Ashton was holding Ella's hand while they walked down the street towards the general store. When they walked in, his eyes sought out Trisha. He expected to feel some sort of guilt or maybe suspicion or something else, but he didn't. If he had to say how he felt, he felt normal. She turned and their eyes met. Instead of turning away or avoiding his gaze, she just smiled. Ella pulled on Ashton's hand, wanting to say hi.

He let her go and he turned down the aisles. He walked around, looking at the items on the shelves, refocusing on what he'd come here for originally. What did Nicole like that he didn't have? This was something he thought about every time he came to restock. He had stopped buying pickles because she didn't like them. It was ridiculous, he knew, but to be honest, he didn't miss them. Cottage cheese, maybe? It'd been so long since he had any he couldn't remember if he liked it or not.

Brandy appeared next to him. "Hey, Ashton."

He smiled at her. "Hey. How's Trevor?"

She grinned. "He's doing really good, thanks. He's sleeping right now." She held up a baby monitor. "What are you looking for today?"

He turned back to the fridge and shrugged. "I'm planning a surprise for Nicole, and I'm trying to find something she likes. I just can't decide what."

She looked at the case, studying their reflections. "Are you cooking?" He nodded. "She'll love that. It isn't easy to find a guy who'll cook for the girl." The statement brought color into his cheeks. "It's not a bad thing," she told him, swatting his arm and laughing. "I'm just saying! Anyway, what are you going to make? Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?"

He shrugged. "Lunch, maybe. Breakfast is too early, and dinner is too late. I mean, I want to get it all over with as early as possible."

Brandy's eyebrows rose. "Listening to you it sounds like you're proposing or something." He gave a sheepish smile and shrugged, lowering his eyes. She gently punched his arm. "Shut up!" She hugged him. "That's awesome!" She held him at arm's length. "She'll say yes, so stop worrying so much."

Ashton bit his lip, felt the pain of the cut there, and stopped. "I'm not so worried that she'll say no – it's more actually doing it that scares me."

She nodded, crossing one arm across her chest and cupping her chin with the other. "True. When my hubby proposed, he was so scared. Not that I can blame him." Ashton looked at her. He couldn't blame him, either. Brandy was pretty and that was what intimidated Bryan. He remembered the seemingly endless conversation with him the night before.

"I remember," was all he said. He gave her a small smile. "What should I do?"

She raised a delicately plucked eyebrow. "As far as the food is concerned, make her favorite thing. As far as asking her, don't make a long speech. It makes you more nervous, and us girls are fine without one."

He nodded, turning back to the case. What was her favorite? He knew a lot of things she liked, a few she really liked, but not her one favorite. Great. He sighed. Her parents would probably know. They'd probably like to see Ella, anyway.

"I'll leave you to it," Brandy said, stepping away. "I want to go see my big girl."

As she was walking back up front, it occurred to Ashton that he'd have to talk to Trisha. That hadn't gone so well last time, but he knew she deserved to know what he was going to do. And maybe for him to explain to her better than last time. He sighed. It hurt him to see her hurting. But he turned and went up front, anyway.

Trisha was leaning on the counter, her back to him. He leaned towards her and lightly tapped her shoulder with a smile. She turned and jumped. "Ash!" Her eyes darted to Ella and Brandy. She gave him a smile that was fake. "Do you need something?"

He nodded. "Hey, Brandy," he began, turning to her. "Can you keep an eye on Ella for a few? Trisha and I are going to step in the back to talk."

She nodded. "Of course. Be careful, though – don't wake Trevor."

With a nod, Ashton began walking towards the back and Trisha followed him. Once they were in the back and the door closed, Trisha turned to him. Her eyes were shiny, but she was forcing a smile. It was almost too much for him. He wanted to turn right around and leave, but he forced himself to breathe. "I want to apologize about last time first. I'm still not sure how I got you mad at me, but I'm sorry. I really don't want to lose my friend. I really, really need you." He watched her.

She looked away. "I was mad because you don't like me back," she whispered.

"Really?" She nodded. He chewed on the part of his lip farthest from the cut. That, he supposed, was something he technically shouldn't be sorry for. "Well, I'm not sorry I love Nicole, but I am sorry it hurt you. I never wanted you to feel hurt." He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. When she didn't move, he let his hand drop awkwardly. "Um, there's more I wanted you to know. I'd rather you hear it from me than someone else."

She turned back to him. Her eyes were hard. "What?"

He swallowed. She'd changed so quickly. Where did the tears and pain go? Something wasn't right. "I think my dad is trying to set me up."

Her eyebrows rose, but there was something almost mechanical about it. "What?"

