Chapter 217: East Range
Sunday, January 21st, Morning
The large multi-pained windows tried to light the parlor by letting in weak light. The light warmed or at least attempted to warm the air in the room. The weather hadn't broken, and it seemed to be getting colder. A storm was moving in, bringing moisture. That meant either freezing rain or worse, snow and ice.
Izzy tried not to think about that cold night four years ago. All it took was a patch of ice, black ice. Instead, Izzy fiddling with her nails as she looked down at the coffee table. The usual magazines sat there, and none of them Izzy wanted to read. Leaning back, Izzy sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
Life is stress, ran across her mind. Since taking office, the demands on her have been immense. It only got worse when Keith got word he had to go overseas. That left the kids with their grandparents or in DC. But they chose, as a family, because of the children's age, to leave them in Tree Hill with their grandparents. Izzy just closed her eyes, just for a moment of peace.
"What's wrong, Izzy?" a teenage girl's voice asked her. It took a moment or three for Izzy to connect the voice and the name it belonged.
"Just taking a moment to breathe, Sawyer," Izzy said, to her youngest sister-in-law. Izzy sat up and opened her eyes. She saw Sawyer standing on the other side of the coffee table. Boy, is she quick and quiet, Izzy reflected on how she snuck up on her. The tall fifteen-year-old girl was wearing ripped jeans and a baggy black t-shirt with a white tank on it, with red letters saying, "Drive me closer!" Black and blue ribbons held back Sawyer's curly blonde hair.
"You looked stressed," Keni said, from just behind and to the right of Sawyer. Of course, where one was the other would be, Izzy reflected, and when did Keni get so quiet? Izzy noted her baby sister was wearing yoga pants. A sweatshirt several sizes too large, probably stolen from Tucker, and her brownish-black hair was in a messy bun on top of her head.
"Well, I am," Izzy said.
Sawyer nodded and took a seat on the couch across from Izzy. Keni followed and took a seat in a nearby upholstered chair, slumping into it. Keni, typically, brought up one knee, resting her foot on the cushion. The furniture in this room wasn't cheap either, Izzy noted.
"Why are you stressed?" Sawyer asked.
"Being a US Representative, a mom, having a husband overseas, and the shit seems to about to hit the fan," Izzy said, "Take your pick."
"Are you worried about the storm rolling in?" Sawyer asked.
"Yeah, it could be another ice storm or even snow," Izzy said.
"That would mean a day off from school," Keni said, trying to suppress her hopeful joy.
"There was another one," Izzy said, "Four years ago."
"Yeah?" Sawyer asked, trying to think back.
"You remember, Sawyer, I was still working for Senator McMichael. You and Keni were eleven years old," Izzy said.
Keni nodded, "I remember that storm," she said, "It rolled in on a Friday night."
"Yeah," Sawyer said, snapping her fingers, "You bitched because it was a day too later," she finished looking at Keni.
"You remember what happened during that storm?" Izzy asked.
Sawyer nodded, "Yeah," she said, her voice soft and moanfully remember that early wake-up call.
Izzy slumped into her couch. Keni laughed. "Why are you laughing?" Izzy asked, looking at Keni.
"' Cause if mom saw you sitting like that, she'd passively-aggressively yell at you," Keni said.
Izzy shrugged, "Oh. So what?" she asked.
Sawyer chuckled, "I'd like to see that," she said.
"See what?" Izzy asked, looking at Sawyer.
"You get into Aunt Brooke's face," Sawyer said. Brooke and Izzy were about the same height.
"Though she be little, she is fierce!" Keni said.
"Who would that be?" Sawyer asked.
"Izzy, of course," Keni said, "Who'd you think I was talking about?"
"I wasn't sure, because Aunt Brooke is little as well," Sawyer said.
Izzy chuckled; to Keith's family, almost every woman was little. Keni looked at Izzy and turned to Sawyer. Finally, Keni turned back to Izzy. "What's so funny?" Keni asked.
"Its true mom is small and fierce," Izzy said.
Keni laughed, "True, but don't let her hear you say that," she said.
"So, true," Sawyer said.
"So, onto happier topics," Izzy said, ending her chuckling.
"And that would be?" Sawyer asked.
"Are you two rested up for tonight?" Izzy asked.
"Yeah, I think my ankle can handle it," Sawyer said.
"How bad is it?" Izzy asked.
"It's attached and still works," Sawyer said, "So, it and I are good."
"Bullshit," Keni said.
Izzy looked over to Keni. Her baby sister wasn't one for diplomacy. "Why's that?" she asked.
"' Cause Sawyer, over there thinks she's the Terminatrix," Keni said.
"I do not," Sawyer said.
"Then why do you zip out of eyesight of everyone as soon as we finish? You're hiding that your ankle swells up after every practice and game," Keni said.
Izzy turned to Sawyer, "Is that true, Sawyer?" she asked.
Sawyer shrugged, "I'm good most days," she said.
"You keep re-injuring it," Keni said.
"I'll be fine," Sawyer said, "We're done cheerleading for the year after basketball," Sawyer said.
"Do you want to screw up your ankle for life?" Keni asked.
"I'll be fine," Sawyer said.
"No, you won't," Keni said.
"Are you my friend or girlfriend?" Sawyer asked.
"I'm your friend, and practically your sister," Keni said.
"God, you two," Izzy said.
"What?" Keni asked.
"You two are worse than Keith and I," Izzy said.
"What's that supposed to me?" Keni asked.
"Okay, Ariana, it means you two make an awful married couple," Izzy said.
"Very funny, Izzy," Keni said.
"Hilarious," Sawyer said.
"So, who are we playing tonight?" Izzy asked.
"Pine Forrest," Sawyer said.
"Pine Forrest?" Izzy asked, "Wasn't that a December game?"
"It was postponed," Keni said.
"Okay," Izzy said, and looked at Sawyer, "So, Sawyer, what's with the t-shirt?"
"It's a t-shirt from The Chieftain," Sawyer said.
"The who?" Izzy asked.
"A YouTuber," Keni said.
"Okay, okay," Izzy said.
Sawyer put her feet up and smiled. Keni fell back in her chair, still slumping/ Izzy shook her head, and leaned back, closing her eyes, again.
