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Ashley walks in the kitchen to find Dave grading papers. He looks up when she comes down.
"Can't sleep?" He asked.
Ashley shook her head no. Usually Ashley talked to her mom or Kirsten about her problems, but well you know.
"Pull up a chair." He said smiling.
She sat next to her father.
"What's bothering you?" He asked.
"I had a nightmare." Ashley said.
"About what?" Dave asked.
"Mom." She said.
"Oh." Dave said in a whisper. He took Ashley's hands.
"Honey. I know you usually tell mom your problems and what's going on in your life, but you know what." He said. "You still can. Mary-Kate told me you've been having nightmares about mom, and you should talk to mom about them. I know she is sick right now, but she still loves you." He said pausing. "Mom me to wait to give this to you, but, well I think you need it now." He said handing her a letter.
He stood up, grabbed his papers and laptop and kissed Ashley on the cheek, then went upstairs.
Scene 20: A letter from Mom
Mary-Kate and Ashley's room
Ashley went back to her room and read the letter.
Dear Ashley:
I wrote this poem especially for you. I hope you like it.
The relationship between a mother and a daughter is comprised of a very deep understanding of and support for each other.
It is based on an enormous amount of emotion and love.
There is no relationship in the world where two women are so much like one.
Mom, you and I are blessed with this relationship.
I thank God for it and I thank you. (Really written by by Stefani Taylor.)
Ashley you're the greatest daughter a woman can have. I love you. If you ever need to talk to mommy, remember I am and always will be with you. Put your hand to your heart.
Ashley did this.
That is where I will be. I love you sweetie and we will see each other again. Take care of your dad and bothers and sisters. And honey move on in life, you have a great future a head of you. I love you.
Mom
Ashley wiped tears form her eyes.
"I love you to mom." Ashley said.
"What?" Mary-Kate asked confused waking up again.
"Mary-Kate open your letter mom gave you." Ashley said.
Mary-Kate sat up.
"What letter?" She asked.
"Mom left us letters. Go ask dad for yours." Ashley said.
"No. I don't want to." She said.
"But Mary-Kate." Ashley said.
"No Ashley!" She yelled and tried to go back to sleep.
Ashley put the letter back in the envelope and put it under her pillow. She went to sleep.
Scene 21: Kirsten takes charge
Mary-Kate and Ashley's room
Kirsten walks into the girl's room. She shakes Mary-Kate then Ashley.
"Guys get up." She said.
Ashley shook her head no and Mary-Kate whined no.
"Right now." Kirsten clapped.
Mary-Kate sat up.
"I don't feel well." She said.
Kirsten sighed.
"Mary-Kate you're going to school. You're not getting out of it this time." She said frustrated.
"But I really feel sick." Mary-Kate said.
"Let's go!" Kirsten yelled and went to wake up the others.
Scene 22: Late!
Kitchen
Kirsten walks downstairs in her pajamas to find her dad.
"You're not going to college?" he asked.
"Today is my day off, remember dad." Kirsten said.
"Right." Dave said kind of out of it. He kissed his daughter on the forehead and left for school with Matthew and Cali.
Ashley comes running down the steps.
"Kirsten! We're late. Can you give us a ride?" Ashley asked in a panic.
Kirsten sighed.
"Maybe if you would have gotten up when I told you." Kirsten said following Ashley up the steps to quickly change.
Scene 23: Together again
Library/coffee house
After Kirsten dropped Mary-Kate and Ashley off, she went home to clean. When she was finished, she got dressed and headed to the library. Kirsten couldn't find the book she needed for her report, so she decided to get a cup of coffee at the joined coffee house. She fixed her coffee and headed to the door when...
"Kirsten?" A voice said.
Kirsten whirled around to find Ben, and he looked better than ever. She smiled and gave him a friendly hug.
"How are you?" Kirsten asked.
"Good. How are you? How's your mom doing??" Ben asked.
