Chapter 523: Jamlyn
Tuesday, February 21st, Morning
The alarm went off, and she slapped the alarm clock, silent. Sitting up in her bed, looking over to the other side of the bed, her husband was still asleep. Rolling out of bed, she grabbed her robe and headed to her children's rooms.
Ashlyn started in Maeghan's room, the younger of her daughters. The tween was beginning to show the morning temperament of a teenager. The blonde eight-year-old grumbled and fought but finally gave up. Maeghan got out of bed and fumbled her way to her bathroom.
The next stop on Ashlyn's personal pain train was her sons' rooms. First, it was Landen, but he wasn't in a fighting mood; he got up and wandered to his bathroom. Logan was already up and dressed. Ashlyn smiled, returned to her bedroom, and dressed for work.
Leaving her bedroom, James could get his own breakfast; Ashlyn collected her children and headed downstairs. Once in the kitchen, she found the three newest residents of Jamlyn already there. Joplin and AB were sitting at the table waiting; they were in their school uniforms. Buck stood at the stove cooking.
"Morning, sit down; breakfast will be ready soon," Buck said.
"Thanks," Ashlyn said, "Now find a seat," she said to her kids.
"Ashlyn, I couldn't find your lard," Buck said.
"We don't use it," Ashlyn said.
"You don't?" Buck asked.
"Nope," Ashlyn said.
Buck shook his head.
Maeghan, Landen, and Logan took seats at the table. Ashlyn took her seat at the end of the table. Buck finished cooking; he made up eight plates and brought them over to the table two at a time. Once he was done, he sat down.
Buck, Joplin, and AB bowed their head for prayer. Ashlyn quickly got her three to look at least like they said their grace. Once done, they tore into the food.
"No, James?" Buck asked.
"He's on vacation, so I didn't wake him, plus he's a grown man. He can get himself up," Ashlyn said.
"Okay," Buck said, "You have a game tonight."
"Yes, we're opening the state tournament tonight," Ashlyn said.
"Neutral site?" Buck asked.
"No, we were high enough seed; we're hosting," Ashlyn said.
"Who are you playing?" Buck asked.
"Riverside-Durham," Ashlyn said.
"They should be tired after that trip," Buck said.
"Can't count on that," Ashlyn said.
"What's the game plan?" Buck asked.
"Go out there and win. Pretty much what we've always done," Ashlyn said.
"Brett would benefit from a showtime style offense," Buck said.
"A little late now," Ashlyn said, "Anyway, Lucas likes the pace and discipline of the triangle."
"But Y'all ran," Buck said.
"They ran; I watched that from the bench; remember, I had the bad wheel even back then," Ashlyn said.
"It was always fun watching you, Ashton, and Angela play together," Buck said.
Ashlyn looked over to Maeghan. "Stop rolling your eyes and finish your breakfast, Maeghan," Ashlyn said.
"But Momma, we're talking sports at the table," Maeghan said.
"You're right, but they are new and haven't learned the rules yet," Ashlyn said.
"But Momma…." Maeghan said.
"No, buts, Maeghan, eat your breakfast," Ashlyn said.
Ashlyn turned back to her breakfast. Buck looked at his daughter. Ashlyn nodded and turned to Buck. "Yes?" Ashlyn asked.
"You don't talk sports at the table?" Buck asked.
"When the family sits down together for a meal, we don't discuss sports," Ashlyn said.
"Who came up with that rule?" Buck asked.
"James," Ashlyn said.
"James?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yes, James," Ashlyn said.
"Why would he do that?" Buck asked.
"His great-grandma made up the rule years ago," Ashlyn said.
"So, he brought it to his house?" Buck asked.
"Maeghan isn't a sports fan, so it's out of respect for her," Ashlyn said.
"Maeghan's not a sports fan?" Buck asked, "With three great basketball players in the family, how could she?"
"I'm sitting right here," Maeghan said.
"Finish your breakfast," Ashlyn said, "She's her own person, and we choose to respect that."
Buck nodded. Ashlyn finished her breakfast and cleared her place at the table. After finishing washing off her plate, Ashlyn looked over at the table, watching her kids; to make sure they were finishing their breakfast.
"Logan, finish your breakfast," Ashlyn said.
"Yes, Momma," Logan said.
Maeghan finished her breakfast and cleared her place at the table. She looked at Ashlyn. Ashlyn sighed and walked over to Maeghan. Slowly and carefully, Ashlyn adjusted some of Maeghan's clothes.
"Go, get your stuff for school," Ashlyn said.
"Yes, Momma," Maeghan said and headed off.
"Boys, are you done?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yes, Momma," Logan said.
"Yes, Momma," Landen said.
"Go, get your school stuff," Ashlyn said.
"Yes, Momma," Logan said.
"Yes, Momma," Landen said, and the two boys headed off.
"Where are they going?" Buck asked.
"I have a friend that lives near their school; they spend some time there, then come home after," Ashlyn said.
"I could bring them to school," Buck said.
"No, I don't want to change too much," Ashlyn said.
Buck nodded, "Okay," he said.
Before Ashlyn could say anything, her kids returned. Ashlyn herded them to her car. Once inside the vehicle, Ashlyn made sure they were secured. Once she got behind the wheel, she pulled out of Jamlyn and headed out.
