“I didn’t know you had a little brother. He’s adorable.” Ashley looked up at nervously. “He’s not my little brother.” Just then we heard a crashing noise and Ashley shook her head and walked out of the kitchen. I followed. We ended up in what looked like an art studio and saw paint all over the floor. Ryan looked like he was going to cry. “Mommy I didn’t mean to.” He ran over to Ashley and she picked him up. “It’s okay baby that’s why we have these floors. Don’t cry Ryan it’s alright really.” He looked a little better and Ashley set him down and knelt down to him. “Why don’t you go get some paper towels so we can clean this up?” Ryan went out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom.

Ashley stood back up and looked at the floor. “Ryan is my son.” Wow, I wasn’t expecting that one. “Oh. Well, he looks like you now that you say that. Which is a good thing for him.” I smiled and Ashley just looked at me shocked. She seemed to tear up for a second but then it was gone. “You mean it doesn’t bother you, that I have a kid?” Why would it bother me? I mean I was surprised but did she really think I would see she had a son and take off?

“Well I wasn’t expecting it considering…you know…that you like girls.” At that she laughed and it made me laugh. “But no it doesn’t bother me Ashley.” Ryan came back in with the paper towels and we cleaned the floor as best we could. Ashley explained to me that when they bought the house this room had concrete flooring. She had left it because she wanted a studio to paint in. “And this is why it comes in handy, especially when Ryan is painting with me.” She turned her head toward him and I saw him working away at his “painting”. I then noticed the other pieces in the room. “Ashley did you do all of these?” She nodded shyly. “I don’t paint often, it’s just a hobby. It helps me to think of songs actually. And I’ve found it to be pretty healing being able to throw paint around in here.” This girl really is an amazing artist.