Love's Someday (10 page)

Ashleigh could no longer hold back the emotion and sobbed helplessly while Vicki tried to comfort her. Vicki finally gave up and let her cry, until she once again was able to speak. “I was going to call you, Vic, but by the time I managed the courage, so much time had passed and I figured that you must’ve hated me by then.”

“You broke my heart, but never once did I hate you. I never could.” Vicki’s voice sounded raspy, and Ashleigh knew that she was doing her best to maintain control.

“I ruined your career.”

“Is that what you thought?” Vicki asked with sadness in her voice. “Baby, you were brilliant, and you did write our hit, but we still had a catalog of music that the record company wanted. We could’ve gone on.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Don’t you remember how it was? We had to have male escorts for every function. We were stuffed back into the closet so as not to ruin our public image. Boy George wore more makeup than we did, and he didn’t come out for years. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun while it lasted, but the minute we were offered our freedom, we took it. That choice was unanimous. That’s why we’re still together after all this time.”

“But you didn’t seem unhappy then.”

“We didn’t want to ruin things for you and the rest of the girls, but Chantal and I were miserable. I was so homesick, I hated being on the road. We were going to wait until the end of the tour to test the waters and see if y’all were as disillusioned as we were.”

“So you were happy with playing clubs again?”

“Oh, Ash, don’t you remember? We were broke and hungry, but we had a great time. When I look back on it all, that was one of the happiest times of my life, and now we have an even better life. Did Drew tell you about the music store?”

“No, she didn’t, but I wasn’t very kind to her when she confessed to meddling.”

“I’m glad she meddled,” Vicki said. Ashleigh could tell that she was smiling. “If I’d meddled twenty years ago, we might not have spent all this time apart. But then again, I think things happen for a reason.”

Ashleigh smiled and dried her face on her shirt. “I was telling Drew that the other day. I might not have met her and Erica had things been different.”

“When do I get to meet Erica?” Vicki asked, sounding unsure.

Ashleigh hesitated before answering. “I’d really like to see you and Chantal, but I don’t know if I’m ready to see everyone.”

“You don’t have to see anyone else, but you have to see me, and well, Chantal, too.”

“Yeah,” Ashleigh said with a smile. “I’d like that.”

“How about this Saturday?” Vicki said with her voice full of excitement. “I’d love for you to see the house. You can bring Drew and Kaitlyn. We’ll cook out.”

Ashleigh’s heart hammered in her chest as she considered the invitation. “It seems so strange. We haven’t talked in twenty years, but hearing your voice makes it seem like yesterday.”

“I guess with some friends it doesn’t matter how much time passes, it can’t diminish the bond.”

Those words were like balm to Ashleigh’s troubled soul. Years of pain and regret that weighed heavily on her shoulders seemed to lighten with every word Vicki spoke. Vicki was talking nonstop like Drew did when she was nervous. Ashleigh missed half of what she said as she reveled in the sound of her voice.

“So you’ll really come?”

Ashleigh heard herself agreeing. Her legs moved of their own volition as she walked inside and wrote down the address. After the phone call ended and Ashleigh stood in her kitchen looking down at the address, she found it hard to believe that she would be having lunch with Vicki and Chantal the upcoming weekend. How would she tell Erica?

She was still staring down at the address when the phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID, Ashleigh knew who it was. “How were the crabs?”

“Good, but I couldn’t eat that many. I was too excited about your chat. Did it go well?”

“Well…” Ashleigh successfully pulled off sounding somber.

“Oh, what?” Drew’s voice was heavy with disappointment.

“We’re having dinner with Vicki and Chantal Saturday, and you and Kaitlyn are invited.” Ashleigh pulled the phone away from her ear as Drew made a high-pitched squeal.

After the call with Drew, Ashleigh realized that nearly two hours had passed. The cereal bowl in the sink confirmed that Erica had already eaten. She walked into Erica’s office with an apology perched on her lips and stopped when she noticed Erica slumped over the desk. She was snoring softly, her pen still gripped in her hand.

