Chapter 262: NY, NY

Friday, January 27th, Evening

(Song lyrics in italics)

The sun was going down over the hedge that existed as Manhattan. Looking out amongst the windows, she took in all the beauty, power, and majesty that is the heart of New York City. Trin nodded, smiled, and turned away from the window. As she walked, she picked up her arm and pushed back her sleeve, checking her watch, a beautiful Rolex Lady-Datejust. The watch was more a status symbol for work than anything else.

Finally, after a long sigh, Trin came to the lone hallway. Walking a few doors down the hall, she knocked on Wyatt's door. He was young, but she chose to respect his privacy. Also, Trin didn't want to interrupt anything; he's Brian's son, after all.

"Come in, Mom," Wyatt called through the door.

Trin opened the door and walked into the room. Wyatt was sitting on his bed, legs crossed, and going over his clothes, which he'd laid out next to him on the bed. Trin looked it over and nodded.

"Still packing?" Trin asked.

"Trying to figure out what I need," Wyatt said.

"It's a week, and you've been there before," Trin said.

"I just feel like this is a big thing," Wyatt said.

"For Uncle Lucas, Cousin Angela, and Cousin Kay, for you, you're getting an extra vacation," Trin said.

"I also get to see Lennon, Lacy, and Darren, as well," Wyatt said.

"Why not? They are your brothers and sisters," Trin said.

"Sometimes, it doesn't feel that way," Wyatt said.

"You have no other brothers or sisters, so how do you know?" Trin asked.

"Just feelings, Mom. Are you sure they are my brothers and sister?" Wyatt asked.

"Believe me, they are," Trin said.

"Could it because of their mom, Mom?" Wyatt asked.

"I think it's because of growing up in a different place, but they are different people than you, as well," Trin said.

"Is that nature versus nurture thing?" Wyatt asked.

"I've always believed in both are equally important, but you're too young for that. I'm different from Auntie Chase, Auntie Izzy, Auntie Fallon, Uncle Tucker, and Keni," Trin said.

Wyatt nodded, "I see," he said.

"What brings this up?" Trin asked.

"I find it hard to connect with them," Wyatt said.

"All you could do is keep trying," Trin said, "I know Lennon likes basketball, and Lacy does some artwork. Well, Darren, he's young so just play with him."

Wyatt shrugged, "I guess," he said.

"Wyatt, why are you worried about this?" Trin asked, concerned.

"I just find it tough to make friends, except with Marguerite and Léa," Wyatt said.

"That's my fault," Trin said.

"How's that, Mom?" Wyatt asked.

"I raised you around adults," Trin said, and air quoted the term adults.

"What does that mean?" Wyatt asked.

"You grew up around Auntie Fallon and later Auntie Libby," Trin said, "Not a usual raising for a young man like yourself."

"But I love spending time with Auntie Fallon and especially Auntie Libby," Wyatt said.

"They are fun, but they're not your peers," Trin said, "That is why I like having Madam Legrand watch you."

Wyatt nodded, "So, I can spend time with Marguerite and Léa?" he asked.

Trin nodded, "Yes," she said.

Wyatt nodded and pursed his lips, "Who else is going to be down there?" he asked.

"The usual suspects, the Scott and Burke cousins, plus I believe Cousin Jess," Trin said.

Wyatt nodded, "Okay," he said and looked down at his laid out clothes.

Trin came over, moved some clothes out of the way, and sat down next to Wyatt. She looked at her son and hugged him.

"What bothering you, really, Wyatt?" Trin asked.

"I was reading on Wikipedia, and it talked about a rivalry between Grandpa Nate and Uncle Lucas, and it said they had a similar background to Lennon and me," Wyatt said.

"I don't think you'll have that problem, Wyatt," Trin said.

"Why?" Wyatt asked.

For one, you don't play basketball flashed through Trin's mind. She looked at Wyatt and nodded, "The main reason for that rivalry is in a potter's field now," Trin said.

"A potter's field? What's that?" Wyatt asked.

"Nothing to worry about," Trin said.

"Okay, but are you sure it won't happen, Mom?" Wyatt asked.

"Positive, Grandpa Nate, Nana Haley, Grammy Brooke, and I won't let that happen," Trin said.

Wyatt nodded, "Okay," he said.

"Also, don't believe everything on Wikipedia; they embellish some of that stuff," Trin said.

"Yes, Mom," Wyatt said.

Trin leaned down, kissed the top of Wyatt's head; this action is getting hard for her since he's growing again. She straightened up and clapped his thigh.

"Now, get the packing done; we have an early morning tomorrow," Trin said.

Wyatt nodded, "Yes, Mom," he said.

Trin stood up and walked out of the room. In the hallway, after the bedroom door closed, she leaned against the wall and sighed.

Trin's biggest fear has always been a repeat of the Lucas and Nathan story. The Scott family did have the rivalry skip a generation, as Keith and Dan, Lucas and Nathan had rivalries, but not Lucas and Nathan's kids. Brian set up another situation, similar to Lucas and Nathan. She told her Mom, Nathan, and Haley about it several times. They assured her it wouldn't happen, but Trin wasn't sure.

Pushing off the wall, Trin walked down the rest of the hallway. She entered her bedroom and went straight to her bathroom. Trin ran the cold water in the sink and splashed a few cupped handfuls onto her face.

Turning on the stereo, she kept in the bathroom; music filled her ears. Trin turned on the music to mask what she's going through and doing. The song was morbid and gothic, sounding like something played at the end of the world. The singer is a woman with a beautiful ethereal but melancholic voice, which got Trin's attention to listen to the lyrics.

A piece of me in your eyes
Reminds me of what's forgotten
I need to get closer to the fire
And feel my own reflection

A piece of me needs to die

As she dabbed her face with a towel, she looked at herself in the mirror. Trin's hazel eyes stared back at her with fear, never a good thing.

A seed of the fatal kind
No roots to grow and thrive
Some things weren't meant to stay alive
Aborted while still in mind

You gave me a sword to pierce a lie
Serrated edge for the demon inside
A moment I'm torn between two tides
But all I need I bear inside

"What are you doing, Trin?" she asked her reflection, "He's a good kid; those are natural concerns." Trin held the towel over her face to absorb some of the water, then she screamed into it.

Fear is a self-destructing fire
That burns what's dead and dry
Tears clean the wound that's left behind
When a shadow is forced into light

You gave me a sword to pierce a lie
Serrated edge for the demon inside
A moment I'm torn between two tides
But all I need I bear inside

Lowering the towel, she looked at herself. "He does need a male role model," Trin told her reflection, "You've raised him among the women, and Angela doesn't count as a male role model. This would have been easier if you didn't selfishly choose to live in New York. You tell yourself it live in New York. You tell yourself it was to keep him away from Brian and his bad influences. You can't admit it yourself; it's because you wanted to live in New York."

Broken Mirror
Beauty divides
Though it's an illusion
It can cut like a knife

Don't try to give me what I think I deserve
It's mine to find

Shaking her head, Trin hung up the towel and looked at herself in the mirror. The person looking back at her stood there, judging her. Trin nodded; she's felt judged for all her sins, past, present, and future. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and accepted she deserved this harsh judgment.

You gave me a sword to pierce a lie
Serrated edge for the demon inside
A moment I'm torn between two tides
But all I need I bear inside