“No, Samantha is my goddaughter and niece.” she says and then realizes what I must have thought. “Oh, you thought… no… Kyla and Aiden….not me….I wouldn’t….” She’s so cute when she babbles.

“Ashley, it’s ok” I let out a laugh. “How are things with you? it’s been 7 years” I start to put the little girl’s arm in a soft cast. “It’s just sprained, I reassure her.”

“I’m ok, watching Samantha while her Kyla and Aiden are away for the weekend” she says “I can’t believe its you? When did you get back?”

“Today, actually” I tell her. This is so awkward. “This is my first shift. You guys are my first patients”

She laughs, clearly seeing the humor in the situation. “Well Dr. Carlin, this has been very awkward, but I’m glad we saw each other”

“I’m glad you’re not married to Aiden” …Oh my god that was out loud.

She looks startled. I definitely said that out loud. Very smooth Carlin, very smooth.

“Well that was blunt” she sounds only half kidding, and I can feel the cool and confident act break.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud, it just slipped…” she’s laughing at me again.

“It’s ok. I’m glad I’m not married to Aiden too” she says making a joke out of it

“What about you? Did you bring a husband back with you? A wife perhaps?” Out comes the Ashley I remember. Confident. Cocky. Beautiful.

“No, I didn’t.” I admit. This is just too weird for my first night. I give them a bottle of children’s Tylenol for the pain, and hand Ashley my card incase she has any questions. She takes the card and looks at me for a second. I can feel myself blushing, and she smiles wider.

“Thank you.” She takes Samantha by the hand and they head out of the door.

I draw the conclusion that fate hates me.

…………..

This morning I woke up, and doubted that my encounter with Ashley Davies had actually happened. I’m not that lucky. I play it over and over in my head, and scold myself for blushing, and getting nervous. She’s always had that affect on me.

I need a run, hopefully it’ll help me clear out the Ashley cob webs in my head. So I strap on my sneakers, throw on my shorts and hoody, grab my Ipod, and head downstairs.

“Hey sis, we’re going apartment hunting today right?” Glen asks me before I can reach the door.

“Yes, definitely. How about 2 o’clock?” I ask, anxious to get out of the house. He agrees, and I start my run. The wind is in my hair, my music in my ears, for the first time since I’ve been here I’m free.

I feel good. I put a couple of miles behind me, and my mind is clear. I pass a runner in front of me, and keep going. A minute goes by and I feel a tap on my arm. I slow down, and it’s the runner I had passed before. I take my earphones out, and look more closely. It’s none other than Ashley.

“So, you’re following me now?” she says and I laugh. “I think this is fate”

“Fate?” I ask

“Yes, it’s a sign” she says matter of factly

“A sign of what?” I play along

“That you should let me take you out for coffee and catch up” she says.

“I don’t know Ashley, its been a while, we haven’t spoken since I left…” Oh no she looks sad, and guilty, and now I feel guilty.

“Come on Spence, its all the more reason to catch up”

I can’t help it I crumble. “Coffee would be great” and I can’t control the smile now formed on my face, it matches hers.

“Fantastic, Tonight? 6 o’clock? Starbucks?”

“yes, yes, and yes. I’ll meet you at the one by the hospital.”

“Can’t wait” She starts running again, and turns back to smile at me.

What have I gotten myself into?