She took a deep breath and smiled as she felt Spencer’s hand slip into her own and squeeze gently. Lips grazed her cheek softly before moving to her ear.

“Don’t worry about Glen, or my mother for that matter. I forgot to tell you we had a good long talk the other night. She’s okay with things in her own way and I think she’s going to really try to let us just be us. So relax.”

This was followed by another soft kiss on the cheek and then she was unceremoniously dragged to the private room. Most everyone was already there, Madison and Aiden, as well as the other two groomsmen that Ashley had not yet met and the whole Carlin family.

Before Ashley could get out so much as a ‘Hello’, little Clay came flying towards her and Spencer. The little boy was dressed rather adorably in dark slacks, a blue shirt and a gray tie. He was the picture of a miniature gentleman.

Before he actually crashed into them, he stopped and gave them a sweet smile.

“Hello Spencer, Ashley.” He acknowledged each of them with a head nod as he spoke their names. “You both look very pretty tonight.” He gazed up into Ashley’s face and smiled dreamily. “Really, really pretty.”

Spencer smiled at the little boys obvious infatuation and leaned down to kiss his cheek. When she straightened up, Ashley leaned down to fix the young boys tie.

“And you look very handsome tonight, little guy. Learn anything cool about dolphins lately?”

So they ended up sitting at the table with little Clay between them, telling them about how dolphins sleep. It had something to do with shutting down one half of their brain and switching later. Ashley laughed and said that dolphins were pretty smart to be able to do that. Spencer had to agree with that one.

Ashley had finally relaxed in the company of Spencer and Clay, enjoying the young boys excitement and Spencer’s soft chuckle. They spoke animatedly about dolphins and later switched to the subject of Sponge Bob Square Pants. After a while Ashley became aware of Glen glaring at her. It was obvious he did not like her speaking to Clay and the fact that little Clay seemed to be enjoying the conversation was not helping.