The thing Ashley registered immediately was that her mother was far quieter than she should have been. Had she not already been worried about the lack of communication, the silence would have raised flags. More or less anyway. It was a little complicated, but that was why Ashley had chosen that day to uncomplicate things.
Ashley peered at her mother, trying to figure out what mood she was dealing with before Helen pulled the door open and stood aside. Pasting on a bright smile that would, hopefully but not likely, mask the concern she was feeling, Ashley stepped into the house. She knew the sight of her in her full uniform wouldn't be very comforting to her mother, but it was all she could get away with for the day. If she got a call and needed to go in a hurry, she couldn't be caught needing to get dressed. Her superior officers would have her head for a rookie mistake like that.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Ashley made it to the kitchen area before she turned back around to her mother. "I thought it was time we hung out again. I've got some time and I figured any day you're not at the firm is fair game. Besides, it's been a while."