“El, have you two had a falling out? I heard
Join the bookshelf
<
you haven’t seen him in a while.”
“You didn’t even visit him in the hospital. You
wouldn’t even talk to the doctor.”
My heart softened.
Ashton’s mom had always been kind to me.
She’d brought us treats when we were kids.
The first time Ashton stood me up at the
courthouse, she’d come over and yelled at
him all night.
She’d hugged me, saying, “El, don’t worry, you’re the only daughter–in–law I’ll ever
L
accept. If he doesn’t marry you, he’s not my
son anymore.”
Back then, I hadn’t told her that Ashton loved
Layla, not me.
But I wouldn’t be swayed this time.
I’d spent years bending over backwards for
Ashton. No more.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Peterson, but Ashton has a
girlfriend. She can be there for him. And the
doctor said they need family for the surgery. I’m not family.”
I took a deep breath.
<
“You should contact his girlfriend for these
things. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be involved.”
“I have to go.”
I hung up.
Finally, the calls stopped.
8
I went home for the holidays.
There were lots of parties. Friends wanted to
catch up.
<
At one party, I arrived late. I heard someone
mention Ashton’s name.
‘Ashton, you and El were always so close, practically inseparable. You still haven’t tied the knot?”
“Yeah, we all thought you’d get married right after college.”
I froze, hand on the doorknob.
