Chapter 37

Ashley

I stretched leisurely, happy to have been able to sleep in this morning. Brock had worked my body over quite well last night, leaving me feeling relaxed and satiated. I had slept like a baby. Although I would have preferred sleeping in his arms, I knew it would have been wrong and understood why he had said I needed to go home.

“Ash?”

My dad knocking on my door snapped me out of my little reverie about last night.

“Come in, Dad,” I called out. I threw the covers back and sat up. I had learned a long time ago that sleeping in the nude or anything skimpy when you were a mom was never a good idea. Kids either climbed into bed or demanded you attend to them in their own beds in the middle of the night, and there was no waiting a second while you got decent.

He pushed the door open and I stood there in my shorts and T-shirt. “What is that?” I asked, pointing to the trunk he was kicking into my room.

“It’s your hope chest.”

I laughed. “Dad, I haven’t seen that thing in forever. I don’t think I used it how it was intended. It was filled with pictures and yearbooks and other silly items.”

“And something else,” he said with a smile.

I raised an eyebrow but was intrigued. I dropped to my knees to open it. When I opened the lid, I gasped.

“Dad!”

He was grinning like a little kid on Christmas morning. “I figured you may want that.”

I pulled out my wedding dress. It had clearly been dry-cleaned based on the plastic bag it was stored in. I ran a hand over the beadwork on the bodice. I remembered picking out the gown. It was a little risqué, but I’d insisted it was perfect for me. The deep V in the back nearly hit the crack of my butt, but I’d had it fitted to a T to preserve my modesty—or as much modesty as the dress allowed.

“I don’t think I’ll be walking down any aisles anytime soon,” I told him.

He shrugged. “Well, in case you do, I figured I could save you some money.”

“I can’t believe you held on to this.”

I remembered pulling the dress off and leaving it in a heap on my bedroom floor. It had been fitted so tightly, I’d nearly ripped the seams trying to get it off in a hurry. The last thing I remembered about day was seeing my beautiful wedding gown that I had saved for months to buy lying in a heap of satin and lace on the floor of my bedroom before I crawled out the window.

Thinking of that day made me shake my head. I had been so young and reckless, and extremely immature.

“I think you should hold on to this and think real hard about it. You’re a stubborn woman, Ashley Parks, which is usually a good thing, but in this situation, it could leave you unhappy. I think you need to stop fighting so hard and accept what is.”

“And what is that, Dad?”

“He loves you and you love him.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s enough.”

“Oh, Ash, it is. You keep reaching and going in search of something better. You’ve got something great right in front of you. You don’t have to keep looking. Ever heard that saying about not seeing the forest for the trees? Well that’s you. You are looking at a future you think you want, but it’s empty. Trust me, you want people who love you beside you, not a big fat pillow and a healthy bank account,” he lectured.

He turned and left the room, leaving me alone with my past. I gently placed the dress on my bed and dropped to my knees to see what other treasures I would find inside the trunk. I pulled out one thing after another, each reminding me of a time with Brock: the first movie we had ever gone to, the first time we’d had sex, the first time he asked me to be his girlfriend. The more I dug through the trunk, I realized everything involved Brock.

I sighed, realizing how important he had been in my life. He had been there through all the good times and the bad. He was the only real constant I had in my life. I couldn’t believe I had thought I could run away from him.

“Mom!” Jasper called out before stepping into my room. “Grandpa says your phone is ringing.”

Looking at my nightstand where my phone usually sat, I saw nothing. I must have left it in the kitchen last night. I followed Jasper to the kitchen, checked the missed call log, and saw it had been Hank.

I hadn’t talked to Hank since the big blowout a week ago and wasn’t looking forward to it now.

Calling him back, I braced myself for him to bitch at me for something or other.

“What’s up?” I asked when he answered. If this was going to be one of those calls, I wanted to go in on the offensive.

“Teresa is getting promoted to chief. The hospital is throwing a big party for her and some of the other people who are moving up in the ranks. It’s a fancy event and I would like you to go.”

I hesitated but figured I needed to support the family. We were family, even if they didn’t approve of Brock.

“Okay. I’ll go,” I agreed.

“Great. And bring Brock.”

“What?” I asked, certain I couldn’t have heard him right. I remembered what he had said at the disastrous Friday night dinner. He had not been kind.

“Bring Brock. It’s cool. From what I hear, you two are a thing now. I may as well get used to him hanging around.”

I laughed. “Oh, Hank. Have you been listening to the town gossip?”

“I may have heard a few things. Dad has done nothing but talk about how great Brock is and how the two of you have been spending a lot of time together.”

“It was one date!”

