Room Mates

9

Ashley's pov ***

  "Finally! Saturday has arrived!" Anna is cooking breakfast with Natalie and Jillian. All the other females are with me. I will be eating breakfast in my dining room. That is a first for me.

  Stephanie is almost as excited as I am. It is nice to see my old sister back. "Doc, you should ride a horse to your wedding. That would be neat!"

  "Her name is Ashley. Not doc, Lori." Mother told her.

  "Mallory can call me doc. Just about everyone does. I don't  mind. I worked hard for my degree."

   "To her, you should be auntie or just Ashley."

   "Actually, my name is Doctor Ashley Carrington. Soon to be Hunt. It is a respect that I have earned. If my niece wants to call me doc, then she will call me doc."

   She opened her mouth to speak.  I raised an eyebrow. Mother shut her mouth.

  "Mommy?"

  "Yes sweetheart?"

  "Can I call her doc?"

   "Yes you can. If Ash doesn't mind, then no other opinions matter." Mallory smiled.

  "When you marry, Mallory, I will let you ride a horse."

   "Cool! Thank you, doc!" Mallory threw her arms around me. I returned the hug.

  "You're welcome, sweetheart! I'm so glad that you are here for my wedding! You look adorable in your dress. You look like a princess."

  "I am a princess! That's what mommy calls me."

  "Well if mommy calls you a princess, then you are one!"

  "I'm happy that I got to meet you! I love you, doc!"

   I have tears in my eyes as I hug her tightly. "I love you too, sweetheart! Forever and always!" It had been so long since anyone from my family said those three words to me.

   Anna, Jillian, and Natalie enter the house with arms loaded with food. They sat it all on the counter top. I only have a small kitchen. We all fix our plates and Anna says grace before we eat.

  "Doc, why is your kitchen so small?"

  "Lori!" Steph gasped.

  I chuckled. "Because I don't need a bigger kitchen. This is the first time that this table has been used. I eat at the main house every meal. I am usually working all day and don't have time to cook. Momma Anna cooks delicious food all the time."

  "Oh! Ok! This is good food, Ms. Anna!"

  "Thank you, Ms. Mallory! You're so sweet!"

  "Momma says that I'm awesome!" Mallory turns to her momma. "When doc marries Trevor. Does that make him my uncle?"

  "It does. You will have four uncles. Isn't that cool?"

  "Its awesome! I think he will be my favorite uncle. He lives with horsies!" She clapped her hands excitedly.

  We all laughed with her. "Does that make Trace and Drake my uncle's too? And Natalie and Jillian, my aunts?" Before Stephanie could answer, Mallory looked at Jilly and Nat. "Will you be my aunts, like doc?"

  "I will be delighted to be your aunt!" Jilly answered.

  "Look mom! You were right. Ashley gave us our first niece." Nat said. "And she's adorable!"

  Anna smiled hugely.

  "Life is awesome! This is all that I have ever wanted. A close family, a man waiting to marry me and love me with his whole heart. I love all of you!" I had tears in my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.