Chapter 13: NY, NY

She walked out of her bedroom and over to the breakfast bar. Looking around the open-concept apartment, she smiled. Trinity "Trin" Adams was often awed on how far she came from renting a bedroom in a brownstone during college. Now through hard work and admittedly family connections she had a nice four-bedroom apartment with an office and overlooked an area with a great nightlife. There were good schools nearby, which was particularly important to her.

Looking out the window she caught her reflection and she studied it. She wasn't quite thirty years old, and here she is. Trin kept herself in decent shape, and not the tallest of her sisters, she wasn't the shortest, Trin smiled, that was Izzy. Her raven-colored hair shined, and the clothes she wore were fashionable for a woman her age.

Her smile was hidden as she brought her coffee cup up to her lips. Trin reflected on her one bad habit, was her coffee addiction. But everyone had faults, and if the coffee was hers there were far worse. Especially on days like today, where she could see the winds whipping down the avenues as they came from the south off the bay. It was going to be another bitter winter's day.

No doubt it was early, and people will still be trying to make it home from Time Square. It was one of the coldest New Year's Eve she could remember. She was happy she stayed inside and watched from her TV. Trin, nodded, sadly she was alone. Dating wasn't always in the cards; she was too busy. Life, Ellie and Fallon would remind her, needs to be lived, but Trin wasn't going to "jet" to the Gold Coast, or the Hamptons like Fallon, nor would she live a crazy lifestyle like Ellie. She needed to be home and in Manhattan.

"Morning Mom," an eleven-year-old boy's voice filled Trin's ears. She lowered her coffee cup and her smile grew wider. Trin knew one thing, and that this boy, since the first day she held him in the delivery room, made her succeed. Trin turned to see him, across the open-concept space, standing by the breakfast bar smiling. He was tall, and not as lean as some of his cousins, but she was fine with that, he had the raven hair mane just like all his material cousins, the Davis genes, but had bright blue eyes. Wyatt Scott, her one and only son, and the reason she worked so hard from the time she was twenty years old.

"Morning, Wyatt," Trin said.

"You're dress early," Wyatt said and picked up his glass of orange juice, "Is it weekly coffee time already?"

Trin nodded, "Yes, time to see Fallon and Ellie," she said.

Wyatt nodded, "Well, tell Aunt Fallon and Libby hi for me," Wyatt said.

Trin nodded and stared at her son. He had family that was the same age, or near, and what amazed Trin was her son always acted the most mature of them all. Maybe it was the fact that Wyatt was raised up in New York City, and learned to navigate the city at a very young age. Trin had finally broken down and bought him his own Metrocard. She almost cried when she gave it to Wyatt.

"I will, as they do always ask about you," Trin said.

Wyatt nodded, "Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome, so what are your big plans for the day?" Trin asked.

Wyatt shrugged, "I'm going to finish my homework, and well RavenHussar is doing a New Year's Day stream, so I'm going to watch," he said.

"Isn't that the girl that plays that Tank video game?" Trin asked.

Wyatt nodded, "Yes," he said.

"You don't play video games," Trin said.

"I know," he said.

Trin laughed, "So why do you watch it?" she asked.

"I like her voice," Wyatt said, with a slight blush to his cheeks.

"So, my Baby Boy has his first crush?" Trin asked.

"No," Wyatt said.

"Okay," Trin said, laughed a little and shook her head. She looked over at the wall and saw the time on the clock, "I'll ask you more about this later, I have to get going or you know Fallon and Ellie."

Wyatt nodded, "I get it, Mom," he said and started poking around the kitchen for breakfast.

Trin grabbed a few things and headed out of the apartment. She thought a little about Wyatt. He was very much her son; his Dad was never a part of his life. In some ways, Trin was grateful for. Brian would have been a disruption on Wyatt's life. Wyatt had other siblings by his Dad, and a few years ago, Trin had been very proactive about them building a relationship together. That was a positive that came out of that Annus horribilis, but it is and has been very awkward, as they were all being raised so differently.

