Chapter 300: At the Table

Monday, January 30th, Evening

Ashlyn looked at Izzy, who seemed possessed to tell the story of her oldest son. Izzy's fingers were turning white as she gripped her beer glass. Ashlyn noted the tension in Izzy's face, shoulders, and forearms. She's never seen Izzy this bad, but no one to the person ever asks her about Adam.

Slowly, Ashlyn turned to Ivy. The woman from Chicago was becoming paler and paler as Izzy told her story. Ashlyn noted the twinkle of regret in Ivy's eyes. Ivy never expected this story. Of course, life isn't all wine and roses, but this story was stinkweed and gray water.

Finally, Ashlyn turned to look at Trin, the instigator of this event tonight. Say many things about Trin; one thing was she would never hurt her sisters. Trin's face was a mask of horror. The youngest Adams woman was reaping what she sowed.

"Izzy, stop," Trin said; there are a crack and a whine in her voice, Ashlyn noted, desperation to end this story.

"How was Adam, you asked?" Izzy asked, looking directly at Ivy. The woman from Chicago was freaked out. "Adam was a small, sweat, sickly three-month-old boy, who cooed when I held him close to my heart," Izzy said and played with her beer glass. "He came into my life unexpected and left too early."

Izzy turned to Trin. Trin got even paler if it was even possible. Ashlyn had seen the Adams women do to each other when they were pleased with one and another. They would straighten each other out with this death glare. Ashlyn often wondered was it genetic, but she never Keni do it? Brooke, on the other hand, mastered it and could tame almost anyone with her glare.

"Izzy, why do you torture yourself?" Ashlyn finally asked, breaking the eerie silence and out of genuine concern.

Izzy held up a hand, telling Ashlyn to give her a moment. Ashlyn knew Izzy was re-centering herself and sat still. Suddenly, Izzy shook her head.

"Izzy, please say something," Ashlyn said.

Izzy took a deep breath, held it, and finally let it go. "As painful it is to tell that story, in some ways, it's therapeutic," Izzy said.

"Are you sure?" Ashlyn asked.

Izzy nodded, took her napkin, and dried the corners of her eyes. "Yes," Izzy said.

Ashlyn noticed that Ivy tried to hide her grabbing her other head to stop it from trembling. Ivy's color started to return to her face but kept going until she's bright red.

Ashlyn nodded at Izzy, then turned to Ivy. "Ivy, are you okay?" Ashlyn asked.

Ivy suddenly shot to her feet. "I should've asked," Ivy mumbled, shook her head, and walked away.

Ashlyn turned to Izzy and shrugged.

"I need to talk to her," Izzy said.

"Why you?" Ashlyn asked.

"'cause she needs to know from me it's okay," Izzy said.

Ashlyn nodded, "Good point," she said.

"Can you two manage without me?" Izzy asked.

Ashlyn nodded and cracked a slight smile. "I think we can manage," she said and showed a bit of a fang.

"Okay, I'll be back," Izzy said, stood up, grabbed her coat, and followed Ivy.

Ashlyn turned to Trin and bared her fangs. "So, Trin," she said.

"Ashlyn," Trin said.

"So, this support group ides," Ashlyn said.

"Good idea," Trin said.

"If you want to break up a relationship," Ashlyn said.

"Who? Me?" Trin asked.

"Yes, you, and you dragged Izzy and me into this," Ashlyn said.

"I just felt she would benefit from our experiences," Trin said.

"Especially yours," Ashlyn said.

"If it helps, why not?" Trin asked.

Ashlyn found a toothpick and made a big show of picking her teeth hear her canine teeth. "Well, for one, Kay isn't Brian. Sure she's a bit closed off, but she's got the worst introvert behavior from both sides. Secondly, Brian was just a spoiled jerk with ego issues?" she said.

"Brian is a Scott; they all act like that," Trin said.

"Kay acts like that?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yeah, she does," Trin said.

"I've only seen it when it comes to basketball," Ashlyn said.

"Behavior on the court translates to behavior off the court," Trin said.

"Don't use my words against me," Ashlyn said.

"Hurts, doesn't it," Trin said.

"Not as much as something's," Ashlyn said, with a slight sinister hint. Ashlyn was fully aware of women around her age would give her space and avoid getting her angry. Ashlyn also knew the legend of her hot temper had spread. The irony is Ashlyn wasn't quick to anger. When Ashlyn broke the girl's nose her senior year, Ashlyn wasn't angry or out of control; her actions were calm and measured. Doing it with a smile on her face made her more dangerous.

"Going to break my nose?" Trin asked.

"Did I say that?" Ashlyn asked.

"No, but you implied that," Trin said.

"I did no such thing," Ashlyn said.

"I call bullshit on that one," Trin said.

"How do you call bullshit on that one?" Ashlyn asked.

Trin saw Mina coming by. "Mina, can you give us a ruling on something?" Trin asked.

"What, Trin?" Mina asked.

"I said hurts, doesn't it, and Ashlyn said not as much as something," Trin said.

"Yeah, so?" Mina asked.

"Coming from Ashlyn, does that constitute a threat?" Trin asked.

"Are you referring to the rumor where Ashlyn broke Daria Churchill's nose?" Mina asked.

"Yes, it is," Trin said.

Mina sighed, "I was at that party," she said, "Daria was drunk, tried getting in Ashlyn's face, tripped, and broke her nose."

"What? That's not how I remember it," Trin said.

"That's how I remember it, with Kay, James, and Ashlyn carrying a completely plastered Angela out of the house," Mina said.

"Yep, she was totally wasted that night, puking off the deck," Ashlyn said.

"I wonder if she's learned to hold her alcohol," Mina said.

"Yes, she had," Ashlyn said.

"Really? Neither of you is going to admit you broke Daria's nose?" Trin asked.

"Why cop to something I didn't do?" Ashlyn asked.

"Fine, I'm going to ask Rerun," Trin said, stood up, and walked away.

"Please remind Rerun to change the TV to the Miami game," Ashlyn said.

Once Trin was out of earshot, Mina looked at Ashlyn. "You know Rerun wasn't there," Mina said.

"I know," Ashlyn said.

"I know," Ashlyn said.

"You also know damn well you broke her nose," Mina said.

"I do," Ashlyn said.

"It's fun messing with Trin, though," Mina said.

"That it is," Ashlyn said.

"That it is," Ashlyn said.

"Everything okay?" Mina asked.

"Yeah, Ivy and Izzy are just getting air," Ashlyn said.

"Right," Mina said and walked away.