“Daddy said you would.”
Ashley sat down on the couch. Marley stood in front of her holding onto her daddy saying, “Daddy told me my mother was very young when I was born and still in school. Your mother wanted you to finish school.”
“That's why I lived with Grandma and Grandpa while Daddy finished school. When I asked Daddy about you he said I would see you someday. He promised and now you’re here!” she exclaimed.
Ashley was shocked that Charles had spoken so highly of her. She looked up at Charles and saw the two people that loved her most in this world were right in the room.
Marley asked, “Are you moving in the house now?”
Ashley said, “I would like to stay in the guesthouse for a while. If that's okay with you, Charles.”
He answered, “Yes, that is fine.”
Marley said, “When you were in the hospital me and Daddy went to see you. Daddy went to talk to the doctor, and I stayed in your room with you.”
“I remember the day you were hit by that car, you reached out for me. So, I held your hand and it felt funny. You squeezed my hand and then you woke up and stared at me. I came everyday to sit with you.” Marley recalled.
“When the doctor said you could go home I asked Daddy if you could stay with us until you remembered who you were, and he said you could!”
“The next day when me, and Daddy came to get you, Daddy went to sign you out. I went into your room and you asked me if I was your daughter. I said, ‘No.’ But, I was wrong!”
Marley started to cry, asking, “Mama, can I hug you?”
Ashley, crying too, reached for her little girl.
Marley climbed in her mother's lap and hugged her saying, “I feel it again.”
Ashley saying, “I feel it, too.”
Charles kneeled down in front of them and said, “I love you, Ashley. I love you both.” Ashley touched Charles face and said to him, “I need time.”
Marley looked at her daddy and said, “Remember, Daddy, you said to give her time.”
Ashley smiled at Charles.
Marley hugged her father and said, “You promised me I would be with my mother and she's here. Thanks, Daddy.”
Charles looked at Ashley and nodded his head yes, then kissed both of his girls on the forehead and said to them, “Let's have lunch.”
Marley asked, “After lunch, can we go visit Grandma and Grandpa’s grave?”
“I want to tell them my mama is home!”
So, they ate lunch and went to visit his parents’ grave.
Chapter Four
Charles and Ashley were sitting on a bench. Marley was at the graves.
Charles told Ashley about his parents and how much his mother wanted him to look for her. He said they loved Marley so much and she loved following her grandpa around the ranch. They would take long evening walks together.
Ashley smiles and says, “Look at my baby, I told Tiffany my baby died. It hurt me to tell her a lie like that.”
Charles said, “Tiffany knows. When they came over after the funeral, everyone thought Marley’s mother was from around here and left the baby with my parents and took off.”
“That's what my mom said to tell them, everyone but Marley.”
“One evening, Tiffany asked me to take a walk with her. She asked me who named Marley.”
When I said her mother did, she said, “Ashley did.”
“Tiffany knew then that I was the one that attacked you that night. I asked her how she possibly knew.”
“She said, ‘Marley was Ashley's twin sister. She died in a fire when they were four years old.’”
“She said, ‘Marley looks like Ashley and Ashley thought the baby died.’”
“She wanted to know how I got Marley. I told her how I found the baby and adopted her.”
“I tried to explain that night but she got angry. She said, she would never tell Dru, because that was a promise she made to you. She said you didn't know it was me.”
Charles added, “I didn't know you were a twin.”
Ashley said, “I really can't remember her, we were only four. That's how I got the burn on my face.”
“I only remember her name and Tiffany only remembers what my parents told us. That's how she knew the name Marley.”
Charles said, “She told me that no matter what you wanted to do about Marley, she would stand by you.”
“Tiffany warmed up to me later. She stays in touch with Marley.”
Ashley said, “When I said I wanted to find you she was trying to tell me something. I guess she was waiting for me to tell her.”
“I was so angry with you when I saw you standing with Marley at the feed store.”
Marley came back over to where her parents were and asked her father, “Why didn't you know who my mom was when she was in the hospital?”
Ashley said, “I had a scar removed from my face. It made my face look different because the doctors had to pull back the skin on my face.”
“I had long beautiful hair like yours.”
Then she told her daughter about her twin sister. “That's how you got your name.”
Charles said to Marley, “I haven't seen your mother in a long time, but I see her now. I still love what I see.”
“Let's go out tonight, we can go shopping. I would love to take my girls shopping and then to the amusement park.”
“We can have dinner in town.”
They spent the evening out together when they returned home it was late and Marley was sleepy.
She kissed her parents goodnight, then she went upstairs to get ready for bed.
Charles and Ashley talked for a little while longer. They were both getting tired.
Ashley asked him “Could I go upstairs to check on Marley?”
Charles said, “Sure you can.” Charles started locking up downstairs.
After awhile he noticed that Ashley never came back down the stairs. He went upstairs and he found her asleep in the bed with Marley. He kissed them goodnight and went to his own bed.
The next morning was Sunday. They had breakfast and went to church together.
