Chapter 613: Jamlyn

Wednesday, March 8th, Evening

Parking her car in the drive, she pulled herself out from behind the car wheel. She wandered to her front door, feeling little or less pain. Having the feeling of no pain but not quite drunk, she looked down the foyer; with dim eyes, she could see her dad standing there.

"Rerun's triple margaritas?" Buck asked.

Ashlyn shook her head, "No, ale," she said.

"Over served?" Buck asked.

Ashlyn held up her hand with two fingers, just a little apart. "Just a little," she said.

"How are the girls?" Buck asked.

"We're grown women with children of our own," Ashlyn said, "But they are doing well."

"Speaking of children, they are in their rooms, listening to the radio," Buck said.

"Okay," Ashlyn said.

Buck shook his head, "Go shower and watch your husband play," he said.

Ashlyn nodded, "Okay," she said, wandering past Buck. Ashlyn walked up the stairs, pulling herself up the railing. At the top of the stairs, Ashlyn looked around, sighed, and stumbled toward her bedroom. Opening her bedroom door, she almost fell into her room, holding the doorknob and straightening up. Ashlyn fumbled forward and collapsed face-first onto her bed.

She heaved a heavy sigh and turned her head to the side. Ashlyn blew the bangs out of her eyes and stared at the television. Shaking her head, she started to reach out with her right arm. Ashlyn fumbled for the remote control until she found it and pulled it towards her.

Ashlyn rolled on her side; she reached out with the remote control. She turned on the television and set the channel to the channel that the Miami game was on.

Watching the pre-game for the basketball game, she got a far-off look. It was the normal droning on of the NBA Network Personalities. The usual stuff was being talked about, which was so dull that it caused Ashlyn's ears to bleed.

Finally, Ashlyn pushed herself into a sitting position. Shaking her head Ashlyn looked at the television. Ashlyn got up and walked over to her closet and opened the doors. Ashlyn started to strip off her clothes. Ashlyn looked in the mirror at the closet door; she could see her eyes were bloodshot.

After getting out of her clothes, she remembered that the bedroom door was open. Ashlyn wandered over to the bedroom door and closed it. Finally, Ashlyn walked toward the bathroom and started the shower. The water began to heat up, and Ashlyn stepped into the shower.

Ashlyn felt the pours of her skin open up in the steamy air. The sweat was pouring out of her, and she felt the fog clear from her brain. Once she felt loosened up, Ashlyn stepped into the stream of water. After getting all wet, she lathered herself up and washed her hair. As she rinsed herself off, Ashlyn looked down at her fingernails; now it was time to get her nails done. Ashlyn didn't know if she had time to go to the nail salon to have her nails done before the championship game.

Once she finished contemplating her fingernails, Ashlyn shut off the shower. Stepping out of the shower, she started drying herself off. Ashlyn pulled on some shorts and pulled on a robe, tying the sash. Next, she wrapped a towel around her hair into a turban. Ashlyn left her bathroom for the bedroom and went to her makeup table. Ashlyn stumbled over to the bed with her nail polish remover. Taking up position on the bed, she cleaned off her nails, starting with her left hand.

Looking over her knees, she looked at the TV screen. The game started when she was in the shower. Miami was the home team and was playing Charlotte. Ashlyn turned to her fingers and cleaned off each of them. Looking at the fingers, she flexed her left hand. Ashlyn started to do the same thing with her right hand.

Once she finished cleaning her nails, she wondered what color she should paint them. Maybe, just maybe, she would or should do something special for the championship game. That was something she could ask Brett about, what color and nails to paint those colors.

After watching some game, she got off the bed and took off her robe. Hanging up the robe, she pulled a well-used and broken-in button-up shirt. Ashlyn slipped it on and buttoned it up. Pulling off the towel turban, she shook out her hair, picked up a hairbrush, and brushed out her damp hair. Ashlyn sat down on the bed after she finished brushing her hair.

Pulling on thick wool socks, Ashlyn looked over to the TV. The game was approaching halftime. Nodding her head, she left her bedroom and checked on her kids. Her kids were good kids, and most of them were in bed asleep. Maeghan was partially awake enough to say good night to Ashlyn; Ashlyn said good night to Maeghan and kissed her good night. The twins were sleeping, and Landen had this cute little snore.

After checking on her three younger children, Ashlyn looked in Brett's room. Ashlyn's redhead was sitting at her desk with one of her school books open on her desk. Ashlyn stood at the door watching.

"Did you remove your nail polish, Momma?" Brett asked.

"Yes, it was faded and chipped; how did you know?" Ashlyn asked.

"I can smell the remover," Brett said.

"What are you working on?" Ashlyn asked.

"I'm finishing up my history homework," Brett said.

"You need to get to bed; need your sleep," Ashlyn said.

"Of course, Momma, we're in a big game Saturday," Brett said.

"Yeah, and tomorrow is the last hard practice," Ashlyn said.

"Is that what you did fifteen years ago?" Brett asked.

"Some of it, but I was injured. My leg was in a walking cast; I had my knee rebuilt," Ashlyn said.

"I keep forgetting you were injured," Brett said.

"Your Aunt Kelly was on the team to fill my spot. But we did a walk-through on Friday and a meeting before we changed for the game," Ashlyn said.

"Okay," Brett said.

"I do have a question," Ashlyn said.

Brett sighed heavily, "Yes, Momma?" she asked.

"I've been thinking about painting my nails special for the game," Ashlyn said.

"Yeah?" Brett asked.

"Your Auntie Tall and I would do such things before big games," Ashlyn said.

"Speaking of Auntie Tall, I've not heard from her in a while," Brett said.

"That's not like her; she's usually good about it; she must be busy," Ashlyn said.

"Yeah," Brett said.

"So, what do you think I should do with my nails?" Ashlyn asked.

Brett turned around, looked at Ashlyn's nails, and made a few suggestions. Ashlyn thanked Brett and left her room. On her way back to her bedroom, she checked on her niece and nephew.

During the second half, Ashlyn painted her nails. She did it the way Brett suggested and half-paid attention to the basketball game. The game ended with Miami winning by three buckets, 108-101. James led Miami in assists with ten. Now Ashlyn just had to wait for the phone call.