Tomorrow is going to be a long day.  Sleep comes easily.

            I awake to the smell of French toast and the laughter of small children.  My empty stomach leads the way to the kitchen.  A place is already set for me as everyone is just about to sit down.  I notice that it has been days since I have eaten anything of substance.  It seems that I have been surviving on Starburst and Diet Coke.  I have seconds and thirds before I get my fill.  My dad makes the best French toast in the land. 

            “Hey Spencer, Chelsea and I are taking the kids to the beach today, do you want to join us?”

            “I would love to, but I have a lot to do today.  I will take a rain check though if you decide to go another day this week.”

            “I’ll hold you to that.”

            “Deal.”

            When breakfast is over I watch them through the window as they load into the minivan.  They are all smiles as they pull away, waving.  I turn back to look at my father.  The years were being nice to him.  He has not really aged, but you can tell that there are a few more gray hairs and a couple worry lines that I have never seen before.  I am glad that I will be spending some time alone with him.  We sit at the table talking for a long time. Though I love being with my dad, the intensity of my situation gets the best of me and I begin to wonder what Ashley is doing at this moment. We are in the same city and yet we are a million miles apart.  He must sense my attention drifting to the topic that has yet to be discussed. 

            “You know Spence, I ran into her a couple months back.”

            “Who?”  I don’t know if I am trying to delay or actually looking for clarification.

            “You know who.  She had performed at a concert the office had thrown for all the teenagers we represent.”  He looks up at me to gauge my reaction to the news.  He knows he has my complete attention and my eyes urge him on.  “She had volunteered for the event, when she had heard through the grapevine that we were organizing it.  She wanted to do it for the kids.”