One thing Trin liked, which she kept mostly to herself, was Wyatt had none of Brian's musical talent. Wyatt if anything was average, basic even, which didn't bother Trin at all. Wyatt would get ahead by hard work, and grit, he had the work ethic, which Trin would proudly say was all hers. Brian was never good at working hard. That was his weakness among others.

Trin often nodded and followed it with a hard shaking of her head. The one time she did something spontaneous she ended up with Wyatt. "The Moment that everything changes," her Mom would often quote to her and her sisters, Tucker, her brother wouldn't listen. She was the closest to Tucker in age, but he was closer to Izzy. Trin wondered if Izzy was the more fun sister for him. Most people would say Chase was the sister that one would have the most fun with, as she was the wild one.

The doorman for her building got her a taxi and after Trin got in she told the driver where she was heading. She looked out the window and watched the city pass by. She had lived down south where her boss/mom lived but it was never for her, unlike her older sisters. Trin was a lot like her adopted sister Fallon. They were big city creatures, and both settled in New York City. Fallon would travel down south more, as she had more business interests down there than Trin did. Also, Trin would spend a weekend or two down there a month for business. It wasn't usually until the summer and when Wyatt was out of school that she would move down there and work out of the company's southern office.

Finally, the taxi reached where she was going. After paying and giving a good tip, Trin walked into the coffee shop. Checking her smartphone, she was early. Looking around the room she found one of the women she was meeting. Trin smiled and walked to the counter and ordered her coffee.

As she waited Trin studied the woman she was meeting. This woman sat at the table, behind a laptop, some generic one, and surprisingly a PC and not a Mac. This woman was also a little bit different. Trin smiled, as she watched the woman typing away. Elizabeth "Ellie" Scott was a working writer, mainly doing freelance stuff and even though she was very southern, born and bred, she adapted to the cold harsh environment of New York City. When most people heard her voice, with its sweet North Carolina accent they wouldn't expect a woman who dresses BoHo chic and had a mind that was probably the sharpest of any of her friends.

Ellie lived in her Dad's brownstone in Hell's Kitchen and would mix with the locals, including many actors. Of all her Dad's children, she was the only one that took his writing talent, and behind those very finely built glasses, Ellie's eyes darted around reviewing her work. Trin noted her winter coat hung on the back of her chair and her blonde hair was worn down her back and had a loose curl to it. Ellie looked like her Mom, tall, slender, blonde, but had her Dad's blue eyes.

Trin got her cup of coffee and walked over to the table. Ellie sensed her coming over and stood up, removing her glasses.

"Trin, how are you?" Ellie said with a smile. There was a New York tempering to her voice, but unless you knew Ellie you wouldn't know it, as her soft accent cloaked her words with gentleness.

"I'm good," Trin said and sat down across from Ellie. Watching, Trin noted that Ellie put her glasses in her eyeglass case and save and closed her laptop. They both went into her bag and she looked across the table at each other. Trin studied Ellie, one of her oldest friends, the one person outside her sisters that could deliver tough love and get away with it. Their relationship went back to their high school cheerleading squad, and their families back before that. But now was time for the game Trin always played, find the purple. Ellie Scott always had something she wore, visibly that was purple. It was her message to the cruel world outside. Also, one of the things Ellie wrote was a published and cleaned up version of her old college BLOG, "The Girl Who Always Wore Purple." There were several book clubs that would always recommend that book.

"So, how is that gem of a boy, I called my godson is doing?" Ellie asked. Wyatt had two godmothers and a godfather; Ellie was one of his godmothers.

"He's being…. well," Trin said.

"Boring compared to us?" Ellie asked.

"Well yes," Trin said, nodding.

Ellie laughed, "Boring is good, we went through our own shit, and I do not doubt he will find his own trouble when the humor hits him," she said.

Trin nodded, "He's a Scott," she said.

"His Mom is a Davis," Ellie pointed out and took a sip of her coffee.

"I think he has a crush," Trin said.

"Oh yeah? Has Little Wyatt been bitten by the love bug? Who is it?" Ellie asked.

"Some YouTube streamer named Raven Hussar," Trin said and shrugged.

Ellie laughed, "Yeah, don't worry about that," she said.

