“Ashley, what Aiden did was wrong. But I want you to know that that is not going to change a single thing between you and me. You are just as much my daughter as he is my son. I love you Ash.” This seemed to do the trick as Ashley’s sobs became less severe and violent.

“Really? Because I was really worried that you wouldn’t want to be around me anymore since Aiden and I didn’t go out any more.”

“ASHLEY! That’s crazy! How could you even think such a thing?”

“I don’t know. I guess you would just side with your real son instead of some girl you just took in because her lousy parents are never home to take care of her.”

“Look, Ash, I could never just abandon you like that. We have been through too much together. Why don’t we go back to your house and I stay the night with you tonight okay? We can figure out what we are going to do tomorrow ok? I’ll be on your side every step of the way okay sweetie? I love you.”

“Oh, Sarah, I love you too! More than you know.”

After deciding to return to Ashley’s empty mansion, the two girls ate dinner in silence. Slowly, they climbed into Sarah’s car and made their way to Ashley’s house. Sarah and Ashley climbed the stairs to Ashley’s front door and opened it into a huge foyer. Without saying a word to each other, the two women made their way up the stairs and into Ashley’s room. Though they were like mother and daughter, they were also like best friends. Sarah didn’t need to ask where to sleep because she knew there was already an extra bed waiting for her. Long ago, Ashley and Sarah had pulled the guest bedroom bed into Brooke’s room for those nights when Ashley needed someone but didn’t want to leave home.

Ashley made her way into the bathroom to shower and change while Sarah pulled out the drawer that was designated for her own clothes. She pulled out some pajamas and waited patiently for the shower while Ashley took her time. While waiting, Sarah got lost in thought. She often thought about how loving and sweet Ashley was. She liked to think that she had something to do with that. She never did understand how her parents could just shoveled money at her instead of just loving her and being there for her. That is all she wanted after all. Before Sarah could become too lost in thought, Ashley came out of the bathroom and silently made her way towards her own bed. She climbed in without saying a word to Sarah. Sarah took this as a sign to just take a shower and get into her own bed.