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sleep finds me on the flight home and fourteen very long hours later, I am home and immediately curl up in my sheets to sleep the day and night away.  The time difference is going to kill me tomorrow night at the benefit. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    ASHLEIGH
     
                  I wake up early and feel refreshed.  After the spa day Elizabeth had for us yesterday, I am ready for the busy day ahead.    The day of the Breast Cancer Benefit has finally arrived and I could not be more excited.  I change into comfy clothes and go for a run through the neighborhood.  As I am coming back to my house, I feel a car creep up beside me.  Thankfully, I look over to find Merritt.  We all live in the same neighborhood and she is headed straight for my house.  I make it to my driveway and she is already out of the car.
     
                  “Let’s go Ash!  I need your help setting up.  The girls are finishing loading up their cars and everyone is headed up there to make it look perfect.”
     
                  “Merritt, I’m disgusting and sweaty.  Can’t I shower and meet y’all up there?”
     
                  “No ma’am!  Get your cute ass in the car and don’t worry about what you look like.”
     
                  “Okay, okay.  I need to grab my purse and phone.  Oh and coffee!”
                 
    “No time for coffee.  I already have Dixon stopping to get gallons of it along with breakfast from the Sweet Peach so you will be set.  Just ride with me.”
     
                  I lock my front door and jump in the car with her.  The plan is to set it all up as much as we can and then we are all heading to Elizabeth’s house to be beautified by hair and make-up specialists.  The guys are all riding together in one limo and the ladies are riding together in a different limo.  Everyone is to meet up on the pink carpet.
     
                  “I am so excited for you Merritt.  This is a huge event for your resume.  I can’t wait to see how you make it all come together.  You always impress me with your talents.”
     
                  “I’m kind of nervous.  I know I do this all the time but I really want this perfect for Elizabeth.”
     
                  “You know she will love it.”
     
                  We pull up to the venue and I help her start unloading the car.  We finally get everything out of her car as well as the other girls cars when Dixon and Reed pull up. 
     
                  “Thank God you are finally here.  I need coffee and Merritt would not let me get any before we left the house. “
     
                  Everyone gets their fill of coffee and breakfast and Merritt morphs into drill sergeant mode just as Mason and Jake arrive to help.  Elizabeth and Merritt’s mom, Victoria arrive next and every one is hard at work to make Merritt’s vision come to life.  Hours go by when my stomach begins to rumble.  As I realize what time it is, Preston and Lucas walk in with lunch for everyone.  Elizabeth quickly rounds everyone up for a fast lunch.
     
                  “Preston, I want you to meet Ashleigh.  Ashleigh, this is my husband, Preston.  Honey, don’t you think she would be perfect for Cross?”
     
                  I just laugh as I go to hold out my hand for him.  Instead I am greeted with a big bear hug.
     
                  “No handshakes here.  You get a hug.  I have heard nothing but praises about you from everyone.  Thank you so much for helping out with the benefit.  Elizabeth has not stopped talking about you.”
     
                  “Oh goodness, y’all are too sweet to me.  I don’t deserve all of this praise.  I love helping