Ashleigh moved behind her and gently slipped the ever-present ponytail from Erica’s hair. Erica didn’t stir as Ashleigh ran her fingers through the dark glossy waves as they cascaded over her neck and shoulders. Ashleigh leaned down and whispered close to her ear. “Baby, wake up.” Erica murmured something unintelligible and looked up with heavy-lidded eyes.

“I’m sorry that you had to eat cereal,” Ashleigh said softly. “It’s time for you to go to bed.”

Erica rubbed her eyes and blinked. “Have you been crying?”

“I was earlier, it’s nothing bad, though,” Ashleigh said, putting her hand to her face.

Fully awake, concern etched Erica’s brow. “Talk to me.”

“I talked to Vicki tonight.” Ashleigh sat on the corner of Erica’s desk. “It went well. We cried and laughed, it was really good.”

Erica smiled and took Ashleigh’s hand into hers, squeezing gently. “I’m glad for you.”

Ashleigh crinkled her nose. “Are you really glad? Because they asked us over for lunch on Saturday and I accepted.”

Erica looked taken aback for spilt second then masked it with a smile. “Of course.”

“Thank you,” Ashleigh said before placing a kiss on her forehead. “Now I’m going upstairs to run you a bath.” She stood and moved to the door.

“Ash, I’ve got some more work to do.”

“I know,” Ashleigh said as she paused in the doorway. “You have dark circles under your eyes and it’s obvious you’re exhausted. You’ll work more efficiently if you have a good night’s sleep.”

Erica couldn’t argue the point. She didn’t think she had the strength to climb the stairs. She stood and took Ashleigh’s outstretched hand and cut off the light on her way out.

“I hear we have a lunch date,” Kaitlyn said the next morning when she picked up Erica.

Erica handed Kaitlyn a travel mug, then placed hers into the cup holder as she climbed into the car. “Katie, you need to buy a truck or something that doesn’t sit on the ground.” Erica tossed her briefcase into the backseat of Kaitlyn’s Accord.

“This car suits my little body fine. I need to be able to see over the steering wheel,” Kaitlyn said with a yawn. “And quit changing the subject.”

Erica took a sip of her coffee and sighed contentedly. “Yes, we have a lunch date on Saturday. I assume that you and Drew will be joining us.”

“You don’t sound like you’re looking forward to it.” Erica was silent, causing Kaitlyn to glance from the road. “Can you put that away?” Kaitlyn pointed at the cell phone. “We’ll be at the office in a few and you can read your e-mail then.”

Erica sighed and dropped the phone into her lap. “I fell asleep last night and didn’t get anything done. And yes, I’m looking forward to going. I’d like to meet Vicki and Chantal.”

“And you wanna size up Alex, too,” Kaitlyn said with a grin but refused to look away from the road.

So that’s her name, Erica thought, and realized that Ashleigh had never called her by name. “Ashleigh told me she wouldn’t be there. That was the first question I asked her this morning. It’s just going to be Vicki and Chantal. She’s not ready to see everyone else yet.”

Erica had been so sleepy the night before, but the minute her eyes opened that morning, Ashleigh’s ex came to mind. She wondered how Ashleigh would react to seeing her ex. She’d casually questioned Ashleigh as they dressed and found herself relieved and disappointed that she would not be meeting the woman who had turned Ashleigh’s life upside down.

As she collected her things later that morning, she noticed that she’d not shut her computer down the night before. Erica watched as Ashleigh moved to the table and sat to eat her breakfast. Her fingers worked furiously over the keyboard as she searched for pictures of the woman that she’d only caught a glimpse of in the video.

“Hmm, there you are,” Erica whispered as the cover of the debut album filled her screen. She didn’t need to read the list of names in the accompanying press release to know who was who. Ashleigh was facing another band member and the look of total adoration on her face was unmistakable.

Long legs encased in leather led to a long jacket that hung mid-thigh. Her face was to the side, showing only her profile, but her smiling dark eyes were turned to the camera. “I knew you would seek me out,” they seemed to say.

“I hope you’re overweight and frumpy now,” Erica said softly to the taunting image that stared back at her.

“You fall asleep?” Kaitlyn asked as she pulled into the parking lot.

Erica opened her eyes and sat up straight with a yawn and lied. “Yes.”