"Dad's setting me up. Look, I don't expect you to believe me, but I just thought you should know. If I do get arrested and charged, I don't want it to blindside you." True enough, but not what he was going to tell her. His mind made up, he didn't say anything else, just watched her.

She nodded. "Okay."

What had happened to his friend? He felt blindsided himself. Had his dad gotten to her, too? He didn't want to believe it, but now he knew. Something was wrong. He nodded and backed away. "Um, I need to go. I, uh, need to go somewhere and speak to someone before I, um, finish my, uh." He motioned to the store. "My shopping."

She nodded and pushed past him. In the light of the door, he noticed she was totally dry-eyed. Had he imagined the tears? The hurt? He didn't think he had. Still, he shivered in the dim lighting of the stock room. Nicole had found her nail where the girl was found. He clenched his teeth and exited the room.

Up front, Ella and Brandy were playing Patty-Cake. He smiled at them. "Hey, thanks for watching her."

Brandy looked up at him. "No problem."

He picked up his sister. "We need to step out, but we'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

He tried to look mysterious, but wasn't sure if he succeeded. "Somewhere." When she laughed after he turned, he thought that maybe he had.

---

Ashton was waiting with Ella that afternoon for Nicole to show up. She hadn't told him she was going to come by, but she usually did, and without prompting. He knew why: she loved where he lived. The woods, she'd told him, was a place she loved. He did too. She came here, even when he wasn't here sometimes, to walk through the woods.

The day grew later. Mid-afternoon, Ella was begging him for a Popsicle – he'd bought some for her – so he got up to get her one out of the fridge. When he reached the kitchen doorway, he came up short. His heart sank, even though he'd been expecting this: the cabinet he'd left open was empty. Inside was a note. He went to the fridge first.

"What flavor do you want?" he asked as he pulled out orange.

"Orange!"

He handed it to her and she ran off. He'd be up late cleaning up orange Popsicle puddles later, but he decided it was worth it if it made her happy. He moved over to the cabinet and picked up the note as he closed the door. Once he sat, he unfolded it. Nicole's writing covered the page.

Ash -

I'm sorry. I'm the one that got you into this mess. If I hadn't gone to your father today, things might not be how they are. I can't tell you this in person because I don't want you to make me feel good by touching my face, whispering in my ear, telling me that this needs to happen. It doesn't have to. I've left the bag in the forest near your house. If you want me to bring it to your dad, leave it. If you don't, do something with it. I don't know what. I left it near a pile of branches outside your bedroom window. Before you decide, here's what your dad told me today: he wants to arrest you. What he planted is more than he needs to warrant your arrest. If I bring it, you'll be arrested before evening tomorrow. You will be awaiting the ride to wherever the trial will be because this will almost certainly go to trial.

I don't want that. I don't want you to leave. Ella doesn't want you to leave. If you did, I don't know what I would do. Please don't make me make you go away. It's worse than knowing you're behind bars down at the city jail, and it hurt knowing you were there, and how you got there. That, too, was all my fault. I don't know what I'm doing. I feel like I'm in over my head. You're the only thing that's kept me grounded and focused and sure. Without you, it's all over. You'll be convicted of something we both know you could never, ever do. Many people here know that, too.

Also, I love you. I want you to stick around for a long time. You know you have all of my heart and I think I have yours. I love everything about you. I love that dimple you get when you give me one of your genuine smiles. I love your eyes. They sparkle sometimes. Sometimes, when you look at me, the love in them takes my breath away for a moment. When you walk through the forest, if we're quiet, you get this look while you study the plants. I can't really explain it, but it's beautiful. When you go for a run, you look so focused.

That's how you are. When you're doing something, that becomes your world for a moment. I get that feeling sometimes when you look at me: like I'm your world. It's amazing.

If you're not upset and you promise you won't make me feel better about this, come see me. I'll be home the rest of the day. I don't think I can force myself to go anywhere else – not even out there to visit you and Ella. We can sit outside while Ella hangs out with my parents.

All my love,

Nicole

Ashton sniffled. He wiped his face. That was the most beautiful thing he'd ever read. If he didn't think he would start crying and Ella would come to check on him, he would have read it again. He folded it and put it in his pocket. Noise stopped coming from the living room, which he knew from experience meant that Ella was up to something. He sighed and went into the living room. A drawing was on the wall near the door. He stifled a laugh. It was a dog. Ella was coloring it in when she turned around. Her mouth and face were covered in melted orange Popsicle.

"You know better than to draw on the wall, Elle," he chastised her. "Come here – let's get you cleaned up so we can go see Nikki. Would you like that?" She nodded vigorously. "Okay. First, let's clean this wall. It's pretty, but you can't be drawing on walls." She nodded slowly, sadly. He shook his head, faint smile on his lips. Kids. At least he kept paint around If scrubbing didn't do the trick.