Heavenly Virtues

Part 34

Ashley woke up squished between her two favorite people. Laying on her back, she looked between her two boys. Pure love and admiration grew in her chest as she watched them peacefully sleep. She shimmied out from between them and off the end of the bed. She got dressed, throwing a sweater over her shirt, and grabbed a piece of paper.

Boys,

Went to grab breakfast, gonna swing by the pub, and talk to my granda. Be back soon. Love you, xoxo

-Ashley

As she sighed her name, she realized it was the first time she had ever signed a note with her actual name. Not lass like she used to. She looked at her boys again, still sleeping and snoring ever so slightly.

She threw on her jacket and gloves, wishing for warmer weather soon, and made her way to the pub. It was late, about 11 am, they had slept in quite a bit. Ashley figured her granda would be at the pub already, and as she strode in from the brisk outside, she found she was right.

He was behind the counter, getting ready for the day. "Hey Granda!" She said with a smile as she sat at the bar. "A-A-Ashley, how ye doin dear?" She turned from side to side it the rotating bar stool "I'm good, I just wanted to stop by to invite you to our place for Thanksgiving, I know it's short notice but with everything that's been happening we haven't really had much time to plan." He beamed a smile at her."I'd l-love ta lass FUCK!ASS!" She smiled at him and nodded.

"Alright, Sunday, let's say be there by noon, we'll eat at three?" He nodded to her as he wiped down the counter, his smile causing his cheeks to push his glasses up on his face. "Awesome, okay, I love ya granda. We'll see you then. He waved to her with a goodbye as she braved the weather to the diner.

The ding of the door bell caught Darlene and Sal's attention. "Ashley! How have you been girl! Darlene told me you stopped by the other day! We were so worried about you!" She heard Sal yell from the kitchen through the small pass through window. "I've been good Sal, I'm coming back Monday. I'll be back to bugging you in no time." She joked as she neared the counter. "How ya doin hun?" Darlene asked, leaning onto the counter.

"I'm good, just stopping by to grab breakfast for the boys." She rolled her eyes with a smile. "The usual?" Sal yelled from the back. "Yes please Sal!" She yelled back sweetly. "I actually wanted to stop by and ask you if you'd wanna come to a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday at our place? It's completely last minute and probably won't be anything fancy, but I wanted to get everyone together."

Darlene nodded and place a hand on her heart. "Oh darlin, that'd be lovely. My kids are halfway across the country and I never get to see them during the holidays! I can't wait!" She smiled and relayed the time before asking Sal if he'd be free. "I'd love to, but the misses wants us to spend it together with her parents in New York." He said with an eye roll. They both laughed "well if you are able to escape those plans the invitation is open." He laughed again.

They all chatted together til her food was ready, she said goodbye to them and made the short walk back to the apartment. She was thankful the boys lived just down the street from the diner, it would make her walks to work a little less unbearable, especially in the winter.

When she entered the apartment Connor was showering and Murphy was butt ass naked on the toilet. "Jesus boys! We really need curtains! Just some sort of shield from the toilet to the door!" She laughed. Connor turned to her and shimmied under the water "what ye don' like walking inta us naked?" She laughed as she shrugged off her coat. "I don't mind it at all if you're in the shower. I'm not crazy about the visual of Murphy shitting though." She laughed. Murphy continued to read the news paper, barely looking at her "it's natural love." She laughed.