Letters to Ashley

By Lisa Smelter

A chance meeting at a wedding nearly six years ago leaves a lasting impression on Ashley Landon and Brad Donaldson. An age difference and a considerable distance separate the two smitten professionals. Now, given a bit more time to explore their infatuation, both Ashley and Brad find themselves enjoying a whirlwind romance with a hard and fast deadline. A misplaced letter leads to more distance as they find themselves at cross purposes. Two lovely people who seem to easily bring joy to others' lives find themselves falling away from each other while also falling in love.

Can Ashley fill the void with her highly rewarding new job, and can Brad fill the hole in his heart by writing his letters to Ashley? Romance writer, Lisa Smelter, treats her readers to this, her fifth volume in her Love in Litton series, Letters to Ashley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Captured Muse Entertainment
• Release date: Sep 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662922138

Book preview

CHAPTER

ONE

Brad looked at the beautiful young woman standing next to Mark and instantly knew that he had met her before. She was lovely, and his heart gave a little skip when he gazed at her. She laughed up at Mark, gave Susan a big hug, and then turned to look around the room. Her gaze fell onto Brad, and she smiled widely. She raised her hand and gave him a little wave. Brad was surprised, but he waved back at her. A few minutes later, she came over to where he was standing with Melissa and Erik. She walked right up to Brad and said in her sweet light voice, Hi, Brad. Do you remember me? I’m Ashley Landon.

As he continued to gaze at her, questioningly, she said, My parents and I came out for Uncle Mark’s wedding. I danced with you a few times. Don’t you remember?

Brad came out of his reverie and said, Oh my goodness! You’re little Ashley. I think you were in your first year in college, weren’t you?

Ashley laughed and said, Yes, I had just turned nineteen, and I was a college freshman. My parents and I were visiting Litton for the first time. We had to come for my dear Uncle Mark’s wedding to his beautiful Susan.

Brad said softly, Well, Ashley, you have certainly grown into a beautiful woman. I knew that I had met you before but just couldn’t remember when. That must have been five years ago. What are you doing in Litton now, Ashley?

Ashley looked at him with her big blue eyes and smiled, I graduated from college last summer and am looking around for my first real job. I promised Uncle Mark that I would visit him and Susan and the babies before I settled down into a full-time job. I’ve been working a few part-time jobs since I graduated. My parents and I are taking a monthlong vacation to visit lots of friends and family. Litton is the first stop on our vacation. We’re staying at Uncle Mark’s home for a week. It has been a long time since we spent quality time with him. When we leave Litton, we’ll be driving to Arizona to visit one of my uncles and his family. After Arizona, we’ll drive to California to visit more friends and family. We’ll start the drive back to New York in three and a half weeks.

Brad smiled at her and said, I hope that you have a lovely time in Litton, Ashley. This is a good time of year to visit us. Minnesota is usually quite nice in June.

Ashley looked up into his handsome face and smiled shyly. She gently touched his arm, and, in doing so, felt a tingle in her fingers. She blushed enchantingly and looked down at the floor.

Brad looked at her hand, and his eyes widened a bit. He also felt a tingle as she gently touched his arm. He had never felt that before at a woman’s touch. He put his hand over hers and smiled down at her. The tingles now seemed to be growing in intensity. He looked at her lovely face, with its big blue eyes, charming little nose, sweet red lips, and long golden hair and knew that he wanted to get to know her better.

He remembered dancing with her five years ago. She had felt so right in his arms, but she had been hardly more than a child at that point. Even though dancing with her had been enjoyable, he had deliberately put her out of his thoughts in the years since. Now she was a grown-up woman, and oh, so lovely. She was just starting her own life, and he was an established dentist. He fleetingly wondered if he was now too old for her—then, just as briefly, wondered how he could get to know her better in the week that she planned to be in Litton.

Mark and Susan saw them and waved. They came over, and Brad leaned over to kiss Susan’s cheek. He withdrew his hand from Ashley’s arm, and she dropped her hand, too. She looked up at Mark and said, I was just getting reacquainted with Brad. Remember that I met him at your wedding, Uncle Mark? He and I danced a few times that day. Her cheeks were still a delicate pink. Brad noticed this and then instantly wondered if his cheeks were betraying him as well.

Susan smiled. She remembered now that Brad had danced with young Ashley with a bemused look on his face, and she had wondered how he felt about her. Nothing had ever been said, and Ashley returned to New York a few days after their wedding. She now wondered how Brad felt about seeing Ashley again after all this time. He certainly looked a little shocked or surprised—she wasn’t sure which. She would have to have a little talk with him later. They had been good friends for many years, and she really cared about Brad. Ashley was such a dear girl, as well.

Since her marriage to Mark, Susan had grown to really like Ashley and her parents. Mark had taken her to New York several times to visit them. The first time was a flying visit before Sarah was born, then for Bob and Sheryl’s 25th wedding anniversary, and finally for Ashley’s college graduation last year.