"Because he'll never meet her?" Trin asked.

"Oh no, not at all," Ellie said, "You know her."

"I do?" Trin asked.

Ellie nodded, "Yes you do," she said.

"How do I?" Trin asked.

"Ever hear her voice?" Ellie asked.

Trin shook her head. Ellie pulled out her phone and open her email and clicked on a link. "This is the latest video Raven Hussar posted," she said.

"You subscribe to that channel?" Trin asked.

"Why wouldn't I?" Ellie asked.

Trin shrugged and watched and listened. The gameplay she couldn't follow. But the voice sounded familiar. When the video ended Trin looked at Ellie, "Is that?" she asked.

Ellie nodded, "Yes, it is," she said.

Trin laughed, "That's a trip," she said, "Well I'm glad I don't have to worry."

"Worry about what?" a voice said and joined them at the table. Trin looked at the third member of their party. Fallon Stafford joined them with her cup of coffee. Fallon was shorter than both of them, closer to average height for women, and was petite. She had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Fallon and Trin considered themselves sisters, as after her Dad died Trin's Mom took her in. She was also Wyatt's other Godmother.

"Wyatt has a crush on a You Tuber," Ellie said.

"Oh yeah, which one?" Fallon asked, her no-nonsense business style coming out.

"Raven Hussar," Trin said.

Fallon nodded, "Yeah, don't have to worry about that," she said.

"How come you're both so confident, and I might add neither of you is a mom, no offense Fallon," Trin said.

"I know Raven Hussar's parents," Ellie said, "very well."

"I know her parents as well, as do you," Fallon said.

"The voice sounds familiar, but I can't place it," Trin said.

"She's part of the T3 Collective," Ellie said and laughed, before taking another sip of her coffee.

"Of really?" Trin asked.

Ellie nodded, "Yes, yes she is," she said.

"Speaking of home," Trin said, "How is Sawyer doing?"

Ellie shrugged, "You know her chomping at the bit, and cheerleading," she said.

"And being your damn near clone too," Fallon said, "You and Sawyer look more like twins then you and Kay."

Ellie shrugged, "Genetics," she said.

"How does Uncle Lucas let her do that?" Trin asked.

"You know Sawyer Scott; does she take no for an answer?" Ellie asked.

"Nope," Trin said.

Fallon laughed, "So, last night did you sit on that big sofa of yours in sweats and watch the ball drop?" she asked.

Trin nodded, "Yes I did," she said.

Ellie placed her hand on top of Trin's, "Oh Trin Honey, we need to get you on top of a man or under one. You're too young and good looking to be seated on the couch watching the ball drop in your NYU sweats," she said.

"I don't need a man when I have batteries. I also have Wyatt, and on a positive note I still fit into my college sweats," Trin shot back.

"You know, I could watch Wyatt," Fallon said, "And even Ellie could."

"I'd love to have him over," Ellie said.

Trin looked at Ellie, "I don't want you corrupting my son," she said.

"Well at least not too young," Ellie said and shrugged.

"Never," Trin said.

"Oh, just wait," Ellie said and winked at Trin.

Trin shook her head, took a sip of her coffee, and looked at Fallon, "What did you do last night?" she asked.

Fallon sighed, "I had some New Year's Eve Gala for the Stafford Foundations, honestly the foundation has so many galas I can't remember which this one is for, but it was stuffy old rich people," she said.

"You're the head of the Stafford Foundation," Ellie pointed out.

Fallon nodded, "Yeah because I have a waste of human flesh cousins, but I'm thirty-two, not sixty-two," she said, "Thanks for hooking me up with that last-minute fix on my evening gown," she said to Trin.

"No problem," Trin said.

"On top of that, the foundation wants me to make some contact with some young people tonight, some trust fund babies, see if they will follow their parents and donate," Fallon said and rolled her eyes.

"When?" Ellie asked.

"Tonight, some post-New Year's Eve party or something like that," Fallon said.

"Where?" Ellie asked.

"Williamsburg," Fallon replied.

Ellie sighed and rested a hand on her chest, "Oh good, it's not the one I'm going to tonight," she said.

