Our Second Chance

Chapter Six

A loud knocking at the door disturbed Josie from Lucy's party. "I'll be right back." She said, softly, sitting Lucy in her mom's lap and heading to the door. She opened the door and her eyes widened. "Della."

Della, Luke, and Ashton stood on Josie's front porch, a big birthday gift bag in Della's hand. "Josie! Oh god, I've missed you." Della said, sitting the bag down and pulling Josie into a bear hug. Josie's arms hesitantly went up to hug Della back.

"It's good to see you, Jo." Luke said, resting a hand on Josie's shoulder after Della released her. "W-Wh-." Josie cleared her throat and shook her head. "What are you guys doing here?" Della grinned. "Well, Josie, Love. We're here for little miss Lucy's birthday. Surely, you wouldn't make her father, uncle, and aunt miss the day."

Josie's jaw dropped slightly. "Mommy!" Lucy squealed, running up to Josie. "Mommy, look what Nana and Papa got me!" Lucy's little arms managed to drag a teddy bear - the size of Ashton and Luke combined - up to the door.

Josie laughed and picked Lucy up. "That's quite a teddy they got you." Lucy giggled and nodded. "I love it, mommy!" Josie smiled and pressed a kiss to Lucy's forehead. "Lucy, would you like to meet some of mommy's friends?" Lucy stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded. "This is Luke, Della, and Ashton. They haven't seen you since you were reaaaaally little." Lucy smiled around her thumb and waved.

Josie leaned down, setting Lucy back on her own two feet, watching as the little girl waved before rushing back to her family members. Josie closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again and turning to the door. "You aren't wanted here." She said, proud at the fact that her voice didn't waver. Josie didn't miss the pained look that crossed all three faces at her words. "You all made it quite clear that none of you cared whether Lucy and I were okay or not. Five years. Luke and Ashton had no contact for five years. And you, Della. You didn't talk to me for two of those five years. So, don't show up here acting like you three have a right to anything involving my daughter or myself." Josie huffed and shut the door, making sure to lock it before she turned and went back to the party.

~~~~~

Later that night, Josie had just finished tucking Lucy in when a knock sounded at the door. Josie sighed and softly shut the door to Lucy's room before heading to the door. She slowly pulled the door open, sticking her head out of the little opening she made.

"It's late, is there something I ca-Ashton?" Josie's voice trailed off as her eyes caught sight of her ex. "What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you once before you're not wanted here!" She whisper shouted, getting ready to shut the door and lock it. Ashton put his hand against the door and shook his head. "We need to talk, Josie. Lucy is my daughter and I deserve to see her, no matter how you feel about me. And she deserves to know who I am to her."

Josie shook her head. "No." She shook her head again. "You lose that right the moment you decided everything else was more important than her and I all those years ago." Ashton sighed, heavily, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Josie, it wasn't like that and you know it. I'm sorry that life got crazy and there wasn't a whole lot of time for you and a newborn baby when the band's success was off the charts. I'm sorry, Josie. Please, just let me see my daughter. Let her be around her future sibling when it's born."

Josie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "No." She said, loud and steady. Josie opened her eyes and looked up at Ashton. "I'm tired of this already, Ashton. I said no and I mean no." Ashton shook his head. "Josie, please. I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

"You hurt me. No amount of 'I'm sorry' can make that hurt go away. Five years I've tried to get over everything, but you let me walk away. You were the love of my life, Ashton! I thought we would be together for the rest of our lives but," She angrily wiped at her cheeks. "You. Let. Me. Walk. Away." Josie gritted her teeth and poked Ashton in the chest with each work.

"You didn't give me any choice. You left and before I could catch both of you, you were on a flight back to England. I loved you, I really did."

"Then, why'd it take you three years and a pregnant girlfriend before you found me?"

Ashton opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water. "That's what I thought." Josie whispered, shaking her head. "Goodbye, Ashton. Go back to Australia." She smiled, sadly, with tears in her eyes as she pushed the door shut and made sure she locked it.