Chapter 29
Carolyn
I’m actually giddy with excitement, like some school girl, when I leave Cody’s after dinner. He’s not pressuring me and I appreciate that. He leaves me with a soft kiss on my lips and a hug that feels like it can take away all of my pain. I need to go talk to Ashlynn.
I make my way to her loft, it’s close to 9 p.m. and she has work tomorrow, so I know she’s probably still up but winding down for the night. I really want to talk to her about the full moon run. I was worried about it before, but I don’t think I am now. I want to see how she is feeling about everything. My daughter is my life, and her happiness is mine. I don’t want her to think things are weird because I’m spending time with Cody.
I knock on her door and she swings it open a few seconds later. She’s standing there in her P.J.’s but the t.v. is on so I know I’m not bothering her. “Hi Mom, come in.” She steps back and lets me in. “You look happy, what’s up?” she says as she walks towards the kitchen. I don’t really know how to broach this subject so I decide I’m just going to come right out and say it. We have no secrets and I’ve always shared with her so easily. This seems some how different. I don’t want her to think I am replacing her father, but then I remind myself, she had no love for him anyway. I can’t blame her, she hadn’t seen him as a loving father since she was a young child and probably all of his bad erased anything she may have remembered from her young childhood. She’s been taking care of my wounds since she was eight years old. That’s a lot for a child. I hid it as best I could for the first year, but I knew, that she knew better. My daughter has always been intelligent and wise beyond her years. “Have a seat Mom, you want wine?” she asks. I nod my head in affirmative and take a deep
breath.
As Ashlynn sets a glass of wine in front of me and pours her own, we make our way to the couch. “I actually wanted to talk to you about a couple of things, personal things,” I tell her. She raises one eyebrow in encouragement, waiting for me
to continue.
“So I ummm, I just had dinner with Cody. He asked me to go on the full moon run with him. You know I haven’t joined a
pack run in many many years, so I’m nervous.” I look at her and she just nods her head in understanding. “I really like him Ashlynn. He’s so kind and so patient. I think he’s a very good man. He wants our wolves to meet, and I think I do to.”
Ashlynn reaches over and places her hand on my leg. “I think that’s wonderful Mom. He really is a good guy. If you feel like this is what you want, then I say go for it.”
I can’t help but smile at my daughter, always wanting my happiness. “It’s just I don’t want you to think he’s replacing your father. It hasn’t been long since his death.”
Ashlynn lets out a bitter laugh. “You can’t really be worried about that Mom. He was not worth the years you gave him. I haven’t considered him a father for over a decade. The man was ruthless and he hurt you at every turn. I actually would like to see you replace him with something or someone better, you deserve to be happy,” she’s looking at me with a softness on her face, and I know my daughter is sincere.
“Thank you Ashlynn, thank you for being the best daughter I could have ever asked for,” I give her a smile. “Now let’s talk about you! What about Dawson?” I give her a knowing smile and to her credit, my daughter blushes.
“Well,” she begins. And we settle in for some late night girl chat. It’s wonderful when your daughter is also your best friend. For the first time in a long time, my heart feels full and content.
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Ashlynn
