“I’ve missed you, Ash. These past few days…I’ve really missed you.”

I didn’t mean to admit it so early, but it was still just as true. The second I locked eyes with her all I could think about was how it had been way too long since it last happened.

“I’ve missed you too, Spence.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course. And I was stupid. I was really fucking stupid to let you go around thinking this had anything to do with you. I was just really, really surprised, you know? And I didn’t want to believe it, but I also knew that you wouldn’t lie to me,” she said, grabbing my hand before continuing, “you are so important to me. And I’m so glad I have you in my life despite all the fucked up shit I’ve done. I know I don’t deserve you.”

“No, you deserve…”

“Spence, wait…”

“No, I have to say this. Because you’re about to say something wildly untrue and I won’t let you. Ashley, you deserve so much more than you know. So much.”

“My daughter?” she asked, her voice breaking in a way that nearly ripped my heart to shreds.

“Of course! And the only thing that stands in the way of you having her is my dick of a brother. But we’re going to change that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know a guy who wants to help. A lawyer. And my brother—well before he knew—he said some things to me that might help us. I mean, it’s my word versus his, but in the very least we’ve got you a lawyer.”

“It’s not fair to ask you to help.”

“She’s my niece, Ash. She’s my niece. And yes, my brother loves her as much as he possibly can. But she deserves to have her mother too.”

We sat on that corner, in my old neighborhood with my family only seconds away and we agreed that Ashley had no choice but to fight for her daughter. My niece. And we agreed on something else as well.

“You know what this means, right?” I said, the relief washing over me.

“What?”

“You can stop doing this. We can stop living at the Dennison House. You and me, we can get out of this…this life.”

“I don’t know where this is coming from.”

“You can stop saving. Harry wants to do this pro bono. And you were saving to get a lawyer who could take on Glen. Well, you have it. What else are you waiting for?”