Mark counted the Landon family among his best friends, for they had been there to support him when he sold his house and left New York. When Mark originally relocated to New York, he moved next to Ashley and her parents. Over the next twelve years, he babysat for her and became her close friend. Since he left New York, they had stayed in touch by phone and email.

Brad turned to Melissa and Erik, who were watching the little scene with smiling eyes. Until Melissa married Erik two and a half years ago, Brad had been her best friend. She probably knew him better than anyone else on earth. He had no other family. He was an only child, and his parents died in a car accident when he was in college.

He smiled wryly at Melissa. She grinned at him and raised her eyebrows. He knew what that meant. She was sure to get him alone and grill him for information as soon as she could find the time. She was a busy mother of twins these days. Her little son and daughter kept her so busy that she rarely had the time to get together with him anymore.

Erik and Melissa had helped him move from his apartment into his new house four months ago, and they regularly invited him over for a meal. Brad and Melissa had been there for each other through quite a few heartaches over the years. He loved Melissa like the sister he always wanted but never had.

Brad’s thoughts returned to the present. He heard Susan invite the whole group to a late afternoon picnic at their home the next evening. She and Mark had a nice big new house with a fenced-in backyard. Their little girl and baby boy safely played with their new puppy there.

Susan asked Brad, I know that you sometimes can get away a little earlier on Fridays, so can you get off work by 4:30 tomorrow? I would be so happy if you could come and help Mark put up that bouncy house for the kids. I can’t help him, and Matt and Erik can’t get to our house until after 5:00 pm. Her voice was tinged with hope.

Brad had planned to take a few extra hours off early tomorrow, anyway. He was a partner in a dental group of three dentists. They rotated their times off. They each had their shares of weekends and being on call for emergencies, but there were opportunities to exit work early on their weekends off. Brad thought happily that he was free for the whole weekend after 3:00 pm tomorrow. He hoped that he would get to spend some of that time with Ashley.

Brad smiled nicely at Susan and said, Yes, Susan, I can be there by 4:30. In fact, I could even be there by 4:00. It’s my free weekend.

Susan and Melissa smiled broadly at that news. They both wanted to see how Brad got on with Ashley tomorrow. They both were so happy in their marriages that they wanted Brad to fall in love and get married, too. He certainly seemed a little smitten with Ashley.

Oh, Brad, that would be wonderful. I may have you run a few errands for us if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, Susan said with a grateful sigh.

Brad nodded and said, I’ll be glad to help out. Expect to see me at 4:00 pm, then, Susan.

Once again, Brad’s gaze fell upon Ashley, and he smiled at her. It looks like I will see you and your parents, tomorrow, Ashley. Have a good rest of the night.

He looked at his group of friends and smiled and nodded. I have to leave. My first appointment is at 7:30 am tomorrow morning, and I need to prepare for it. I’ll see you all tomorrow. Good night everyone. He waved at them before walking out of the recreation center.

Ashley looked at everyone around her and smiled. Thank you, Susan, for inviting everyone over for the picnic tomorrow. I know that my folks will be thrilled to see everybody. Mom will be happy that she can just sit in a comfortable chair, and everyone can come and see her. She felt so bad that she broke her leg just before we came out here. We didn’t want to have to postpone this trip. She has been a trooper about everything, though. I know that her leg must bother her sometimes, but she has not even made a whimper about it. Dad is so proud of her.

Then, drawing closer to Susan, she added, My folks were happy to look after your little ones for you tonight so that you and I could attend Uncle Mark’s event.

Mark ushered Susan and Ashley out to his minivan while Melissa and Erik rounded up Roy and Kay Hillman, Melissa’s parents. Everyone bid one another good night and promised to be at Mark and Susan’s house by 5:15 pm tomorrow evening.

As Ashley got ready for bed that night, she thought about Brad. It was amazing that they had met again. Five and a half years ago at Mark and Susan’s wedding, she had been more than a little enamored with Brad. He was such a handsome and distinguished man, and he was very sweet to her. She felt so insecure in her elegant blue gown and elaborate hairdo. He treated her like a lady, not just some teenage college student.

By night’s end, they danced together three times. He was a very good dancer, and she felt so grown-up in his arms. It was nothing like dancing with her college friends. He was a grown man, and so charming. She sighed a bit as she thought to herself, he still is.

Although she hadn’t seen him since the wedding, she often thought about him over the years. In her mind, he was the man with whom she compared every potential suitor. She had promised herself that if she ever met him again, she would try to make some kind of lasting impression on him. And now here she was, presented with that very opportunity.

