual family were one in the same Ash had learned.

Between the dress and the diamonds, Ash hoped she’d measure up to the celebrities, and whoever else was ringside for the fight.

She made her way to the Ambassador Bridge that connected the U.S. to Canada. Jessie told her the driving laws were the same, so she’d be fine traveling in Windsor. She wanted to check on the flower shop but forced herself not to. She knew that Gus and Colleen were totally fine handling things. They’d encouraged her to take these days off. No. She would do her best to unplug from O’Shea’s and focus on Jessie.

The 21C put on a big show, so there would be tons to see and take in as she watched Jessie.

She was more excited than nervous for Jessie’s big moment. She knew he was ready. He said so. His coaches said so. And she could see he was confident, secure, focused, and he’d prepared correctly for this chance to achieve his dreams. It inspired her to keep pushing for her own goals.

Ash slowed down as she approached the border agents. She got her documents out and was ready to present them to customs.

She handed her documents over and waited as they inspected them.

It was taking longer than she’d expected, but she figured they probably didn’t have Irish shop girls cross the border in Detroit all that often. She waited, and finally, the agent approached her car again.

“Please get out of the vehicle, miss.”

“What? Is there a problem?” She did as she was told and climbed out of Jessie’s truck. The customs agent was stern. He didn’t look her in the eye, and it was the first time she felt concern. A shard of panic split through her chest. This had to be some sort of clerical problem.

“Your work visa has expired. You are in violation of U.S. customs and immigration laws.”

“How can that be? My uncle did all the paperwork. I am perfectly legally entitled to . . .” The agent lifted a hand.

“Miss Byrne. Your paperwork expired over three weeks ago. You were supposed to re-apply and get authorization. It says here your employer hasn’t seen you in weeks.”

“I never got a notification. I . . .” Ash’s mind searched feverishly over the details of the last month. She didn’t have one thought about her work permits. It was the furthest thing in her mind. Her employer. Her employer! That’s when the depth of the trouble she faced sank in from her brain to her bones. Her employer was Aunt Theone.

Somehow Aunt Theone was behind this, she’d lied to the U.S. government, she’d probably intercepted any documents that were supposed to go to Uncle Peter.

“Miss, your vehicle is being impounded.”

“It’s not my vehicle. It’s my boyfriend’s.”

“He’ll be able to pick it up at the impound lot.”

“The impound. But what’s happening?”

“You’re being escorted to the immigration detention facility. You are here illegally, as I’ve stated.”

“I have a business to run. My boyfriend’s fight is tonight. Can’t we sort this out?”

“We don’t make those decisions. We follow the paperwork and the rules. You are in violation of them.” She was escorted into the backseat of an official vehicle and driven back into Detroit.

She texted Jessie, but no response. It was hours before the fight. No doubt he was not near his phone. Shit. Shit.

She was lucky they didn’t handcuff her and take her phone. She needed help. No one seemed to be able to answer any questions. And no one seemed to be answering their phones.

Could a lawyer get here? Who? She didn’t know a lawyer.

Finally, she got through to Aunt Theone.

“What have you done to me? What did you tell them?”

“Oh, hello, Ashling. I assume you’re calling from Ireland.”

“You did this. Why? What could you gain from shipping me out? You can’t do this!”

“Oh, paperwork is so tricky, isn’t it, dear?” Theone’s voice was dripping evil satisfaction. Ash had saved this woman’s inheritance, and this was how she was getting repaid.

“I did everything for you. I saved the shop. I was going to ask to buy it from you. You would have made a nice profit, and wouldn’t need to worry.”

“Oh, I did sell the shop. Wade’s going to turn it into condos. Rest assured I got a wonderful price. Carrie and I have plans, so many plans, with our money.”

“Why? Why are doing this to me?” Ash felt tears of frustration roll down her cheeks. She knew Aunt Theone was a bitch, but this level of evil was a surprise. Screwing with her life was fun for Theone.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. Your internship is now completed. Don’t ask for references from me. Goodbye.” The line went dead.

She had no idea where she was going. What were her rights? She still couldn’t believe this was happening.

“Miss, you’re going to have to hand over your phone. That’s not allowed.” The agent took her phone. She hadn’t been able to call Jessie, or a lawyer, she’d wasted it on Aunt Theone.

She sat in the back of the official vehicle as it traveled further into downtown. She was headed to the U.S. Customs field office in Detroit. Ash’s desperation had her heart beating too fast, and her mind racing. Would they put her in jail? American jail?

She was going to miss Jessie’s fight for sure. He wouldn’t know why she wasn’t there.

Ash’s life in America was being ripped away, thanks to Theone, and thanks to paperwork. She’d been focused on keeping the city at bay and the shop and in the process forgot the paperwork that could get her deported.

The car wound through downtown and finally parked in the garage of a giant government building. It looked like a jail to her; it was a jail, or immigration detention. Whatever they called it, she knew it was jail.

She put her head in her hands and quietly sobbed.