“Dinner looks great Paula,” Arthur lied with a forced smile as the family sat down at the dining table.

“Thanks dear,” Paula said with a smile. “And also thank you for letting me take the reigns on cooking the dinner tonight.”

“No problem.”

“Yeah, it looks great mom,” Glen said poking at the um … well greenish looking stuff.

Spencer frowned dissatisfied. “This stuff looks like-“

“A work of art,” Arthur finished kicking his daughter in the shin.

The young blonde put on a tight lipped grin, “Yes,” she breathed out. “That’s what I was gonna say… a work of art.”

“Thank you,” Paula replied. “Where’s Ashley?”

“Oh, Ashley said she was feeling a little under the weather.” Glen answered. “After she came home from school she went straight to her room.”

“Poor thing,” Arthur said. “Spencer, go check on her and see if she wants something to eat or drink?”

“I think I’ll pass thank you very much,” the young blonde replied.

“Spencer go,” Paula commanded.

“Why do I have to check on her,” Spencer asked bluntly.

“Because I said so,” Paula replied.

Spencer sighed and marched upstairs. When she reached Ashley’s door she heard the brunette talking to somebody. Not being one to pass up a chance for some good old eavesdropping the blonde pressed her ear to the door and listened in.

Ashley’s bedroom

“So how is it going with the Spencer girl?” Raife asked cheerfully.

Ashley sighed and looked down sadly. Raife frowned, “Well, that’s never a good sign.” He said confused. “What happened my little Martian?”

Spencer frowned. Did she just hear that right? Did he say Martian?

“I do not think Spencer likes me daddy,” Ashley replied mournfully.

“What gives you that impression,” Raife asked.

“Well, she calls me names, she slapped me, she constantly threatens to kill me, she made me run home instead of giving me a ride, she refused my gift to her, and she always glares at me,” Ashley replied counting off on her fingers.

Raife shrugged, “That is called love my dear.”

“It is?”

“Of course, your mother did all of those things to me before we eventually hit it off,” he answered with a smile.

“So all these things she does to me are out of love,” Ashley asked confused.