The tingling in her fingers as they rested on his arm earlier in the day surprised her. She wondered if her emotions were that obvious to Brad. She couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow. She deplored the fact that she turned shy whenever she was around someone with whom she felt an attraction. She blushed more often and couldn’t think of anything to say. Around her good friends, she was confident and comfortably outgoing. Why is it so different with Brad? she thought.

The next day, Ashley helped Susan take care of Sarah Rose and little Paul. They were such sweet little ones. Sarah was nearly four years old, going on fifteen. She was as smart as a whip and so vivacious. With her long shiny black hair and bright blue eyes, she was a beautiful little girl. She was tall for her age and quite slender. Ashley had the best time playing fairy princess with her.

Her little brother, Paul, was so unlike her. He had Susan’s big brown eyes and brown wavy hair. He was a solid little guy and somewhat quiet. He was content to sit and play with his blocks and other toys while Sarah ran around and got involved with everything that was going on.

Ashley had done a lot of babysitting while she was in high school, and she felt very comfortable around young children. Her part-time job at the day care center also helped her become very good at working with them.

Mark and Susan’s home was newish and very comfortable. They bought the house with the idea that they would have children. The five large bedrooms were airy and bright. The fenced-in backyard hosted a large safe deck, a play area including a swing set, and a kennel for their new puppy.

Ashley changed into a tank top and shorts to try to catch some sun while she played with Sarah and Paul outside. Susan asked her if she could handle the two little ones while Sheryl and she prepared the food for the picnic. Ashley pulled her long golden hair back into a secure ponytail while she played with the kids. Meanwhile, her dad, Bob, accompanied Mark to his job this morning to help him with some projects.

Anyone watching the backyard activity at the Hillman residence would have thought that Ashley was the teenage babysitter. She pushed the little ones on the swing set and sat in the sandbox making sandcastles. They paraded around the backyard tooting on their kazoos. She was so young and carefree. People always told her that she looked like she was eighteen. That was a stumbling block when it came to job interviews and, also, when she wanted to impress a certain handsome dentist.

After her refreshing shower, Ashley came out of her bedroom and went to find Susan. She and Sheryl were sitting comfortably on the rocking chairs in the living room. The children’s new golden retriever puppy was rolling around on the floor in front of them. Susan was making Sheryl laugh with tales of the puppy’s antics. In just a month’s time, Goldy was considered one of the family. She had quickly earned everyone’s love and devotion. Ashley sat down on the couch nearest the other two ladies.

Susan looked at Ashley and thought what a lovely young thing she was. Susan was a beautiful and vivacious young woman herself, but after two children, she sometimes felt a hundred years old—not that Mark thought that. He told her every single day just how lovely she was. He never forgot to tell her that. Mark was immensely pleased when she emphatically stated that she wanted to be the one to teach her children everything in their early years. She was a sweet and loving mother, and she knew that Mark adored her. This certainty gave her the requisite energy to do all the tough things required of moms.

The three ladies chatted about New York and Litton for an hour or so while the children slept. When Sarah sleepily came out of her bedroom rubbing her eyes, she went straight to Susan and climbed onto her lap. Susan hugged her and talked quietly with her while she slowly awakened fully. Susan arose and held Sarah’s hand as they quietly walked into little Paul’s room to see if he was awake yet.

Ashley and her mom discussed their visit to Litton. She wanted to talk with her mom about Brad, but she didn’t want Susan to hear them. She would have to wait until they had some time together without anyone else around. Ashley had always confided her secrets to her Uncle Mark when he had lived next door to them in New York.

Since Mark moved back to Litton to marry Susan, Ashley now talked to her mom about anything and everything. She was pleased that her mom was non-judgmental and full of wisdom. Ashley found that even her dad was easy to talk to. She wanted to ask her mom’s advice about Brad, wondering if she should try to do anything about getting to know him better in the week that they had left in Litton.

Maybe she was wrong; maybe she should stay away from him. After all, she would be moving on in a week and then going back to New York after their vacation. Was she just setting herself up for heartbreak down the line? She really wanted to talk with someone about it. If Uncle Mark had been available, she would have talked with him. He always gave her good advice.

Ashley, Sheryl, Susan, and the two little ones were in the kitchen quietly working on getting the picnic things ready that afternoon when Ashley heard a sports car coming into the drive. She looked out the window and saw Brad get out of a newer model low-slung silver Chevy Camaro. His sleek blond hair was ruffled, like he had been driving with all the windows open. His tall lean body was tanned, and he was wearing khaki shorts and a light blue polo shirt. He looked elegant and very handsome to Ashley. As she watched, he looked up and straight at her. He smiled and lifted his hand in a friendly salute.

Ashley waved back and blushed. She was glad that he was too far away to see her blush. She always hated the fact that she blushed whenever she felt shy or embarrassed. Her friends teased her about the fact that they could read her face and know what she was thinking, especially when she blushed. Her dad said that he thought it was sweet that girls still blushed