When they got back from church, Charles said to Marley, “Let's get changed and check on the colts, and you can feed the animals.”
Marley went to change, Ashley asked, “Can I use your computer?”
“I need to check on my accounts because of my purse being stolen and I need to make some calls.”
Charles said, “Go ahead.”
He went upstairs to change. Charles and Marley went out to the stables.
Later Charles came back in the house and heard Ashley talking to her ex-husband. He told her he had cancelled her credit cards because someone was trying to use them, but that her bank account was okay.
He said that he had been trying to call her for months. He asked her if she was okay.
She answered him, “Yes.” She talked with him for a while longer and then hung up and she put her head down on the desk.
Charles asked, “Is everything ok? Are you alright.”
She said, “Yes, I'm fine.”
She walked to the couch and said to Charles, “You told me that if the DNA test said Marley wasn't your child, you would have taken her anyways because she was a part of me.”
Charles sat down beside her, asking, “What's wrong?”
She said, “When we found out I couldn't have kids I told my husband we could adopt. He said he didn't want someone else’s child. That he would never take care of a child that was not his.” Ashley continued. “All the love I had for him died at that moment.”
Charles asked her, “Why didn't you look for her when you finished college?”
“What if I had, not knowing he felt that way?” Ashley laid her head on his shoulder and said, “I'm glad she was with you.”
He hugged Ashley and said, “I'm glad you are with us! I love you, and I want us to be a family.”
He added, “I want to marry you. I've always loved you.”
&n
bsp; “Every time I look at Marley I love you even more. If you need time, then, Baby, take your time, but don't leave here.”
“I want you here. You can get a job at the firm, anything to keep you in my life.”
“I lost you once. That was my fault.”
“I don't want to think about that. Let that be our past.” she replied. “Can we start now, as a family?”
Marley came in saying she was hungry and sat down on her mother's lap.
Charles kissed Marley on her cheek and said, “You two relax. I'll make lunch.”
Ashley told Marley, “I need to go and change clothes. Come with me.”
While Ashley was changing, Marley asked her mother “Where are your parent? I’ve never met them.”
“Grandma said that when you came you would tell me about them.”
“Do you think one day they will come visit?”
She told Ashley, “I have two sets of great grandparents. They all live in Texas.”
“Grams lives on a ranch, too. They are daddy's mother’s mama. My other grams don’t live far from them, they are granddaddy's parents.”
“They all came when Grandma and Grandpa died. Last summer me and Daddy went to visit them. We usually go with Grandpa and Grandma, but it was just me and Daddy last summer.”
“Uncle Andrew and Aunt Linda live there. My cousin, Dru, and his wife came, too. Her name is Tiffany, she was very nice to me. She even took me shopping.”
“She and Cousin Dru took me and my other cousins to a rodeo. It was fun.”
Ashley said, “I know Tiffany, she was my best friend. I went to see her and your cousin Dru before I came here.”
Marley exclaimed, “You know Tiffany!”
Ashley said, “Let's go eat, I'll tell you the story about Tiffany and me and how we met your cousin Dru and your Daddy.”
After lunch, they went outside on the swings. She told her daughter how they all met that summer. About all the fun she and Tiffany had with Charles and Dru, and that when the summer was over she and Tiffany went back to school.
“It was our last year of high school and your cousin Dru and your daddy went off to college.”
“When I found out that I was pregnant with you, I stayed in school until you were born. Later I went back and finished.”
“I went to college. That's where I saw Tiffany again. My parents weren't able to keep you so Charles’ parents took you and he finished law school.”
“I finished the next year.” That's the story Charles told Ashley he told Marley.
She said to Marley, “I met someone else and I married him, but it didn't work out, so we got a divorce.”
Ashley continued, “I am so sorry it took me so long to come see you. I knew you were safe.”
Marley said, “’That was then.’ My grandma said to me , ‘When you do see your mother, no matter how long it takes, and what ever she tells you just remember that, that was then and this is now, and now is what matters.’”
Marley said to her mom “I'm glad you’re here.”
Ashley hugged her daughter and said, “I love you, and I wish I had had a chance to meet your grandparents. They sound amazing.”
They started swinging. Charles came out to join them, they swung for a while.
Marley said, “Let's walk around the ranch like me and grandpa used to do.”
“Daddy, when I get tired you got to carry me on your back like grandpa did.”
Dad agreed and said, “Let's go.”
They went for a long walk, came back, and watched television together.
That evening they went out for dinner. The next morning Marley went off to school.
Charles and Ashley went to work.
Ashley called Tiffany and Tiffany asked, “Where have you been, I've been calling you for months? Are you back in Arizona?”
She said, “No I'm in Promise, Texas, with Charles.”
“I had an accident, I was in the hospital for a while, but Charles is letting me stay in his guesthouse.”
Tiffany says, “Are you alright now?”
She replied, “Yes, but I need to talk to you about Marley.”
