Ashling

Chapter 58

I didn't get a good sleep last night. Truth be told, I hardly slept. I had to work on three cases, courtesy of my darling boss who very gladly burdened me with them.

So naturally, my mood is fluctuating between grumpy and annoyed. All I need is a hot, ginormous cup of coffee and maybe my mind will kick-start again. In my haste to get to my office as soon as possible, I don't watch where I'm headed and bump into someone.

"I'm so sorry." I apologize to the man standing before me, holding his arms so that he won't trip.

"Ah! You're here! I got good news!"

I stare blankly at him and blink a few times. "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Dolan is such a nice man. He was so polite with me and completely understood my past. In short, I got the job!"

I squint my eyes, and take a careful look at him. My mouth hangs open and my eyes open wide as I realize that the man standing in front of me is Edward Johnson.

"No. Fucking. Way." I whisper as I run outside to the spot where he used to sit. It's empty. It is indeed him!

I quickly come back inside and see that he has an amused expression on his face. "Well son, I think it's about time you need glasses."

"Holy shit! It's you!" I gasp as I express my shock. I can't help but be startled. The old man who used to wear a torn jacket and jeans with a dirty pair of slippers, is now wearing a clean, crisp shirt with pants and his shoes are sparkling black. His beard is trimmed and his hair is properly combed to a side. He doesn't even look old anymore!

"Watch me swoon all the ladies in here." He jokes and I let out a loud laugh.

When I finally control over my bubbling laughter, he says, "I'm tellin' ya, my cleaning skills will get me laid."

I burst out laughing again. This is the first time I've seen him so happy and be so frank. He's literally glowing with happiness right now. Without thinking twice, I pull him into a hug.

"I'm really happy for you. I'm so glad you got this job."

He pats my back and whispers a "thank you".

I pull back and nod at him. "You're gonna break my record of 'who got laid the most'."

He chuckles. "Tyler Chase, is it?"

"That's me, yes."

"Thank you, son."

The way he calls me son makes me feel so loved and appreciated, I don't think I ever want him to address me by my name. And I'm glad he doesn't.

I give him another nod and turn around to leave. A soft, distant voice, almost like a whisper, rings in my head.

"I'm so proud of you, Tyler."

I close my eyes as a piece of the dream flashes in my mind; we were in the truck and she said this to me before she got out and went inside her house.

Instead of letting it hurt me, I embrace the memory and smile as the magnitude of her words finally make me feel proud of myself.

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It's been an hour.

An hour of me sitting on the porch. An hour of waiting outside the house I once used to call home. I can't bring myself to knock on the door. It's been precisely nine years since I set foot in this house, and I haven't seen the people inside since the past two years.

My parents.

I don't know what impulse bought me here. I had no intention of coming. But what Todd said yesterday, that there's no use holding a grudge, it has been constantly ringing in my head like a freaking wedding bell. And so here I am.