HL

o

the most important people in my life. It was a habitual thing for me to go home every weekend.

ungalow I grew up in. I squealed to myself like a little girl, hopping out of my car. The ne

impatiently. The door creaked open and an unfamiliar face came into view. One of m

elf, extending her hands forth, for a handshake. I slipped

I palmed my face. The last time I was around, mom and dad had told me they were planning to get a

e house and dad runs an auto-mechanic workshop. They tend to

eason I couldn't place your face." I told her and she nodded with a warm

to the Cafe to check on them. Dad's

, Ashley." She smiled at me and I cooed. She was really p

" I bade her farewell and got into

r me the minute I set foot into my mom's Cafe. There was one thing I loved about this place. It was the liveli

r my parents to make things work out with the Cafe when I was growing up. The sleepless nights, the loans,

hen I got swept off my feet by strong arms I kne

d

walls. I squealed and giggled in his arms as he spun me around like a litt

with the excitement that t

d like he hadn't aged a day over forty! He had beautiful salt and pepper hair and honey-brown eyes that lo

rms again and I heard h

ou," I told

brown eyes stared down at me, crinkling with war

mom in the kitchen." He latched his strong arms onto mine, p

heys and hello's

mom yell. I instinctively knew the action was go

across her face as h

er outstretched arms. She patted me gently o

contagious. I found myself smiling back at her. Dad

said to me and I nodded and watched

brown wavy hair to drop down her shoulders. For a second there, it felt like I was staring at myself in the m

so much

iled off, pushing the door that led to her office open

in her office, my eyes dropping to her frame that leaned lightly on it, her a

y. I kept my tone as subtle as I cou

nt a text that you had something urgent you wanted to attend to," She pa

motherly gaze. Her brows knitted in

e words that left her mouth. I shifted in my seat, blinking s

you, mom." I choked

my plans before I went anywhere and then, work at the office was hectic that week, so it

nts every weekend. That obnoxiou

ant to arg

ant to fig

with Adam alway

belief, falling ba

in her direction, staring at her with my eye

e whole thing, that was the reason I let it go." She threw her hands in

eak but her next words

ee us too?" She asked wit

er and her expression

s ti

as

knew what I wanted and what I didn't. I didn't want anyone meddling in my busines

an amaz

it was so hard f

buses you and

hat did he ever do to you? You, Dawn, and Ivanna! Why can't you gu

a fumi

d watched me as if I

?!" She shouted at me, fury fl

come ove

nhealthy for crying out loud! Did you see the way he treated you the last time he came

new

s going to re

th my boyfriend reprimandin

ed her mouth to speak, but it felt as though she didn't know how to convey her wo

s at a loss

mistake, Ashley."

ver for some family time and guess what I got, my mothe

eak and I stormed out of her off

hrough a magazine with a cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up f

ed and provok

rsher than I intended, but I cared less.

He asked calml

want me here!" I huffed

nces

d before walking out on him. I pushed the glass doors open an

as a m