“How are you doing?” He asked awkwardly.

“How do you suppose I am doing?” Spencer shot back and then regretted it. She didn’t need to transfer her anger on her father. “I’m doing terrible.” She admitted.

“Spencer… you should have told me, honey.” Arthur sat beside his daughter and gently placed his arms around her. “You and Ashley… I mean how long have you guys been together?”

“Just last week, dad.” Spencer buried her face in her father’s shirt. “We hardly even had a relationship. We were so getting used to this leap from friendship. This is so special for us so we wanted it to be right, to be perfect. So we were taking it slow. Oh Dad, now everything’s over. Mom will never allow me to speak to Ashley.”

“That you’ve got right.” Arthur sighed.

“Can’t you talk to Mom?” Spencer pleaded. “Make her understand? Or do you disapprove of me being gay too?”

“No, sweetie, never.” He assured her. “I can never hate you for that. I know it’s not your fault. Not that being gay is a wrong thing. But your Mom… she has been brought up differently. You know her. Plus, she’s been having a lot of stress lately. I just think you chose the wrong moment to break the news to her.”

“I wasn’t thinking Dad! Mom made me so angry when she called Ashley all those names, I just stopped thinking. I didn’t even know what I was saying before it was too late.”

“So maybe now… maybe you should do some thinking.” Arthur looked away.

“What do you mean?” Spencer stared at her father.

“I mean, Spencer… maybe staying a few days away from Ashley won’t be such a bad idea.” Arthur swallowed a lump in his throat.

“Dad! How can you say that?” Spencer gave her father a horrified look. “You know how I’m feeling and you are supposed to be the one supporting me. God knows, I sure need someone to do that right now. And even you think that my relationship with Ashley…”

“It’s not about your relationship with Ashley. It’s about Ashley. I’m not saying she’s a bad influence. But she is a girl who is used to a life very different than your own. She is not someone who will take relationships very seriously, Spence. She has only been surrounded by broken alliances and this probably makes her distrustful…”

“Dad! Spare me this psychological analysis. I know Ashley. She is my friend.” Spencer stood up with a jolt.

“Okay, you may know her very well. But do you know this part of you, this idea that you are gay? Are you entirely comfortable with it? Spencer this is a big thing. You can’t jump into a relationship with just anyone.” Arthur ran a hand through his hair. He was tired and upset. “I just want what’s best for you. So does your Mom. We both love you, Spence. We’ve all just had a hard time dealing with this shift to LA and the culture shock. Your Mom has been busy with work…” He paused and his face hardened. “And we’ve hardly been together as a family. I think we all need some time alone and together. Like a vacation…”

“A vacation?” Spencer squeaked out.

“Yes. Like it’s Spring Break for you guys starting next week. So your… I was thinking that we could go back to Ohio for a couple of days. It would return back happy memories and refresh our minds.”

“And keep me away from Ashley.” Spencer pursed her lips.

“I won’t lie to you. Yes, that’s one of the reasons. We want you to have some time away from Ashley to think about your life and what is happening in it.” Arthur suggested.

“We? You mean you and Mom.” Spencer smirked. “Nice. So this is not about your marital problems then?”

“Spencer, that is not what we are talking about here.”

“Then what are we talking about? You and Mom have already made my decisions for me. So what is the point in talking about it? It’s not as if anybody is listening or even care.” Spencer rolled her eyes.

“Spencer…” Arthur began.

“Goodnight Dad.” Spencer plopped on her bed and threw the blankets on top of herself.

“Goodnight Spencer.” Arthur sighed in resignation.