Ashley met her gaze. "Huh?"
"What was that look for? What did I say?" she asked.
"Nothing," Ashley said quickly, sticking a taco in her mouth.
"Liar," Jenni said. "Something happened. Is everything okay between you and Taylor? Isaac told me that you have been helping him clean house in the mornings before you go to work for this past month or so…"
"Yeah," Ashley said.
"What happened?" Jenni asked, sitting her salad on the table and leaning forward in concern. "Did…you two have a falling out?"
Ashley felt familiar tears welling up in her eyes. "No. No, it was…so wonderful. We were in the museum and…we kissed. I'd never felt anything so wonderful. It was so hard to just…and then we went to discuss it. The only thing we could come up with was to just…stop. We can't do this anymore, Jen. It was a mutual decision. The whole time I'm with him, I have to remind myself 'Thou shalt not commit adultery'. I have to remind myself that he's not mine; that he's got a family that he adores."
She dropped her head into her hands. "We agreed that we shouldn't see each other anymore."
"Oh, Ashley," Jenni sighed, her eyes filling with tears as well. "That's so awful."
"I know," Ashley said. "We just couldn't control ourselves."
Jenni poked at her salad. "This is so depressing."
"Tell me about it," Ashley said.
Jenni looked at Ashley. "So, do you still want to be in the wedding? I know Taylor will be there…along with the rest of the bunch."
Ashley nodded. "Jenni, I know how much it means to you. Of course I'll still be in it. As long as I find a decent dress."
Jenni smiled slightly. "That's right. Are you about ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Ashley said softly. Jenni stood up and smiled, patting Ashley on the shoulder. "It always works out in the end, Ashley. Even if you have to wait 26 years…it'll happen. Trust me. I know."
Ashley smiled at Jenni. She remembered the little spitfire she had once been, punching out Jenni because she thought the girl was trying to move in on her best friend. How haughty and brave she had been. However, when the real danger came near - the thing that would cause the most turmoil in her life - she would tuck tail and run. She wished she could muster just an ounce of her childhood self and burst into Taylor's home, bringing his home life crashing down.
It was selfish, spoiled, cruel, and inconsiderate though. Ashley realized that it wasn't the mature thing to do. She was a grown woman and was expected to act that way. Her father's talk with her the night before was fresh on her mind. Ashley had just about decided that it was time to move on. Even if it killed her.
