Ashleigh should have warned him but... how did you put this into words? My mother is completely horrible and can't stand me? Very few people would actually believe that.
She felt his hand under the table but she didn't really respond. It was all she could do to keep from crying and that small, comforting gesture made it just a little harder. Trying desperately not to think about it, she pushed idly at the peas on her plate, moving them into a perfectly straight line.
Matthew's mouth opened with the intention of coming to his daughter's defense when Ed spoke up. He looked at the boy with amazement, completely shocked that he'd handled such a comment so calmly. Especially since he, himself, was on the verge of exploding.
Ashleigh tried to block out the entire conversation but Ed's words rang in her ears. Even if she sort of agreed with her mother, he was incredibly amazing and she made a mental note to tell him as much the next time they were alone.
Alexandrea, on the other hand, was not to be deterred. Again, she nodded and smiled, this time sardonically, as Ed spoke. "You seem to be quite taken by her," she commented when he'd finished. "Does that mean I'll find you screwing her in the middle of the living room floor like the Ollie kid did during Thanksgiving break?"
Ashleigh flushed from head to toe when her mother made such a comment. That had not happened... not even close and she fought the urge to say as much. If she argued with the woman, this would just get worse she she bit her bottom lip in an effort to keep quiet.
Matthew was in complete shock at his wife's words and as much as he wanted to believe it was a lie, he gave Ashleigh a glance that showed he wasn't so sure.