Ashley paused when she saw Dylan but didn't reveal any emotion on her face.
"How was your nap, Ash?" Dylan smiled warmly, standing up to pull out a seat for Ashley.
Not wanting to reveal anything to Nicole, she smiled and replied, "Fine."
Nicole smiled at their interactions. Michelle took the ladle to dish Ashley food but was stopped by Dylan.
"Let me." She stretched put his hand to collect the ladle, but Michelle dogged him.
"No need, you are a guest." Michelle said coldly, but Nicole spoke up, frowning,
"Michelle, I don't want to hear this guest word again," her voice had lost it usual gentleness and was stern. "He is Ashley's boyfriend, so he is a part of this family. Also, if he wants to dote on Ashley, who are you to stop it?" She turned to Dylan and smiled gently, "Dylan dear, collect the ladle from her."
Michelle was annoyed but didn't show it. She simply handed the ladle over to Dylan and sat down.
Ashley smiled at Dylan after he was done dishing her food, and Michelle eyes became darker. She clenched her hand and unclenched it under the table. Before, she never had to worry about losing Ashley, but since Dylan Walker started their school and came into their lives in grade ten, she was always on tenterhooks. She looked at Dylan, who, in return, smiled at her. As much as she wanted to punch his face, she had to remain calm because Dylan was like a weed, a stubborn weed she had to carefully pluck out of their life.
Lunch was brief, with Nicole making small talks here and there. Michelle and Ashley cleared the dishes while Taylor went to her room, Nicole and Dylan remained in the living room.
"Mother, if you don't mind, I'll lie to take Ashley home with me for a few days."
Nicole frowned, and Dylan immediately added, "I'll like to introduce her to my aunt. You see, my aunt has only five years to live, and her wish is to see my siblings and I get married before she dies."
Nicole was immediately touched, the silver of frown that had appeared on her forehead disappeared,
"Oh my, how come?"
"She was diagnosed with one five years ago."
Dylan spoke calmly, but Nicole could sense the melancholy in his voice.
"I'm so sorry, dear." Nicole looked very sorry and patted Dylan's hand. "You can surely take Ashley to spend some time with your aunt..." she paused as if remembering something, "but what about your parents?" She looked curious, and Dylan answered her with the same words and tone he had practised and said over the years
"They're dead."
Short, but it made tears well up in Nicole's eyes, coupled with the blank expression on Dylan's face, she knows how many years of practice he had put in to give this answer, the same way she had done when her husband jilted her, leaving her with two year old Michelle and a two month old Taylor.
She reached over and hugged Dylan, a warm motherly hug. Dylan froze, the warm feeling in his chest... when last did this feeling enter into his body, about thieteen years ago. Nicole said no words, 5he same way his mother used to do whenever he was hurt, confused, or angry.
A warm,all-knowing, silent, calming, healing hug.
He fondly called it a wasch hug.
Neither noticed Michelle in the kitchen doorway looking at them with a dark, terrifying expression, her eyes revealing a hint of crazy playfulness and deviousness.
"Dylan's an orphan..." she glanced at Ashley, who was cleaning up the sink and smiled, "and I ain't gon' tell her."
She made a sign of zipping her lips and throwing the key away. Michelle quietly went back to the kitchen, and Dylan's eyes moved to the side, noticing her movement.
Nicole released Dylan from her embrace and cleaned her years. She smiled at Dylan, saying,
"I can not say anything about your father, but remember, you have a mother, alright?"
Dylan nodded obediently, then Ashley came out of the kitchen with Michelle right behind her. Their movements made Nicole turn to them, and she instructed Ashley as soon as their eyes met,
"Go pack your bags."
Ashley froze, thinking Nicole knew the whole truth,
"It's over" began to ring in her head while Michelle put up a confused expression.
"You are going to see Dylan's family and spend some days there." Nicole smiled.
Ashley breathed a sigh of relief, Michelle froze, and Dylan looked at Michelle with challenging eyes.
"Mom..."
"Quiet Michelle, i know you are protective, but you can't stop Ashley from meeting her future in-laws."
"Not future, Mom, her in-laws," Michelle saidnin her mind, she glanced at Ashley, whose eyes were still on Nicole. She glared at Dylan and gritted her teeth. She nodded and went upstairs, her fists clenching and unclenching. Ashley still stood there and only left when Nicole urged her to pack her bags, but Dylan spoke up, "No need, mother, I was planning to take Ashley shopping."
"Oh." Nicole was all smiles. "You're so thoughtful, well then, Ashley, go meet your future in-laws."
Nicole stood up and pulled Ashley outside, giving her some instructions. Nicole hugged Ashley as she wanted to get into the car.
"Impress them, alright?
"Yes, mom."
"Go make mama proud."
Ashley smiled as a reply and got into the car.
They drove off, and Nicole smiled happily behind them.
Nicole entered the house with a crease on her forehead.
"Something is wrong with Taylor. It's definitely wrong." She mumbled as she made her way to Taylor's room.
"Ashley's gone to see Dylan's family,"
"Meech, I'm tired..."
"What are you talking about?" Nicole questioned as she opened the door, suprising michelle and Taylor. She had a serious expression on her face, hinting she heard something.
"Nothing, Mom, I was just telling Taylor that Ashley and Dylan have left, and she said she was tired before you came in." Michelle regained her composure quickly and replied to Nicole.
"Really?" Nicole looked unconvinced.
"Yes, Mom, what were you thinking?"
Nicole paused.
"Maybe I'm reading too much into their words." She said to herself and replie to Michelle, "Nothing." She faced Taylor and said, "I came to see Taylor."
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Ashley thought Dylan was just trying to look good in front of Nicole, but he really took her to a shopping mall.
"Get yourselves some good clothes. One hour, nothing more." He told her coldly, handing her a black card.
Ashley has never touched a black card, so it felt heavy on her hand. "Thank you, but one hour is too much...,"
"I don't need you wearing rags in front of my family, so I'm giving you enough time to pick good clothes."
Ashley stiffened, looking away from Dylan and alighted from the car.