Chapter 264: Greenwich
Friday, January 27th, Evening
Packing was never a happy thing for her. Travel used to have such joy to her and excitement, but that has changed. It first took her away from home and her close friends. Later it was friends that left college to move on. Next, it was the departure of teammates. Between Church and herself, Angela watched as one moved on to another assignment, game, city, or team. Now it usually means Angela would leave Jess behind. Today, she packed to return to Tree Hill.
Looking up from her bed and packing, she looked at pictures on the wall. The events of her life Angela chose to remember. She was looking up at a photo of her and Church with a six-year-old Jess in front of them. It was the last time she saw Church, alive; she remembered watching him pack, not understanding the world changed as he put things slowly in his bag.
Angela closed her bag and put it on the floor. She took a seat on the bed and removed another picture from the wall. Looking it over, Angela traced a finger over the figures in the picture. The figures in the picture were of Angela and Jess, and it was a memory of just a year ago. Angela nodded and hung the picture back on the wall.
Leaning back, she looked at the ceiling and sighed. Angela reached to the nightstand and pulled over remote control. Clicking the power button on the remote and her music started to play. Angela closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. Music relaxed her, and that's a good thing.
A gentle knock broke her peace on her open door. Angela opened her eyes and turned to the door. Jess stood there with a quizzical look on her face.
"Yes?" Angela asked.
"What are you doing?" Jess asked.
Angela tapped the bed beside her, "Come here, and I'll tell you," Angela said.
Jess nodded, slowly entering the room, taking a seat next to Angela. Angela wrapped an arm around her daughter and pulled her close. Reaching up on the wall, while looking over her shoulder, she brought down an old picture and put it before her and Jess.
"Do you remember this day?" Angela asked.
"That's Daddy's place in Virginia," Jess said.
Angela moved her hand from around Jess up to around Jess's head. Gently, Angela stroked Jess's hair. "Remember we use to live there when it was the off-season?" Angela asked.
Jess nodded, "This was the cookout we did before Daddy went on deployment for the last time," Jess said.
Angela nodded, "Yeah, we roasted a pig that day," she said.
Jess nodded, "It was the last time we saw him," she said.
"Yeah," Angela said, and mournfully nodded, "it was."
"Do you miss him? I miss him," Jess said.
"I think about your Dad every day," Angela said.
Jess reached up to her neck and grabbed her necklace. Hanging from it is a large gold class ring. Jess slowly rubbed the ring with her small fingers on the golden ring. It hung heavy around her neck; she rarely took it off except when she competed in sports and showered. Jess was six when Spencer Grady, her grandmom, gave her the ring, but Jess only started wearing it about two years ago.
"So, do I," Jess said.
Angela hung the picture back on the wall. Jess looked at Angela and nodded.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Angela asked.
"I wanted to know if I was going to spend time with any of my cousins," Jess said.
"We're staying at Brooke's place, so is Nomi and Ellis," Angela said.
"What about Key and PJ?" Jess asked.
Angela shrugged, "I've not spoken to Chase," she said, "But knowing Chase, you'll see the Burke Horde."
Jess nodded; she looked up at the picture. There was one of three brunettes and one blonde. Jess nodded to the image of her younger self. Slowly, a smirk covered her face, but she remained silent.
Angela studied her daughter and knew Jess well enough to know what she's thinking. Finally, Jess nodded.
"I hope I get to see them," Jess said.
Angela nodded, "I hope so, too," she said, "So, is your packing finished?"
Jess looked at Angela, "Mostly," she said.
A smirk crossed Angela's face. "Well, I'd get off my bed and finish. We have an early day tomorrow," Angela said.
Jess nodded, and slowly she stood up. Looking over her shoulder, she studied Angela. After a pregnant pause, Jess slowly started to leave the room. Angela studied Jess' non-movement.
"I'd get moving if I was you," Angela said.
Jess nodded and kicked it into gear. After a mere moment, Angela was left alone in her room again. Angela got off her bed and looked at the photographs that Jess looked at. The picture from the last year when she last visited Tree Hill. By a fluke, it was around the same time as all four girl's birthdays. PJ is the oldest, then followed by Jess, Nomi, and Key was the group's baby. Over the years, Angela, Chase, and Izzy tried to keep the girls close, even with Angela living far away.
"Thinking about the pact you and the Adams girls made?" Karen asked.
"What pact would that be?" Angela asked.
"That you would try and keep your daughters as friends," Karen said.
Angela shrugged, "Most of them are related in some way," she said.
"That's true; Jess is the oddest one out," Karen said.
"Someone has to be," Angela said.
"So, we're getting close to this whole thing, nervous?" Karen asked.
"I don't know," Angela said, "I've been inducted to a ring of honor before."
"This, I think, is different," Karen said.
"How so, Mom?" Angela asked.
"This is a family thing in a small town," Karen said.
"That's one way of putting it," Angela said.
"One way? The only way, Angela Baby, this was, is, a big deal for the town, and four of the people being honored have the last name Scott," Karen said.
Angela sighed, "I'm happy they are bringing us back, and I can't wait to see my teammates, but it's just the beginning of my journey," she said.
"It's said you never forget your first," Karen said.
"But which first, Mom?" Angela asked, "This one is special to me, but not because of why you suspect."
"What reason would that be?" Karen asked.
"It's the only championship I was part of with Ashlyn," Angela said.
Karen nodded, "I see," she said, suspecting this was the truth.
"I still have to bring my bags downstairs," Angela said.
"Why haven't you?" Karen asked.
"'Cause I just finished packing, and you just missed your granddaughter," Angela said.
"I saw her heading to her room," Karen said.
"Yeah, she's not finished yet," Angela said.
"Maybe I should check on her," Karen said, "Light a fire under her."
Angela shook her head, "No, Mom, she's my responsibility, and I'll check on her in a half-hour," she said.
"Are you sure?" Karen asked.
"Positive," Angela said.
"Well then, good night," Karen said.
"You're going to check on her anyway, aren't you?" Angela asked.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," Karen said.
"Okay, and good night, Mom," Angela said.
After Karen left, Angela looked back at her pictures and focused on one with her, Ashlyn, and Ashton from high school. Yes, there were somethings she looked forward to.
