< Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Before she could dwell on the past, she heard Sam call, “Daddy!” Chase’s friends greeted him. Chase responded and said to Tanya, “Happy birthday.”
Tanya smiled. “Thanks.”
“Daddy, you have other gifts for Aunt Tanya, right? Give them to her!”
Silence fell. Then, one of Chase’s friends chuckled, pinching Sam’s cheek. “Those are private gifts. Let it go, haha!”
The others laughed meaningfully.
Chase said, “I already gave them to her.”
“When?” Sam whined, “You went to see Aunt Tanya without me!”
They all laughed. Ashley remembered Tanya at the office that morning. That
Tanya smiled.“Let’s go upstairs.”
was when he gave her the gifts
Their footsteps faded. Ashley felt numb, a sharp pain in her chest. She finally snapped out of it, silently entered the elevator, and helped he friend downstairs. Cindy’s room was on the same floor as Chase’s party. Chase’s friend, Ethan, paused as Ashley helped Cindy into the elevator.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I saw someone.”
They’d grown up with Chase and knew how much Ashley liked him. Ashley was pretty but quiet and nothing special- not Chase’s type. The didn’t like her much either. They rarely saw her and never greeted her. Ethan wasn’t even sure if it was Ashley. Even if it was her, he didn
He went back to the room.
care.
Ashley didn’t notice him. After dropping Cindy off, she stayed to care for her.
Cindy woke up and hugged Ashley, saying, “Thanks! I’m so going to buy you dinner!”
