Chapter 289 Elephant in the Room

Monday, January 30th, Evening

Izzy noticed the discussion between Ivy and Trin was getting animated. Ivy hung on every one of Trin's words. Trin got the storytelling gift from their mom and knew how to use it. Trin had a plan, and it seemed telling her story is a big part of it or the key.

"Wow, are you some sort of Wonder Woman?" Ivy asked. Score one for Trin, Ivy's hooked.

"No, just a lot of love and support," Trin said.

"That's good, I guess," Ivy said, not sure how to respond.

"Support," Izzy said, trying to take the wind out of the sympathy train, and laughed, "Trin's such a go-getter she moved up in the company and lives on the Upper East Side."

"Nice," Ivy said and looked away. Izzy noted her cheeks were a bit flushed. There were also gears turning in Ivy's head, time to take advantage.

Izzy looked out of the corner of her eye, noticing Trin watching her. Time to checkmate her, Izzy nodded. "What's on your mind, Ivy?" Izzy asked.

"Can you tell me something about Kay?" Ivy asked.

"Sure, I can do my best," Izzy said.

"Tell me what you know about her accident," Ivy said.

Izzy looked over to Ashlyn. The older woman's face took a sour expression. Izzy felt her face getting pale; of the four women at the table, only Ashlyn and Izzy were here for what happened.

"Oh, boy!" Trin said, knowing the story.

Izzy sighed and composed herself and leveled her voice the best she could. "I'll try my best," she said.

"Okay," Ivy said.

"First, what do you know?" Izzy asked, trying to keep things level in her voice and at the table.

"That she got in an accident, her ex-girlfriend was driving, it screwed up her shoulder, and by extension her career," Ivy said.

"Izzy?" Trin asked.

"Trying to phrase it right," Izzy said, and nodded, "Kay was home for a few weeks from France, and her girlfriend, at the time, was also in town. They were having issues and went out to work on them. You know that Kay doesn't like to drive and is scared to drive, right?"

Ivy nodded, "Yes, and she chose her apartment to be close to the El train," she said.

"So, Connie drove; Connie is Kay's ex, she had some form of expensive European Sports Car. Connie drove fast and reckless, usually scaring the crap out of Kay most of the time," Izzy said.

"What was going on that night?" Ivy asked.

"Connie picked up Kay from Leighton, she kept an apartment over the Carriage House there, and according to Kay and Chase, they went to TRIC. They had some drinks and didn't talk much about important things. It happened on the day of a winter storm, which started to get worse. They were heading home with Ivy driving, hit an ice patch and bounced off a parked car or a few, ended up hitting another car, and a telephone pole," Izzy said.

"My God," Ivy said, "That's what happened to her shoulder?"

"Several of those impacts were on the passenger side where Kay was sitting in the car. The surgeon told Lucas it was one of the worse shoulder injuries they've seen. Uncle Nathan pulled some strings to get her into the best shoulder surgeon for follow up surgeries," Izzy said.

Ivy looked shocked, "That's why she's getting the tattoo?" she asked.

"There were several surgeries and multiple scars which messed up the look of her shoulder," Izzy said and took a sip of her beer.

"What happened to Connie?" Ivy asked.

Izzy sighed. "Connie hit her head, reportedly multiple times, and had a massive TBI, and is still in a vegetative state," she said.

"Oh my god," Ivy said, "What's her last name?"

"Garland, Constance Garland," Izzy said.

"Any relation to Carrie Garland?" Ivy asked.

"Connie is Carrie's second daughter," Izzy said.

"Second daughter?" Ivy asked.

"They are a large family," Izzy said.

"Why would Carrie Garland email Kay?" Ivy asked.

"Carrie thinks Kay should still be with Connie, even though she's in a vegetative state," Izzy said.

Ivy nodded, "I'm almost afraid to ask what happened to the other car?" she asked.

Izzy glanced over to Ashlyn. Ashlyn nodded and looked back at Izzy.

"I think Ashlyn would be better to explain that," Izzy said.

"Do I have to?" Ashlyn asked.

Izzy nodded, "Yeah," she said.

"Okay?" Ivy asked.

"The passengers in the other vehicle were my sister and her family," Ashlyn said.

"Oh my god! What happened?" Ivy asked.

Ashlyn sighed, "My sister was killed instantly on impact; her step-son lived long enough to get to the hospital. My brother-in-law hung on for about a week before he succumbed. My niece and nephew went to my parents, and my surviving step-nephew went to his uncle," Ashlyn said.

"Why didn't you get your niece or nephew?" Ivy asked.

"My sister and I weren't close, and I've been estranged from my family since I was eighteen. I've not seen my niece and nephew since that night. My sister was trying to mend our shattered relationship, but it was cut short," Ashlyn said.

Ivy nodded, "How about your step-nephew?" she asked.

"I see him every day at the high school," Ashlyn said.

"What does he call you at school?" Ivy asked.

"Mrs. Pierce-Scott in the school, and the field house, I'm Coach Pierce-Scott," Ashlyn said.

"Out of school?" Ivy asked.

"We don't talk," Ashlyn said, her face turned down, and Izzy noticed her lower lip was starting to quiver. Izzy reached out with her hand and rested it on Ashlyn's wrist.

"How are you getting all this?" Izzy asked.

"Why would she keep that from me?" Ivy asked.

"Would you share this?" Izzy asked.

"I don't know," Ivy said.

"Kay is not one to share things normally, as you already know," Trin said.

"I just don't know," Ivy said.

"Well, Kay has always been the shyest of the Scotts. Brian's a class second," Trin said.

"Oh, but from what you told me, Brian was self-centered and arrogant," Ivy said.

"So, was Kay before the accident," Trin said.

Ivy nodded, "Okay," she said.

Izzy smiled and looked the table over. The tension is high, probably the highest it had been all night. Ashlyn had painful memories dredged up. Ivy probably had her faith in her relationship with Kay shaken. Trin, on the other hand, seemed to be in sheer delight.

"Have I ever told you the story of the night that Keith and I got engaged?" Izzy asked, looking at Ashlyn.

Ashlyn shook her head, "No, other than it happened on the weekend he visited you in New Haven," Ashlyn said.

Izzy turned to Trin, "Did I tell you?" she asked.

"No, I don't think so," Trin said.

Izzy looked to Ivy. "Do you want to hear that story?" she asked.

Ivy canted her head then straightened her head. Slowly, almost in the sense of caution, she nodded. "Sure," she said.

"Well, maybe first we should get another pitcher, maybe some more snacks, because I'm going to tell you about one hell of a wild night," Izzy said.