"Not so good. Dad told me last night she only has a little more to live. The treatment isn't working." Kirsten said almost crying.
Ben hugged her like old times.
"Do the others know?" He asked.
"No." She said.
Ben nodded sympathetic.
"Well I'd love to catch up with you. Do you want to sit down?" Ben asked smiling. He has still loved Kirsten since the day she broke up with him and hasn't loved anyone since.
"Sure." She said smiling back.
All of a sudden, Kirsten's cell phone rang.
"Hello?" She asked annoyed.
"Okay. I'll be right there." She said and hung up.
"I'm sorry. I have to go pick up Mary-Kate. Can I take a rain check?" Kirsten asked flirting.
Ben smiled.
"Sure. When are you free?" He asked.
"I'm not sure." Kirsten said laughing. "Since my mom's been in the hospital, I've sort have taken the responsibility for my siblings. How about Thursday morning?" Kirsten asked.
"Thursday day morning would be great. Wait. Thursday Morning?" He asked.
"It's just that I have to drive Matthew to soccer and Ashley to dance, and Cali usually has a play date Thursday afternoons." Kirsten said.
Ben noticed Kirsten had changed. He decided this time he wasn't going to screw things up. He was going to love Kirsten and always be there for her.
"You probably don't want to see me now right?" Kirsten asked feeling down.
Ben smiled.
"I was just thinking of how much I missed you. I'll pick you up Thursday." Ben said kissing her on the cheek, then left.
She smiles and heads for the high school.
Scene 24: Nurse call
School nurses office
Kirsten walks in the nurse's office to find Mary-Kate lying down reading a magazine. The nurse pulls Kirsten aside. She was a friend with the family.
"How is your mom doing?" She asked concerned.
"Umm. She's okay." Kirsten lied, not wanting Mary-Kate to over hear.
The nurse looked at Mary-Kate, then Kirsten.
"She doesn't have a fever, but I think her heart is broke. Maybe you should talk to your father about taking Mary-Kate to a psychiatrist. She is holding in her feelings and that's not good. I tried talking to her, but she wouldn't open up. I think she is taking it pretty hard." The nurse said.
"We all are!" Kirsten yelled, then stopped. She put her hand on the nurse's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I've just been so stressed. I'll talk to my dad about it." She said.
The nurse gave her one last hug and Kirsten left with Mary-Kate.
Scene 25: Sister to Sister talk
Kitchen
Kirsten and Mary-Kate walk in the empty house. Mary-Kate was about to go upstairs, when Kirsten pulls her back by her shirt.
"Sit down a sec, okay." Kirsten said patiently.
'Great another lecture.' Mary-Kate thought. She sat down and didn't look her sister in the face.
"What's really going on MK? Level with me." Kirsten said.
"I don't feel well." Mary-Kate said.
"Mary-Kate I know life seems really hard right now, but it will all get better. The problem is in order for it to get better we have to stick together. You, me, Ashley, Matthew, Cali, dad and mom." Kirsten explained. "Now if you don't want to talk to me about your feelings, or anyone in the family, maybe you should talk to a professional." Kirsten said.
"I don't need a shrink!" Mary-Kate yelled.
Kirsten grabbed Mary-Kate's hands.
"You need to tell someone what you are feeling, you can't keep it bottled up Mary-Kate." Kirsten said.
A tear trickled down Mary-Kate's cheek, then another. Soon a waterfall poured. Kirsten pulled Mary-Kate close and hugged her as she cried.
"I'm scared." Mary-Kate cried. "How are we going to live without mom? She can't die! It's not fair!" Mary-Kate sobbed.
Kirsten hugged her sister.
"I know it's not fair, but we have to deal with this. God has given us a problem and we need to solve it. I know we might not see mom for a while, but we will again. Right now we should spend as much time with her as ossible." Kirsten said hugging her. "We have to pick Cali up from the bus stop, then lets go visit mom." Kirsten said.
They left still teary eyed.