Trin rubbed her head, "Is your next writing piece going to be a letter to Penthouse Forum?" she asked.

Ellie shook her head, "No, they keep rejecting my letters," she said.

"Oh boy," Fallon said, and sipped her coffee.

"I'm not surprised," Trin said.

"Ellie being rejected?" Fallon asked.

"No, Ellie having stories to write to Penthouse," Trin said.

Ellie shook her head, "I have been living my life," she said.

"Like that song Nitro," Fallon said.

Ellie nodded, "I guess, but that's like classic rock," she said.

"I understood in college, but why are you still like that now?" Trin asked.

"As you know, I was taught the lesson that tomorrow is not guaranteed, so live life," Ellie said, and pursed her lips and nodded, "That's another reason you need to get under someone, so you can get over my cousin."

Trin sighed, "I've been over that loser for years," she said.

"Maybe you keep forgetting that and need to be reminded," Ellie said.

"What about you Ellie?" Fallon asked.

"Haven't found anyone I liked to settle down with," Ellie said.

Fallon shook her head, "I want to get out of this party tonight," she said.

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"I'm too old and too busy for parties of post-college kids," Fallon said.

Ellie shook her head, "You're a stick in the mud," she said.

"Better than the mud with every stick stuck in it," Fallon said.

"Nice attempt," Ellie laughed, "Leave the poetry to the poet."

"Go, Fallon, if it will help you out, do it," Trin said, and sipped her coffee.

"I wouldn't even know what to wear," Fallon said, "I don't think I can show up dressed like Ellie, I can't pull it off."

"Yeah, there's only one me," Ellie said.

"Like a doorknob?" Fallon asked.

"Enough you two," Trin said and laughed. Fallon and Ellie got along but could be rather catty to each other, "Fallon, you have me, I can hook you up."

Fallon looks at Trin, "Trin, no offense, but you need direction from Chase," she said.

"I said hook you up, not dress you, that's what Wyatt's for," Trin said.

Fallon laughed, "My little nephew is a fashionista, I keep forgetting," she said.

"That's Victoria for you, even in her age, wants an heir," Trin said.

"Has anyone talked to Candi recently?" Ellie asked.

"A few days ago, I got an email," Fallon said.

"Facebook message, Friday," Trin said.

"We face times earlier and she's thinking about coming through for a few days, and then heading down to visit everyone in Tree Hill," Ellie said.

"Oh really?" Fallon asked.

Ellie nodded, "I think she's looking to come back to the East Coast," she said.

"How long has she been in California?" Fallon asked.

"Since she graduated undergrad school," Ellie said.

"Why would she be looking to come back East?" Trin asked.

Ellie took a sip of her coffee, "I think she's trying to get a feel for the job market, she should be finishing up her residency soon," she said, "Next year I think."

"Doctor Scott," Fallon said, "When we were in high school, I never thought I would say that about her."

"From I understand, she always wanted to be a Doctor," Ellie said.

Trin nodded, "Yeah, she always said things like that," she pointed out.

"It would be nice to get the band back together," Fallon said.

Trin laughed, "Wouldn't that be you Candi, Izzy, and Chase?" she asked.

Fallon shrugged, "Possible," she said.

"Anyways, there are other reasons, I believe," Ellie said.

"What other reasons would there be?" Trin asked.

Ellie shrugged, "I don't know," she said.

Trin nodded, "So, why don't we find an excuse to get to somewhere warm," she said.

"Where would we go that's warm?" Fallon asked.

Trin smiled, "Bahamas, Virgin Islands, anywhere tropical," she said.

Ellie laughed, "Want to get your Parrot Head on?" she asked.

"My what?" Trin asked.

"It's a nickname for fans of Jimmy Buffet," Fallon said.

"Who?" Trin asked.

"Just say he plays laid back, music that takes place on the Caribbean setting," Fallon said.

"Maybe I need to put it another way, put your toes in the water, ass in the sand," Ellie said.

Trin nodded, "Yeah, that's what I'm feeling," she said.

Ellie laughed, "Figure's she knows that one," she said.

