Chapter 542: Hargrove Mansion

Friday, February 24th, Afternoon

Sitting at the desk, she stared at the laptop. Between preparing for March Madness and learning the ins and outs of the new offense, she was stressed. One of the joys was spending time with her daughter. Looking over the top of the laptop, she could look out the open door and see her daughter with her friends in the nearby room.

Angela sighed; she planned on retiring in three years when Jess started high school. Already, Angela had put out feelers for coaching jobs. Part of her mind and heart hoped it would be close to Tree Hill. Angela wanted Jess to embrace her heritage, and learning from Nathan would undoubtedly help her game.

Jess played sports because she wanted to, and in some ways, Angela could see the mix that drove herself and Candi to success. Angela believed the drive, the killer instinct, came from the fiery Roe bloodline. Jess had something of Church in her, Church never gave up, and Angela suspected that's how Church met his end.

Emma and Trisha, those were the names of Jess's two closest friends, sat and giggled at the TV. Angela also has two close friends as Jess does; Ashton and Ashlyn, and they were still important relationships for Angela. Part of Angela didn't want to return home and rip Jess away from her friends. Tisha played with Jess on several school and local sports teams; both were athletes, but Emma wasn't; Emma's family was close with Tisha's.

"Penny, for your thoughts," Andy Hargrove said as he entered the room and sat down by the desk.

"Thinking about my plans, Jess, how they would affect her and should I change them," Angela said.

"Ah, the eternal questions all parents ask," Andy said.

"You never asked those questions," Angela said.

Andy laughed, "Not hardly; your mum and I asked those questions all the time, right up to your graduating from UCONN," he said.

"You never let on," Angela said.

"It's not the place of the child to worry," Andy said.

"Why did you let us stay here?" Angela asked.

Andy nodded, "I love your brother, so don't get me wrong, but Angela, you've been my daughter in everything but blood, and Jess has been my closest grandchild. When I heard you signed with the Liberty, I wanted you two close," he said.

"Is that why you pay for her schooling?" Angela asked.

Andy chuckled, "Maybe I do spoil her a bit much," he said.

Angela smiled, "That you do," she said.

"How is your goddaughter doing in basketball?" Andy asked.

"They are in the Sweet Sixteen if they make it to the Elite Eight and they play on the twenty-eighth," Angela said.

"Are you going to arrange to go down there?" Andy asked.

"Maybe, if they get into the Final Four," Angela said.

"Will you take Jess with you?" Andy asked.

"I don't know; I haven't thought that deeply about it," Angela said.

"Well, your mom and I are going if they are in the championship," Andy said.

"Why?" Angela asked.

"Your mom claims she's been to every one of his championship games, and she doesn't want to break it, very superstitious," Andy said.

"And people say us jocks are like that," Angela said.

"I got in the spirit," Andy said.

"How so?" Angela asked.

"I've been growing a playoff beard," Andy said.

Angela nodded, "Yeah, I can see it," she said, chuckling.

"So, what else is new with Ms. Brett since her grandma died," Andy said.

"According to Ashlyn and Chase, she's spending time with Bobbi-Lee this week," Angela said.

"That's odd; I wonder why," Andy said.

"Ashlyn moved her dad, niece, and nephew into Jamlyn, and I guess she wants to minimize the chaos," Angela said.

"That's one thing you can say about the Pierces is they are a chaotic lot," Andy said.

"What makes you say that?" Angela asked.

"Having to get Ashlyn's thong out of the ceiling fan for one," Andy said.

Angela chuckled and shook her head, "Poor Ashlyn, she's never going to live that one down," she said.

"No, she won't," Andy said.

"There has to be more," Angela said.

Andy shrugged, "Nothing really, other than I never liked Maddie and always thought Buck was a doormat," he said.

Angela nodded grimly.

"Ashlyn gets her she-bear attitude from her mom, but she had enough of her dad in her to temper her," Andy said.

Angela leaned back and looked at the three 'tween girls in the other room. "I wish I could be as fierce as Ashlyn when it comes to Jess," she said.

"You're the exact parent that Jess needs," Andy said.

"Okay," Angela said.

Angela's phone rang; she reached and picked up her phone. She looked at it and turned to Andy.

"It's Dash," Angela said.

"Dashiell?" Andy asked.

"Yeah, he's temporary up at the subbase," Angela said.

"Well, say hi to Travis for me," Andy said.

"I will," Angela said.

Andy nodded, stood up, and walked out of the room. Angela watched as Andy wandered into the other to spend time with Jess and her friends. With a smile and a nod, Angela answered the phone.

"Hey Dash, what's up?" Angela asked.

"What are you doing this weekend, Angie?" Dash asked.

"Not much; why?" Angela asked.

"I'm off this weekend, but I'm on call and can't go far," Dash said.

"Okay, what do you want to do?" Angela asked.

"Why don't you come out here to the Sub Force Museum?" Dash asked.

"I don't think Jess would like it," Angela said.

"It's outside the gate, and I'll be there," Dash said.

"I'm not promising anything, but I'll speak to her," Angela said.

"I can't wait to see my girls," Dash said.

"Okay, Dash, I'll talk to you later," Angela said.

"Talk to you later," Dash said and hung up.

Angela shrugged and looked at her computer. What was she getting herself into now?