Ashley
Did Sabra Thomas scare me? Yes, she did. Did I think Tyrell and his girls would be worth the hassle of dealing with Sabra? I wondered. I knew Tyrell was worth it, and he had explained the situation to me already. Still, she was a force to be reckoned with, and I didn’t want to get trampled by her.
The flowers from Tyrell looked cheerful on my table. I couldn’t see the television with them there, but that was okay. I’d move them to the counter when I was done admiring them. The texts from him were reassuring, and of course, I blushed like mad at his comment that the flowers were gorgeous “like me.”
When my phone rang, I thought it might be Tyrell, but I grimaced upon seeing Morgan’s name once again on my phone. I readied my saccharine voice. “Morgan, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Her perky voice grated on my nerves. “Ashley, honey, what are you doing tonight? Tanner was asked to a business dinner, and I was hoping you could watch Jonny for us.”
An evening with my cuddly nephew might be just what I needed, so I agreed. It would likely be a late night, but I grabbed my laptop so I could watch something while Jonny slept. I didn’t use their streaming services because I didn’t need Morgan and Tanner knowing what I watched. It wasn’t bad, but I was sure there would be comments about it.
On my way to their house, my mother called. I couldn’t handle all this Gloss family communication. “Mom, I’m on my way over to watch Jonny.”
I could picture her recoil. “Oh, well. That’s lovely Ashley. It’s too bad you like children so much.” Unlike her, who thought they were tiny leeches.
It felt like a stab to the heart when she made comments like that. “I do love children, Mom. My inability to bear them doesn’t mean I would begin to hate them.”
Her Savannah drawl sounded bored, even though she was the one who had called me. “I know, sugar, but it’s just torturing yourself since you’ll never be a mother.”
Do not engage, Ashley. Do not comment back; it will only encourage her. “What did you call for, Mother?”
“There’s a charity ball this weekend, and I thought you’d like to go. I have two tickets for you if you can find a date. You’re on your own for this one, since you left Mr. Browning searching high and low for you. Do you know how embarrassing it was that you had just up and left?”
I did my best to ignore the fact that I was an embarrassment to her. There had to be a catch to her generosity. I waited for her to announce it, but she remained silent.
“What’s the charity?”
“Oh, something your father is involved in. Raising money for underprivileged people of some kind. Apparently that actress who used to live on Tybee will be there. Tanner and Morgan can’t go.” Ah-ha. There was the reason for the last-minute offer.
My brother and his wife couldn’t attend, so the tickets were being discarded in my direction. That was fine. I would be happy to take them, and I told her as much. After hanging up and pulling into my brother’s driveway, I texted Tyrell.
Ashley: Any chance you’re interested in attending a black-tie charity ball with me Friday night? I have two tickets.
It didn’t take long for a reply to pop up.
Tyrell: What’s the charity? Some of my reporters are going to one this weekend for Savvy Kids.
Ashley: That might be it. My mother didn’t say specifically.
Tyrell: Oh, your parents will be there?
Ashley: Does that change your mind?
Tyrell: Absolutely not. In fact, I would love to see them again and show them how well I’m doing despite their predictions to the contrary.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I would also love for my parents to see how well he was doing. Tyrell was pretty much at the top of his game and still only thirty years old. It would be a pleasure to wipe their smug smiles from their faces.
It was a thin line I walked with my family and I knew it. I was the black sheep that had somehow turned into a bitter disappointment to them, but I still reaped the benefits of being a Gloss. I got a monthly allowance from my parents, plus the payouts from my stock in the family business and my trust. Having a job wasn’t a necessity for me; it was a choice.
Still smiling, I got out of the car and headed toward the house for babysitting duty.
Once Tanner and Morgan had left me with a list of instructions for Jonny, I stripped him from his prim pajamas and left him in just a diaper. He seemed so much more relaxed that way without itchy knits on his skin and no tags rubbing him.
“What do you want to do before bed, Jonny?” I held him close, running my fingers along his soft skin.
He was just a year old, so he didn’t have much to say, but he pointed to a few toys and crawled over to them. They were all soft, organic, and as bland as you could get. I scooped him up and took him into the kitchen, where I pulled out Morgan’s expensive pots and pans and her designer mixing spoons.
It took a minute of my showing Jonny what to do before a wicked grin crossed his face and he laughed. Spoon in hand, he began banging the pots and pans as if his life depended on it. I knew he led a quiet, calm life, and little boys weren’t meant to be quiet and calm.
He relished the noise he was creating, and while it gave me a slight headache, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. Anyway, the poor boy needed an occasional outlet away from Morgan’s smothering. Plus, it wore the kid out. After ten minutes, he was slowing down and rubbing his eyes.
Aunt Ashley for the win. I redressed him, read him a book, sang him a song, and laid him down. As his eyes drooped closed, I felt the squeeze on my heart.
I would be a mother one day. Even if I didn’t birth a child myself, it didn’t matter. I had saved so much of my money and invested it wisely, I could adopt ten children if I wanted. It didn’t matter how it happened. A deep breath caught in my throat, and I left the room before I woke the baby from his slumber.
My phone was ringing from the living room, and I raced to pick it up before it woke Jonny. Looking at the screen, I groaned before answering, “Hello again, Mother.”
She didn’t greet me before launching into why she called. “Ashley, I found someone you can take with you to this gala. You remember Ben Baxter?”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I shook my head as if she could see it. I did remember Mr. Baxter, emphasis on the Mister. He had been my tennis coach and was even older than my father. “Mom, I don’t need you to find me a date. I’ve already asked someone.”
There was no attempt at hiding her shock. “You have? Who? Someone I know?”
I wanted Tyrell’s presence to be a total surprise, so naturally, I couldn’t tell her who it was. “Yes, someone you have known for a long time, so tell Mr. Baxter sorry.”
I hung up with my mom still puzzled over who I might have invited to her special charity event.
At about ten o’clock, as I scrolled through social media pictures, Tyrell texted and asked if he could call me. Of course, I said yes. The phone lit up with his number instantly.
“Hey, there.”
“How are you doing?” His smooth, baritone voice still gave me goosebumps.
“I’m not too bad. I’m babysitting at my brother’s house.” I sighed as I looked around Tanner’s massive living room.
“I can’t believe Tanner has a kid. I never thought I would see the day he’d settled down.” Tyrell laughed quietly. The girls must be asleep nearby. “Anyway, I wanted to apologize for earlier.”
“You don’t need to apologize at all. That woman was a little scary, though. Is she always like that?” I shivered as I recalled the look she shot me while she was trying to latch onto Tyrell.
He groaned a little, and I heard him move. “Yeah, that’s how I ended up the father of her twins. I took it as flattery at first, but then, she got very possessive. When I told her no, she moved on to someone else. Five guys did DNA tests for the girls. Five. I was the lucky one.”
“They’re sweet girls.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“They are. I was the only one of the five ready and willing to be a father. One of the guys was only sixteen, Ash. I’m so glad they’re mine. I wish Sabra wasn’t attached, but I love those girls.”
I put my hand to my mouth; his words about his girls were so beautiful. He wanted them, which was such a change from many people these days. Sami and Saffi were definitely blessed with a father who was present and doted on them.
“Don’t even think about it. And thank you again for the flowers. That was such a treat.” I couldn’t wait to get back home to look at them again.
We chatted about everything and nothing for the next thirty minutes until he yawned and said he had to be at work at five the next morning. We hung up, and I closed my eyes until Tanner and Morgan came home.