Spencer stood in front of the mirror, a somber look in her eyes. Tears were streaming down her face and she picked up a tissue and wiped them away. She fixed her makeup, smoothed out her clothes and went downstairs. There were people all over her parent’s house, family members that she scarcely knew, some people that she had met before and an odd array of people her father had helped in his time of being a social worker. They were all talking amongst themselves, trading stories of the man they once called Art. She found a familiar face and squeezed past people until she was standing in front of Chelsea. They shared a hug and Spencer, once so young and naiive, held herself together.

"How are you holding up, Spence?" Chelsea asked, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"I’m doing as best as I can, given the circumstances."

"Your dad was a wonderful man. Everyone here loved him and knowing Arthur, he loved them all right back."

"He was the best kind of man, and an even greater father." Spencer poured herself a drink and she and Chelsea walked to the backyard and sat on the steps.

"Is Ashley coming?"

Spencer looked over at Chelsea. "I don’t know."

"She was at the funeral earlier. She looks good. Better than when I last saw her."

Spencer looked down at the ground. But after years of knowing each other, Chelsea knew something had happened between Spencer and Ashley.

"Spencer? Did something happen? Are you and Ashley back together?"

Spencer picked a flower from the bush next to her and twirled it between her fingers. "It was a moment of weakness on my part. It never should have happened."

"What? When did this happen? How did this happen?"

"Last week. The day after I came back. Chelse, I messed up. I let her in. I let her break down my walls."

"What’s wrong with that?"

"It’s been six years. I’ve changed since then. So has she. We’re not kids anymore. We can’t just put the pieces back and pretend like it’s all okay."

Just then a voice said from behind, "We don’t have to pretend like it’s okay. But we can try to put the pieces back together."