My Baby Girl

A Familiar Stranger

*Ashley's POV*

We stand there in silence for what seems like hours before I find the courage to speak.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" I ask, swallowing hard.

He runs his hands through his hair nervously before returning them to his jean pockets. His eyes hit the floor, never looking up at me.

"Uh, um, uh, could I come in?" Ryan asks stepping forward.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I say harshly. I step in front of him and close the door behind me, blocking him from any inside view.

"Oh, um, that's ok, um let's sit down." Ryan says, taking a seat on our porch swing. Reluctantly, I follow.

"So," Ryan says after a moment of silence. "It's been a while...hasn't it?"

"Ryan, what are you doing here?" I ask crossly.

"Ashley, I want you to listen to me, ok?" He asks, finally looking into my eyes. I sit back, still trying to comprehend what is happening.

"I've been thinking about, our...situation lately. I've thought a lot about us and, and, Everleigh. In fact, I've spent months, years even, trying to figure out when to see you or what to say to you." He looks away sadly.

"After I saw you tonight at the screening I figured...Well...I-I saw Everleigh up there, um, walking down the carpet. She looks just like you Ash. As I watched her and all her fans, all I kept thinking was, 'That's Everleigh. That's our daughter up there."

I cut him off. "She's not our daughter, she's my daughter. You ruined any chance of that years ago " I say bitterly.

"I-I know Ash."

"Stop calling me that!" I snap.

"ASHLEY!" Ryan says, a little louder than he intended to. I stop short.

"Look, I've had a lot of time to think about everything that happened between us, and I realize that I was wrong! I was so wrong about everything Ash...uh...Ashley."

"Damn right you were! Do you know how much you hurt me? Do you know how much you hurt Everleigh? Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep? Do you know how long I waited for you to come back? I waited, and waited for you Ryan, but you never came back..." My voice trails off and tears spring to my eyes. Ryan's eyes glisten with tears too. He swallows around the lump in his throat.

"Ashley, I'm sorry that things ended like that. I'm sorry that I left, ok? I'm sorry that I never came back to support you and Everleigh. Every day I hate myself more and more for walking away from the people I love. You don't even know how much I regret hurting you. Ashley, I'm so sorry." Ryan says, running his hands across his face to wipe tears away. I turn my cheek and bite my lip to stop the tears from falling.

"Ryan, why did you come here?" I ask calmly, but harshly, while still facing away from him. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Ryan look up. He clears his throat.

"Because I-" he stops and restarts. "Because I'm sorry." he says. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused and the trouble I put you through, I'm sorry for abandoning you when you needed me most, I'm sorry for not being the father Everleigh deserves errr, not a father at all. I'm sorry Ashley. I was a stupid, selfish, jerk who didn't realize how lucky I was to have you, but I realize that now!"

"Ryan, why did you come here?" I ask again through gritted teeth. Ryan looks me directly in the eye.

"I don't want to be absent in Everleigh's life anymore! I regret everything I did and I wish I could turn back time and change things, but I can't. However, I can make it up to you! I can be the father figure that you've always wanted me to be! I want to see Everleigh because she's my daughter too..." Ryan says looking off into the distance. "Look, I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, much less forgive, and I know I don't deserve it, but is there any way you could forgive me? I want a second chance." He hands me a folded piece of paper which I turn over in my hand.

Anger boils inside of me and I explode, jumping off the swing with steam coming out of my ears.

"HOW DARE YOU!" I scream. "How DARE you come marching up to my doorstep, ring my doorbell and just think you can walk right back into our lives, Ryan! You hurt me, so, so, bad. You betrayed me! you abandoned me! You had my heart in the palm of your hand and you crushed it! You tore it into a million pieces and left it on the side of the road because you didn't care about me, or Everleigh, or-or Anyone! You ruined me. You made me feel unworthy, you made me think no one would love me or treat me the same because I have a kid! You modelled a father to Everleigh as a person who can just leave whenever they want! Have you ever thought about how much it must hurt Everleigh to know that her daddy didn't even love her enough to meet her? You don't even know how much it hurts me watching my little girl grow up without a daddy and know I can't do a thing about it! You don't know how heartbreaking it is for me to watch other little girls play with their daddies and listen to them tell their daughters how much they love them! You never even met Everleigh! You didn't even care enough to meet your own daughter! Why? Because you are selfish Ryan, that's why! You only think about yourself and no one else. You don't care about anyone else's feelings except yours! So NO Ryan, you may not see Everleigh, ever! I'm finally happy! You can get in your car and drive away and NEVER come back. I NEVER want to see your face again. I NEVER want to talk to you EVER again! I am SO DONE WITH YOU! Goodbye Ryan." I scream, pointing to the street.

"This was a mistake." Ryan says, turning away with tears streaming down his face. He gets in his car and drives away. As soon as his headlights are completely out of sight, I collapse into the swing and burst into tears. I hug my legs up to my chest and sob my heart out.

I hear the door click but I'm too upset to stop crying. I turn to see Tyler standing there with a concerned look on his face which only makes me cry harder. He immediately rushes to my side and holds me tight.

"Shhh," He says, rubbing my back gently. "It's ok babe, I'm here."

I bury my face into his shoulder, my body shaking with sobs. He holds me closer and kisses my forhead, caressing the back of my head. I sob into his shoulder as he continues to whisper, "it's ok."

Finally I look up, the tears still coming.

"I hate him." I bawl. "I hate him so much."