The phone began to ring.   Paula jumped, “Oh my god, where’s Spencer?”  She ran to pick up the phone suddenly realizing that her daughter should have been home by now.

“Mom?”

“Spencer, oh my god, where are you? I’m so sorry for putting you out.”

Spencer could hear pain in her mother’s voice.  “Mom, I’m okay.  I had Ashley pick me up.  I think it’s best if everyone just sleeps it off tonight.  Since it’s so late already, I am just going to stay with her tonight.  Okay.  And I don’t want to argue about it.”

Spencer sighed waiting for Paula’s rejection and was surprised to hear what she did.

“Spencer…. I…I.. need you right now.  I need your help to …to…please come home …” Paula turned her back to whisper, “Christine is here…. with flowers… I don’t know what to do…Arthur looks like he’s about to kill her…please…sweetie…I need you…”

“Mom, calm down…we’ll be right there.” Spencer hung up the phone.  “Ashley we’ve got to turn around and go to my house”

“What’s going on?” Ashley said turning the car around.

“You will not believe it.  Your mom is over at my house right now professing her love for my mom.”

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely, my mom was just begging for my help.  She doesn’t know what to do.  I know that she loves Christine.  And I think that she even wants to be with her.  But this is so complicated.”

“Spence…what are we going to do even? Your dad is probably freaking.  What would we do?”

“I don’t know.  Maybe just being there will take off some of the pressure.”  Spencer grabbed Ashley’s hand.  They both knew that they would have to be strong and stick together if they were going to let some of the pressure fall on them.  Ashley stopped the car at the stop sign and looked at Spencer.

“Are you okay?” Spencer looked puzzled at Ashley.

Ashley leaned in to kiss Spencer.  The kiss was loving and deep.  Spencer felt reminiscent of their kisses earlier that evening.   The same intensity had found them again.   They broke apart as a horn blew behind them.  “Spencer, no matter what happens tonight, know that I love you.”

“I know baby.  I know.”  Spencer knew Ashley was worried that as soon as the pressure was placed on them.  Her father would want them apart and likely Ashley would be leaving with her mother tonight.