Chapter 413: Miami Game

Friday, February 10th, Evening

The door closed at Jamlyn, and Ashlyn paused, pressing her hand against the wood door. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe, but it only came in short stutters. Finally, she opened her eyes.

"Good luck, and have fun, Baby Girl," Ashlyn said and removed her hand from the door. Slowly, she sidestepped to the window and watched the limo drive away. With a sigh, Ashlyn turned and walked away.

She was looking around the house, looking around the walls and furniture. It was warm-ish and all Ashlyn's choices, but the furniture didn't feel right. None of the decorations on the walls featured basketball; that was something that made Ashlyn wonder, who chose that? Because she didn't remember having that conversation.

Finally, Ashlyn came to the kitchen and looked over the cabinets. Taking several deep breaths, she walked over to the fridge and took out some leftovers. Ashlyn put the leftovers in the microwave and heated them up.

Once the microwave went off, Ashlyn took the leftovers out. She reached into the cabinet and took out four plates. Carefully, Ashlyn put out the plates and flatware on the breakfast bar. Next, Ashlyn divided up the leftovers onto the four plates.

Ashlyn walked over to the wall and clicked on the intercom. "Dinner," Ashlyn said into the intercom.

A few minutes later, her three younger children arrived in the kitchen. Ashlyn looked them over and nodded. "Wash your hands," Ashlyn said.

The three children formed a line at the kitchen sink. Ashlyn watched as they each finished up and came to the breakfast bar. Each one started to eat; Ashlyn slowly enjoyed her meal.

"Why are we having this again?" Logan asked.

"Because we didn't eat it all," Ashlyn said.

"So?" Landen asked.

"There are starving children in the world," Ashlyn said.

"So, Brett is gone?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, she went to New York," Ashlyn said.

"With Aunt Brooke," Maeghan said.

"Oh?" Landen asked.

"Why with Aunt Brooke?" Logan asked.

"She's working for Aunt Brooke," Maeghan said.

"Okay," Landen said and picked at his food.

"Alright," Logan said.

"So, what are we doing tonight?" Maeghan asked.

"Your dad has a game tonight, so the usual," Ashlyn said.

"Oh joy, just hanging in our rooms," Maeghan said.

"That's the rules," Landen said, poking at his food.

Ashlyn nodded, "Finish up," she said.

"Why?" Maeghan asked.

"That's what we always do," Logan said and poked at his plate.

Ashlyn sighed as she finished up her dinner. She looked at the kids, "We have to clean up before the game," she said.

"Yes, Momma," Maeghan said.

"Yes, Momma," Landen said.

"Yes, Momma," Logan said.

"So, finish up if you want to listen to the game," Ashlyn said.

"Yes, Momma," Logan said.

"Yes, Momma," Maeghan said.

Ashlyn watched as her three youngest cubs finished their dinner. Once they finished, Landen started to clean the dishes, as it was his turn. Logan got up from the breakfast bar and went to the sink. Maeghan also joined Logan at the sink, retrieved a sponge, and washed down the breakfast bar.

After a moment, Logan started washing off the dishes. As he put them in the dish rack, his brother opened the dishwasher, and Landen began to unload it. Maeghan finished wiping down the breakfast bar and straightened out the stools. Landen put the clean dishes away and then loaded the dirty dishes. Once Logan finished rinsing the dishes, he wiped down the counter and sink. Maeghan collected the trash bag and took it out to the cans.

Ashlyn nodded with approval as her young cubs left the kitchen. Maeghan returned to the kitchen and replaced the trash bag. Maeghan left the kitchen; once she finished the task, she headed upstairs.

Alone in the kitchen, Ashlyn looked around. For a moment, Ashlyn stared at the cabinet where the bottles of wine were kept. With a snort, Ashlyn followed her kids out of the kitchen. Walking slowly upstairs, Ashlyn listened to see what the kids were up to. When she reached the upper floor, she could hear a shower running—carefully making her way down the hallway. At each door, Ashlyn would lean against the door and listen. After making sure each child was doing what they were supposed to be doing.

