Chapter 535: Jamlyn
Thursday, February 23rd, Morning
As he rolled out of bed and into the bathroom, the room was dark. After a hot shower to wake himself up, he dressed in a comfortable travel suit. Walking around the bedroom in the pre-dawn darkness, he made sure he had everything and packed the last few things he needed to bring. He planned this trip to the minute, catching the last flight he could return. The vacation is over, and back to work.
Ashlyn watched James get ready to leave the bedroom. She pretended to be still asleep, but she slept lightly every day he would leave to return to Miami. Once James got out of bed to get ready, she would be woken up; Ashlyn would pretend to sleep and watch him; to catch that last glimpse.
James finished packing and closed his bag. He looked over to the bed, and Ashlyn noticed he paused, almost hesitated; he shook his head and sighed. Finally, he slowly walked over to her side of the bed.
Ashlyn closed her eyes and listened. His breath was a bit ragged, but finally, he leaned down and kissed her. Ashlyn felt James's lips dragged across her skin to her ear. His breath felt warm against her skin.
"I have to go; I will miss you and love you. I'll call from Miami when I get there," James said.
Ashlyn felt him move away, and disappointment filled her heart. Gently, she opened her eyes to watch him grab his bags and leave the room. Waiting for a few heartbeats, Ashlyn rolled out of bed and walked to the bedroom door.
Opening the door just a crack, Ashlyn could see James walking over to the wing with their children's rooms. James would slowly disappear into each room; his bags were still in the hall. One by one, he would disappear into each room. Finally, after saying what she assumed were his goodbyes, he took up his bags and headed downstairs.
Ashlyn left her bedroom and crept over to each of her children's rooms. She looked in after each of them as they slept soundly in their beds. Finally, she left the last bedroom and walked to the front of the house.
From the front window, she watched as James and the car service driver loaded the car. Ashlyn noticed be took one last look around the house before getting into the car and leaving. Ashlyn watched from the window until the car left the driveway.
Ashlyn sighed and knew she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Shaking her head, she headed downstairs and to the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she walked over to the Keurig and made herself a cup of coffee.
Once the coffee was ready, she sat and sipped her coffee. Days like these hurt, as she missed having James around, but she wondered if they could live together after all these years where they mostly lived apart.
They had come a long way from a pair of seventeen-year-olds dancing together at Club TRIC. Peyton still ran TRIC back then, and they had just started their senior year. Basketball hadn't started yet; it was only their first day of school. It was James's first day at Tree Hill High School. Before she blew out her knee again, before James knew about Brett, times changed.
Ashlyn sipped her coffee and remembered that she wore heels that night; she hardly wore heels. They danced and talked. It was sweet and innocent. The conversation they had was playful but had a serious tone to it. Ashlyn knew, only after finding out later, that James was telling her, without revealing to her, that he was in love with her.
Ashlyn reflected that so much changed that night. That was the night she knew what was happening with James was not some high school thing. That was also where Huck, her ex, the dad of her oldest, seemed down the same path that she and James started. Ashlyn found it funny that three couples she knew, herself included, met and dated in high school; that's odd.
After another sip of her coffee, she looked up to see her dad walking into the kitchen.
"You're up early," Buck said.
"Couldn't sleep," Ashlyn said.
"Is James still in bed?" Buck asked as he started to rummage around for a coffee mug.
"He left to return to Miami," Ashlyn said.
"How long is he going to keep doing this?" Buck asked.
"He got two years left on his contract," Ashlyn said.
"Will James hang it up then?" Buck asked as he made himself a cup of coffee.
"We haven't discussed it yet, but ultimately it's his choice," Ashlyn said.
"Does he have a plan for life after basketball?" Buck asked.
"He mentioned he wanted to help manage some of the family holdings," Ashlyn said.
"That seems like a letdown; I'd thought he'd want to coach," Buck said.
Ashlyn sipped at her coffee, "I think he wants to be home," she said.
"Okay," Buck said and finished making his coffee.
"So, why are you up so early?" Ashlyn asked.
"Been like this for years," Buck said and joined Ashlyn.
"Why?" she asked.
"After you moved out…." Buck started to say.
"Kicked out," Ashlyn corrected.
"And Savannah got married, I would get up early to have time to myself and my thoughts," Buck said.
"Why would you need time to yourself?" Ashlyn asked.
"Your mom could be a handful, and I would need time to recharge," Buck said.
"Why did you stay with her?" Ashlyn asked.
Buck shrugged, "After all these years, I didn't think I could've, and anyways your mom did believe in divorce," he said.
"It sounds like Stockholm Syndrome," Ashlyn said.
"Those in glass houses, Ash," Buck said.
"Maybe," Ashlyn said.
"So, why did Brett pick Norte Dame? I'd figure she would be sure in for Duke," Buck said.
"It was her choice; I know Angela was trying to get her to go to UCONN," Ashlyn said.
"But a Catholic School?" Buck asked.
"That's Brett's choice," Ashlyn said.
"So, when am I going to meet my oldest granddaughter?" Buck asked.
"Give it time," Ashlyn said.
"She's the only grandchild I've yet met," Buck said.
"Be patient," Ashlyn said, finished her coffee, got up, washed her mug, turned to Buck, and said, "I'm going to take a shower."
Ashlyn left the kitchen, leaving Buck bewildered.