He laughed. “I didn’t know about a date, but I think we all know it’s inevitable. Seems like it’s only you two who don’t know.”

I cleared my throat, not wanting to stir up drama, but I needed to know what I was getting into. “What about Leslie? Is she going to be there?”

“Yes. She’s invited. I’m sure she’s coming.”

I felt a little bummed, but I would have to decline the invitation. Leslie’s big mouth couldn’t be trusted. I was not about to let her make a scene at Teresa’s party like she had at dinner. I was not going to ruin her big night by bringing Brock, plus, I didn’t really feel like making a spectacle of myself either.

“She’ll behave. I promise. Things were a little tense last week, but she knows better now.”

“I don’t think so, Hank. I haven’t talked to her since Friday, and I don’t know that I’m ready to. She said some pretty nasty things. I’m only glad Jasper and Brock didn’t hear them,” I said, fighting down the rage that rekindled just thinking about it.

“Ashley, you need to let it go. You have to admit it was a little strange to have dinner with the man who had almost managed to get his hands on Dad’s farm. It wasn’t cool.”

“I didn’t invite him! Dad did!” I wailed.

He chuckled. “Trust me, I know. We both know. Dad hasn’t exactly been silent about it. He may be old and sick, and we may be parents ourselves, but believe me, he let us know in no uncertain terms that he would whoop our asses if we ever disrespect him, his house, or his guests again.

I practically fell to the ground rolling with laughter. I knew Dad would follow through on that threat, too. He took that kind of thing seriously. It was all about respect with him.

It was good to actually talk with my brother instead of him lecturing me. “I don’t know about that. We are trying to figure things out.”

“Ashley, relationships aren’t easy. You don’t think Teresa and I have had our issues? I can’t tell you how many times I have thought about packing up and running away. You have to look at the big picture. Are you happier with him than without him? Are there more good times than bad? Use those to gauge the relationship, not what you’re feeling in any given moment. Hell, or even a given month sometimes. You have to set your mind to making it work.”

“Thank you, Hank. I know. I was young back then. We’ll see. This is all new for us. I think we’re just trying to figure stuff out. You’ll be the first to know if we decide to make this an official relationship,” I teased.

“I better be. I have to go. I’ll see you next Friday. It’s fancy. Wear something nice. Not church nice, but nice.”

“I’ve been to black-tie functions before, Hank. I think I can dress myself.”

“Oh, I forgot. You’re Miss Fancy New York. See you then,” he said, and hung up.

I was glad to know Hank was willing to give Brock a chance. I knew it was asking a lot, but in reality, Brock hadn’t done anything wrong. Leslie and Hank had nothing to be mad about, especially considering Hank didn’t even want to try to save the farm.

I checked my watch and hoped Brock was up. Then I laughed. Of course he was up. It was after eight, which meant he had probably been up for a while. The man probably already went for a run. The extent of my morning exercise had been to get out of bed and walk across the room.

“Good morning,” I said when he answered.

“Hey.” He was a little out of breath.

“Are you running?”

“Just finished. What’s up?”

I knew the man well. “I wanted to see if you would be interested in going to a party next Friday in Morgantown. Hank’s wife is getting promoted and there is going to be a celebration.”

“You want me to go to a party with your family?”

I laughed, completely understanding his hesitation. “Yes. It was Hank’s idea actually. They all promise to be on their best behavior. If not, Dad will beat them.”

He chuckled and then agreed. “I will go anywhere if it means I get to spend time with you. How fancy is this party?”

“Black tie. Got anything in that big closet of yours?”

“I do. What about you? Are you going to wear some sexy little sequin number?” he said in a low, husky voice that told me exactly what he was thinking.

“I don’t know yet. I may have to do some shopping.”

We agreed on a time for him to pick me up and made some plans for the night. Since the party was in Morgantown, we would need to leave early. I hung up the phone feeling very excited for the weekend. I couldn’t wait to see him decked out in a tux. It all felt very adult.

My mind drifted to what I would wear. I needed to go to Morgantown to shop. I knew I wouldn’t find anything appropriate around here, and I certainly didn’t have anything black-tie worthy in my closet.

I called Anna. “Hey, feel like heading to Morgantown for a shopping day?”

“Yes.” I heard footsteps and turned around to see her standing in the kitchen. “Oh,” I said into the phone while looking directly at her.

She rolled her eyes and put it away. “That’s actually why I’m here. I get one last try to hook me a man before I get fat. I need a dress that rocks this body,” she said, waving a hand over herself.

I laughed. “I think you’ve rocked that body enough, which is why you are in this predicament.”

“Whatever. Says the lady that has a kid.”

I quickly showered and we left, taking Jasper and Dad along for the ride. We needed male opinions—we thought.