Kaitlyn killed the engine and put a hand on Erica’s arm when she reached for the door handle. “Are you gonna be okay, really?”

Erica leaned back in the seat and stared out the windshield. “Ashleigh needs to do this and I’m going to support her, but I’m nervous.”

“About?”

Erica looked over at Kaitlyn; a faint smile filled her face. “I’m not really sure.”

Kaitlyn returned the smile. “I’ll be there with you.”

She’d spoken to Vicki on Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday moved at a snail’s pace, giving Ashleigh plenty of time to rethink the lunch idea. She’d tried to push it from her mind, but Drew could talk of nothing else, and Erica didn’t speak of it at all.

Ashleigh stood in her closet looking at rows of clothes; nothing was suitable. She tugged at a pair of shorts and denim button-down shirt. It was a cookout, a casual thing. She settled on the outfit pleased that it seemed to say,
I’m not interested in trying to make an impression
. She wanted to appear nonchalant, even though she was nervous as hell.

Nerves got the better of Ashleigh as they drew closer to Baton Rouge. Ashleigh reached over and took Erica’s free hand as she drove. The warmth of it seemed to cause the nausea to subside. Drew chattered away in the backseat, saving her from having to speak. She was sure if she did, they would notice the bundle of nerves that she’d become.

“I’m looking forward to the Mississippi Mud Pie,” Erica said as she merged onto the interstate. In ten minutes, they’d be on Vicki’s doorstep. “I think you should let me sample it now.”

“It’s good,” Kaitlyn said with a mischievous laugh. “I sampled it this morning.”

Drew looked down at the dish and pulled away the plastic lid. “You shit, you did.”

Drew’s cursing and Kaitlyn and Erica’s laughter helped to put Ashleigh at ease. But when they pulled into the circular drive in front of the brick residence, Ashleigh wasn’t sure she could climb from the vehicle.

“Baby, I’m sure they’re nervous, too.”

Ashleigh looked over at Erica, who now stood at the open door and held out her hand. Drew and Kaitlyn were already standing in the driveway waiting patiently—well, Kaitlyn was. Ashleigh took Erica’s hand and felt herself being led up the driveway. She heard the knock, the sound of the door opening, then finally Vicki’s voice as she greeted Drew and Kaitlyn, who were thankfully ahead of her.

When she found the courage to look up from the ground, Vicki was standing there with teary eyes and her arms open wide. Ashleigh moved into the embrace and felt Vicki’s body tremble with sobs as she held her tight. She could hear Chantal’s familiar voice welcoming Erica into their home. Vicki released her and held her at arm’s length as she stroked her face. “Oh, God, Ash.” Tears streamed down her face, and she pulled her close again, squeezing her as if she were afraid to let go.

“Vic,” Chantal said in mock frustration. “Share.”

Chantal’s smile was huge as she pulled Ashleigh into her arms and hugged her tight. She could still feel Vicki’s hands on her back keeping the connection. “Look at you,” Chantal said as she stepped back. “I’m not lying when I say you’re prettier now. The aging process has been very kind to you.”

“You must be Erica,” Vicki said as she latched onto Erica and hugged her. “It’s so great to meet you.”

“Okay, let’s not stand in the foyer all day.” Chantal took Erica by the arm and led her into the house. Ashleigh felt Vicki drape an arm around her waist as they moved into the den. Drew acted as though she was at home and strolled into the kitchen where she put the dessert in the fridge. “Can I get anyone anything to drink while I’m raiding your refrigerator?”

Vicki moved into the kitchen just off the den as Chantal led Erica to the sofa and gestured for Ashleigh to take a seat next to her. Erica and Chantal were talking, but Ashleigh failed to comprehend any of the conversation. She watched as Vicki and Drew laughed and talked while making drinks as though they were lifelong friends. All of it seemed like a dream. Instead of being a participant, Ashleigh felt as though she were floating along, watching it all unfold.

When Vicki handed Ashleigh a drink, Ashleigh found herself studying the face that she remembered with great affection. Faint lines had formed near Vicki’s eyes and around the corners of her mouth. Her dark hair was shorter and straighter now, but those were the only discernable changes. Her voice as she spoke to Erica was the same as it had always been. She was the same, yet everything was different.