Tiffany said, “Yes you do, Charles told us a story about a girl from Promise, but I knew that wasn't true.”
“When I first saw Marley, she looked just like you, and the name Marley, I knew you were her mother.”
“I knew then that Charles was the one that attacked you that night. You told me that your baby died. Why did you say that?”
Ashley said, “I don't know, I thought she was gone and I would never see her again.”
“I'm sorry for lying to you,” Ashley said.
Tiffany asked, “When you came here, you knew Charles had her then, didn't you?”
She answered “Yes.”
Tiffany asked Ashley, “Why didn't you tell me then?”
“I didn't tell you, Ashley, because I wasn't sure if you knew already.”
Ashley answered, “I knew you wanted to tell me something.”
Tiffany said, “I wanted to call Charles and tell him you were headed there, but then I thought, ‘It has been nearly nine years ago and that's between you and Charles.’”
“So, what happens now?” she asked.
Ashley said, “I can't leave her.”
Tiffany asked, “What about Charles?”
Ashley replied, “I don't know. I came here so full of hate that I had an accident and ended up in the hospital.”
“They both stood by me and I didn't remember who they were. He took me in and cared for me for months.”
“When I remembered, at first Charles was shocked, and then he was glad I was there.”
“I thought Marley was going to hate me, but so much love poured out of her.”
“I wanted him to pay for what he did to me. But through the heart of that little girl he lifted me up so high.”
“Right now I don't know what to feel about him, or how to understand him.”
“All I know is I'm not leaving my daughter and she's not leaving her father.”
Tiffany said, “He loves you Ashley. When I was talking to him, I wanted him to pay, too. But, I think we both know he did.”
“I know you see it in Marley.” Tiffany continued, “She's beautiful because that's the way her daddy raised her.”
“He knew he was setting himself up for when he got custody. He still didn't care, he wanted her to be with family, and he wanted his daughter.”
“What if she was with strangers that didn't love her? So many children are abused by foster and adoptive families.”
“He wanted his daughter safe.” Tiffany added.
“So, Ashley, what ever you want to do, I'm with you, but I need you to promise me something now.”
Ashley asked, “What?”
Tiffany said, “When you left here to go see Charles, I told Dru you were Marley's mom and you got pregnant by Charles, but you didn't put your baby up for adoption your parents did because of your age.”
“Dru doesn't know about the attack, so whatever you and Charles decide. Promise me that you will never tell my husband the truth.”
Ashley replied, “I think that's best for the whole family. This family is very close and now I'm a part of it.”
“But I will stand by you anytime.” Tiff vowed.
Ashley said, “I won’t hurt Marley. I love her so much and Charles never talked bad about me to her.”
“She always believed him and even his parents talked to her positively about me and they didn't even know me.”
Tiffany said to her, “They knew you through Charles. They were beautiful people and Marley was their life.”
“They were so proud to be her grandparents. It was so hard for her when they died.”
Tiffany told Ashley that she had to go because she was due in court and to call her later. They both hung up their phones.
Charles walked into the area where Ashley was working and said, “Hey, you are on the payroll now.”
&n
bsp; “These are your first two cases, let me know if you need help.”
She looked at Charles and he said, “Get your paper work done.”
He winked at her, she watched him walk away. All she saw was a strong man that was loving and caring.
She got her two cases set and ready for court. Two weeks later Ashley won both cases.
That evening Charles went into Ashley's office and told her he would be home later because he had a meeting to attend.
Ashley went home to Marley. They had supper together and talked about Marley's day at school.
Marley asked her mom, “Do you want to see some home videos of me that grandpa recorded when I was younger?”
Her mom answered, “I would love to see them!”
They went upstairs to Marley's room and watched the videos together. Ashley started to cry while watching the videos.
Marley asked her mom, “Do you want me to turn it off because I didn't mean to upset you.”
Ashley replied, “No, I'm just glad to have the opportunity to see you when you were younger.”
Ashley hugged her baby girl and they continued watching the videos.
After an hour, Marley fell asleep and Ashley finished watching the videos that Marley had sitting on the desk in her room.
After she watched them she began putting them back where they belonged and went downstairs to wait for Charles.
Charles came home from his meeting. Ashley told him that she watched the videos of Marley growing up.
Ashley said to Charles, “I'm glad I had the chance to see her grow up on the videos, because I thought I had missed that time in her life.” Ashley told Charles, “I’m staying in Marley’s room with her tonight.”
They said goodnight to each other. Ashley went into Marley's room, kissed her on the forehead, and went to sleep.
Her feelings for Charles strengthened, but she could not tell him, yet she needed to tell someone.
The next morning she told Charles she was driving her car to work because there was something she wanted to do that evening.
That evening Ashley went to Charles parents’ grave.
She sat on the ground by the graves. She started talking to his mother, telling her that she was so confused about Charles.
She said that she loved him for the way he raised Marley. But, she hated him for what he did to her.
Stolen Love Page 3