Ashlyn finally arrived in the master bedroom. She checked the game schedule after she turned on the TV. After finding the channel that the game was on, she set the TV to it. Staring at the TV, Ashlyn nodded and started to undress. Once naked, Ashlyn went into the master bathroom and started the shower. Once the water was warm enough, Ashlyn climbed into the shower.

In the shower, Ashlyn leaned her forehead against the tiled wall. The warm water flowed over her body as she just tried to disconnect. After a moment, she looked down at her knee and studied the road map of scars on it. Flexing her knee, Ashlyn studied the worn and sometimes jittery movement of the knee. Over the sounds of the artificial rain, Ashlyn could hear and feel the creaking and popping of the knee.

After another deep breath, Ashlyn straightened up and started to wash. Once she finished, Ashlyn washed her hair. Upon completing, she shut off the shower and got out. Carefully, Ashlyn wrapped a towel around her head, ensuring her hair was all tucked into the towel turban. Once she settled her hair, Ashlyn wrapped a towel around herself.

Entering her bedroom, Ashlyn looked at herself in the mirror. Sitting down, Ashlyn took off the hair towel. After some patting down of her hair, Ashlyn put the towel down she picked up her hairbrush. Brushing her hair, Ashlyn studied the look in her eye; she looked tired.

After she brushed her hair, Ashlyn stood up, put her brush down, and got dressed into her well-worn in, faded Duke University sweatpants and a worn-down button-up flannel shirt. As she buttons the last button, Ashlyn looked at the TV.

The pre-game show was winding down. With a quick nod, Ashlyn left her master bedroom and walked down the hall. Ashlyn checked into the bedrooms of her three kids that were home. Each one was in their room doing things. Maeghan was listening to music and reading a book. The twins were in their respective rooms, listening to the basketball game playing on their radios and in their beds.

Ashlyn returned to the master bedroom and took her place on the California King Sized Bed. Leaning against the headboard, Ashlyn watched the basketball game. Miami was on a road trip and a winning streak; tonight, they were playing in Brooklyn.

Getting comfortable, Ashlyn took the game in and would look at the crowd. James, as always, started the game at point guard. Ashlyn watched her husband run the offense and defense of his team. One thing that was becoming clear is this game was going to be high scoring.

Ashlyn started to tune out the game. She found herself playing with her fingernails. Sometime near the end of the first quarter, Ashlyn reached for the nightstand and retrieved her book. Opening the book to where she left off, Ashlyn started reading again. Ashlyn enjoyed Dan Brown's Inferno; the chase across Florence made Ashlyn long to see the famed birthplace of the Renaissance. Ashlyn knew that she and James never got to visit Italy; that was something they talked about while they were at Duke and before they had their three young children.

Ashlyn remembered the one time she and James did go somewhere together. It was the only time James played for Team USA in the Olympics. They got to spend time together and got to see the local site. Ashlyn wished she could've done more things like that with James.

Halftime came; Ashlyn put her book down and got out of bed. Leaving the master bedroom, she went down the hall. At each bedroom door, Ashlyn would pause, take a breath, open the door, and checked on each of her cubs.

Once she finished checking on her kids, Ashlyn returned to the master bedroom. After getting into bed, Ashlyn picked up her smartphone and turned off the household lights. Ashlyn got comfortable in bed again and checked to see if the game started again.

With a shrug, Ashlyn picked up her book again and kept reading. Doctor Langdon and his companion were making their way to the Baptistery of Saint John. Ashlyn was beginning to enjoy this novel.

Every so often, Ashlyn would look up over the top of the book. The game took on a run and gun style. Ashlyn nodded; this game would be decided by whoever scored last.

Finally, Ashlyn closed the book and placed it on her nightstand. The last few minutes of the game seemed to be nothing but a flurry of baskets; where was the defense on either side? This was another reason she didn't like watching NBA Games.

The game ended with Miami winning 108-99. James led Miami in both scoring, 21, and assists, 5. James would be in some form of a good mood tonight, Ashlyn noted.

Ashlyn's smartphone buzzed. Ashlyn looked at her phone; it was too early for James to be contacting her. Shaking her head, Ashlyn picked up her smartphone and saw a text message, which she opened.

Brett: I'm safe in New York.