Fallon sighed, "Not everyone has the musical background you have Els," she said.

"Aren't you part owner of a record label, Fal?" Ellie asked.

Fallon nodded, "Yes," she said.

"So, when Wyatt's on vacation we're getting out of here for some warmth?" Trin asked.

Fallon nodded, "Sure, why not," she said.

Ellie smiled, "I'm always game to work on my tan," she said.

"Says the woman with no tan lines," Trin said.

Ellie held her finger up to her mouth, "Shh! On that, and it's not true I do have tan lines," she said.

"Yeah, very little, in the southern states," Trin said.

Ellie laughed, "It's legal in NYC for a woman to go topless," she said.

"Yeah, at any rate," Trin said and turned to Fallon, "Come over around two and we'll hook you up with these hipsters."

Fallon nodded, "Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome," Trin said and checked her smartphone, "I have to go, we'll catch up later."

Ellie nodded, "We will," she said.

"See you later," Fallon said.

Trin got up and left. Ellie nodded, and looked at Fallon, "Mind if I work?" she asked.

"No, I'm going to finish my coffee, and head out myself," Fallon said.

Ellie nodded and reached into her bag and pulled out her laptop. She brought it back up and pulled out her glasses. She started to review what she wrote and her notes and started to type again.

"What are you working on?" Fallon asked.

"Some freelance article about something that is happening in the city, on someday," Ellie said.

"Are you being funny?" Fallon asked.

"Not at all," Ellie said, "Honestly, so much of it runs together that I can't keep them straight enough to explain."

"You really write that much?" Fallon asked.

Ellie nodded, "Trying to get novels published, isn't easy, though my Dad makes it look that way," she said, "Also I didn't inherit a financial empire, nor a trust fund."

"Is this going to be a rich girl/poor girl thing? Your parents weren't exactly poor," Fallon said.

"Just saying, I have to work to pay my way, that's all," Ellie said, and shrugged, "It's not easy, and if I knew this when I was a kid, I would have worked for my Mom."

Fallon laughed, "You'd hate it doing press and marketing," she said.

Ellie nodded and sipped her coffee, "You're probably right," she said.

Fallon nodded and sipped her coffee. "Ever think of moving back? Keith would probably love having you around," Fallon said.

Ellie shrugged, "Become my brother's nanny? I love Nomi and Ellis, but I need to have my own life," she said.

"When was the last time you were all together?" Fallon asked.

"Well the four girls were together last summer with Angela," Ellie said, "But the last time I think that all five of us were together was probably doing the Annus horribilis."

"Now Keith is away," Fallon said.

Ellie nodded, "He should be back around Saint Patrick's Day, I'm probably going down there to see him," she said.

Fallon nodded, "I chat with Kendall a lot," she said.

Ellie nodded, "Yeah, she's talking with me when I'm online with Sawyer all the time, as well," she said.

"I'm worried about my sister," Fallon said.

"As you should, she's your baby sister, I worry about Sawyer, and even Candi and Kay," Ellie said, "I'll admit Kay reluctantly."

"No more than that," Fallon said, "I don't understand her interests."

Ellie shrugged, "It's not for us to understand them. Kay and I were lucky; we shared interests with our parents. Do I get what Sawyer is into? No, I don't get this whole costume and video game thing. My baby sister is very Geek-chic, but I'm a good sister and play along, which reminds me I'm probably going to have to get my measurements done," she said.

"What? Why?" Fallon asked.

"I sort of promised I'd take the girls to the NY Ren Faire," Ellie said, "And Sawyer wants to make me a costume."

"So, what do you think it's going to be?" Fallon asked.

"She's into The Tudors now, so god knows, all I hope is to keep my head," Ellie said.

Fallon laughed, "Maybe I should talk to Sawyer and Kendall and see if I can tag along," she said.

"Sure, why not, I can use some help with the three of them," Ellie said.

Fallon nodded and laughed, "They are a handful," she said.

Ellie nodded, "Yes, they are," she said and sipped her coffee, "Now, excuse me I have to finish this blah, blah, blah."

Fallon nodded and returned to her coffee and a magazine she brought.