couldn''te up with any more excuses. She figured a thousand was better than nothing, so she took the money and left.
Alisa was sharing her struggles, and Jason wasn''t one to leave her hanging. Out of respect for thete Will and his own sense of guilt, he sent her a grand. A thousand bucks wouldn''t even cover her credit card''s minimum payment, and Alisa was hoping for more, but she Right after Alisa was out the door, Ashley came back from grocery shopping. Jason had left his phone on the coffee table and headed to the bedroom to freshen up. Hearing the phone buzz, Ashley called from the kitchen, "Jason, your phone''s going off." Jason, caught up in his routine, didn''t hear it. Ashley wiped her hands and picked up the phone, muttering, "He never hears a thing." By the time she got to it, the call had ended. As she was about to put it back, a WhatsApp notification popped up.
It was a payment confirmation for Alisa. Seeing the transfer, Ashley felt a wave of irritation. She wasn''t upset with Jason but annoyed at Alisa for asking for money while she was out. "Does she think my son owes her family something?" Ashley grumbled to herself, deciding to keep it to herself as she ced the phone back down. She realized she needed to get Alisa out of her son''s life before she drained him dry. The Browns seemed like a bunch of leeches.
Remembering Monica from Jason''s Facebook, Ashley started plotting. After finishing dinner, she headed to Jason''s workce to chat with his colleagues and get some info on Monica.
Meanwhile, Monica was at Southridge Estates, helping Anastasia with the kids. The little ones were getting cuter by the day, all chubby cheeks and rosy smiles. Monica yfully coaxed Emmie, "Give your godmother a smile, you little beauty. You''re going to break hearts someday." Emmie giggled, sticking out her tongue, and Monica eximed excitedly, "Ana, Ana, look! Emmie''s smiling at me, dimples and all. She''s adorable!" Anastasia, busy feeding Nancy, chuckled, "Isn''t it heart-melting?"
"Absolutely! I''m tempted to take her home with me. By the way, ever since my folks heard about your twins, they''ve been on my case to date, get married, and have kids. They want grandkids, and my brother''s still in college, so they''re focusing on me." Anastasia replied, "Marriage is a big step. With your charm, you''ll find someone great, no doubt. I''ve already got a gift ready for your wedding, just waiting to celebrate."
Monica gently squeezed Emmie''s tiny hand and casually mentioned, "You might be celebrating Jason''s wedding first. He''s tying the knot with Alisa, probably on Valentine''s Day." "What? I haven''t heard a thing!" Anastasia was taken aback. "Jason''s really getting married to Alisa? Who told you that?" "Jason did. He even asked if I''d be free that day. I told him I''d be in Los Angeles on a date."
Anastasia just shook her head, amused, "You really spun a tale there. Did Jason buy it?" "Whether he did or not, I''m not about to attend my ex''s wedding. Can you imagine me serenading them with ''My Boyfriend''s Wedding and I''m Not the Bride''?" Anastasiaughed, "Seems like you''ve got it all figured out." Monica had clearly worked through her feelings.
Monica asked, "Ana, is your husband noting back for Valentine''s Day? What''s he doing in Springfield for so long?" "I didn''t ask," Anastasia said. "He wanted me to go with him, but I couldn''t bear to leave the kids, so I stayed." "Springfield''s lovely this time of year. You should go, enjoy some couple time. Life''s too short to miss out on romance while you''re young," Monica advised, yfully. "You don''t want to be too old to enjoy each other''spany."
Anastasia blushed, "You''ve got a way with words." Monica chuckled, "By the way, where''s your mom been? Haven''t seen her around." "My mom''s been out with friends a lottely, says she''s bored at home," Anastasia exined, bouncing Nancy gently. "But I know she''s taken on some work. She doesn''t like relying on us and feels more secure earning her own way."
Anastasia understood Salma''s mindset. Since the work wasn''t too demanding, she didn''t object. Everyone needs their own social circle. Salma didn''t fit in with the Katelyn crowd, so she found her own path. Monicamented, "Your mom''s been working hard her whole life and still can''t sit still." Monica stayed a bit longer at Southridge Estates before heading out. Once the kids were down for a nap, Anastasia dialed Herman''s number...