Chapter 348: Beaulieu Manor
Wednesday, February 1st, Evening (Eastern Standard Time)
After a bit of time, Sawyer and Keni settled the four kids into the media room. The eleven-year-old, two ten-year-olds, and the six-year-old got comfortable in the plush leather seats of the media room.
Nomi, in almost what seemed to her establishing her dominance, claimed the remote control. She turned on some channel to watch some kid's program on the large screen television. Ellis, in his way, found his place to sit and entertain himself. That left Jess and Wyatt to sit next to each other.
"Where's your mom?" Wyatt asked.
"She had some sort of call to go over some details of her new contract," Jess said.
"So, her contract is up?" Wyatt asked.
"Yeah," Jess said.
"So, are you moving?" Wyatt asked.
"I don't know; I think my mom wants to stay where we are," Jess said.
"I'd miss your visits if you moved," Wyatt said.
"Even with your two girlfriends?" Jess asked.
"Wait! Wyatt, you have two girlfriends?" Nomi asked.
"I wouldn't consider them girlfriends," Wyatt said.
"C'mon, Wyatt," Jess said.
"I can't believe it," Nomi said.
"Why?" Wyatt asked.
"Well, it's you," Nomi said.
"Funny, Nomi," Wyatt said.
"Wye, you have to admit something is going on," Jess said.
"We're friends, Madam Legrand watches me after school, and she has two girls," Wyatt said.
"Madam Legrand?" Nomi asked.
"She's French," Wyatt said.
"Okay," Nomi said, unsure.
"So, you have two French girlfriends," Jess stated.
"What are we talking about?" Ellie asked.
"Wyatt, having two girlfriends," Nomi said.
"Oh, can I change the channel," Ellis said.
"Yeah," Nomi said and threw the remote to Ellis.
"Thanks," Ellis said and changed the channel.
"No problem," Nomi said; she turned to look to Jess and Wyatt, "So, what were we talking about?"
"Wyatt's two French girlfriends," Jess said.
"I wouldn't consider them totally French," Wyatt said, trying not to turn red.
"What would you consider them?" Jess asked.
"Marguerite and Léa were both born in New York, so, I would say American," Wyatt said.
"Marguerite and Léa are their names?" Nomi asked.
"Yes, I believe that's what I said they were," Wyatt said.
"They're nice names, better than Naomi," Nomi said.
"What's wrong with your name, Nomi? I like your name," Jess said.
"Does anyone actually call you Naomi?" Wyatt asked.
"A few teachers at school," Nomi said.
"Why don't you like your name, Nomi?" Jess asked, confused.
"Some of the boys at school call me, I moan, and then ask me if I do," Nomi said.
"I don't get it," Wyatt said.
"Just boys being jerks, did you tell anyone?" Jess said.
"No, I don't want to be a tattletale," Nomi said.
Wyatt nodded and looked around the room. "What are you watching, Ellis?" he asked.
"Some show," Ellis said.
"Yeah, well, I don't know, maybe," Nomi said.
"Nomi, the boys, shouldn't treat you like that," Jess said.
"But…" Nomi said.
"Why don't you tell your parents?" Jess asked.
"My dad is in Europe, and my mom is in Washington, DC," Nomi said.
"What about Grammy Brooke?" Wyatt asked.
"Maybe, well, I don't know," Nomi said, "Can't we just go back to picking on Wyatt?"
Wyatt leaned back, "My Mom wants me to get involved in something," he said.
"You're a Scott; you should have basketball in your hand," Jess said.
"I don't know about that," Wyatt said.
"Why not, Wye?" Jess asked.
"Not everyone has things planned out, Jess," Wyatt said.
"I hardly have things planned out," Jess said.
"That's hard to tell," Wyatt said.
"Well, I want to play point guard, and they keep putting me in as forward or center," Jess said.
"What does that mean?" Wyatt asked.
"You don't know the positions in basketball?" Nomi asked.
"No, all I know is to put the ball into the hoop," Wyatt said.
"Are you okay, Jess?" Nomi asked.
Jess shook her head, "I just thought I'd never heard a Scott say that," she said.
"Wonders will never cease," Nomi said.
"Is it strange I don't understand basketball?" Wyatt asked.
"For a Scott, I think there is," Jess said.
"Lacy doesn't play that often," Ellis said.
"What?" Wyatt asked.
"Sometimes, when Uncle Nate has us out on the court, Lacy is using chalk to draw on it," Ellis said.
Wyatt and Jess looked at Nomi, who simply nodded. "That sounds like my sister," Wyatt said.
"It's freaking me out," Jess said.
"Aunt Ellie didn't play basketball," Ellis said.
"That's true," Nomi said.
"Yeah, Aunt Libby was a cheerleader," Wyatt said.
"Can we change the subject?" Ellis asked.
"Sure, what's up, Ellis?" Wyatt asked.
"Well, Momma had to leave early today," Ellis said.
"Yeah, why's that?" Wyatt asked.
"Some type of work emergency," Nomi said.
"She didn't get to say goodbye," Ellis said.
"You got to talk to her on the phone, right?" Jess asked.
"Yes," Nomi said.
Ellis nodded his head.
"Did you talk to her, Ellis?" Wyatt asked.
"Yeah, and I think Momma is scared," Ellie said and silenced the room.
