Chapter 111: Greenwich
Thursday, January 5th, Morning
These mornings always started early, and are also always hard, Angela reflected as she finished brushing her hair. She put the brush down on her make-up table. The job entailed her to fly around the country as a sideline reporter, but it took her away from Jess. Yet, she took the job so she could have money to raise Jess.
Once she finished brushing her hair, she looked at the outfit she had hanging on her closet door. It wasn't too formal, nor was it too casual. Angela stood up, and dropped her robe and took up the clothes and slipped them on. After a few seconds, she walked in front of a full-length mirror and straightened herself out. The dress wasn't too baggy, nor was it a body contoured. Studying herself, she smiled, these were the times that Angela was thankful for getting to know Chase and her mom, Brooke.
Angela nodded, and walked over to her dresser, and opened her jewelry box. She picked through it and picked out a simple necklace and bracelet. After putting them on, she looked in the corner of the jewel box there was a small blue fuzzy box. Shaking her head, she closed the jewelry box. She returned to the full-length mirror.
After a minute of studying herself, and making sure everything was in place, she thought of the advice Clay gave her when she was a rookie. "Remember there's always a kid seeing you for the first time." So, she always needed to make a good impression. There were days where she just wanted to look comfortable, but she didn't, she always looked her best when she went in public. That was unless she didn't want to be spotted. With a nod of approval, she walked away from the mirror to her bed.
Looking over her stuff one last time, she closed up her suitcase. After a quick look over, she closed her computer bag and picked them both up. Taking one last look at her room, then shutting off the light. She stepped out of her room and closed the door. Slowly she walked through the hall and down the stairs. To her surprise, her mom was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Karen Hargrove was dressed in her dressing gown and held a pair of disposable coffee cups. Angela had seen her mom many times, but this morning she looked tired. Karen smiled at her only daughter and offered her a cup of coffee.
Angela took it and looked at Karen, "You didn't have to get up to see me off," she said, and took a sip of her coffee.
"I figured you'd need coffee this morning," Karen said, "And I wanted to see you off."
"For the coffee I'm thankful, but, Mom, I'm thirty-two-years old," Angela said.
"You're still my baby," Karen said, and looked to the door as Jess came into the hall, "Someday, you'll understand."
Angela nodded, put down her suitcase and hugged her mom. She had to choke back a few tears. For some reason, Angela thought she already knew what her mom meant, "Thanks Mom," Angela said.
"You're welcome and go see your best girl," Karen said, with a soft smile.
Angela nods and breaks her embrace with her mom. Turning to one side, she looked at her ten-year-old daughter. Jess looked like a mess, a beautiful mess, but a mess none the less.
Jess's blonde hair was a mess and she was barely in her dressing gown. Her eyes still showed the last remnants of sleep. Of all the people in the world that could look like a mess and still bring a smile to Angela's face, it's Jess.
"Hey Jess, you didn't have to get up for me," Angela said.
Jess stretched, and yawned, "I wanted to see you off, Mom," she said.
"You've got school today, and you need your rest," Angela said.
Jess yawned, again, and shook her head, "It's important that I see you off," she said.
"I appreciate it," Angela said, walked over to her daughter, and hugged her, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too, Mom," Jess said.
"Be good for Grandma Karen, and Grandpa Andy when he gets home," Angela said.
They broke apart and looked at each other. Mom and daughter studied each other. Angela noted how much Jess looked like her when she was Jess's age. Yet, Angela also saw a lot of Church in her. It's good she had her Dad in her, Angela thought, it's never good for one child to look more like one parent over the other, Angela thought.
"Good," Angela said, and smiled, "Now, get back to bed."
Jess yawned, "I'm not tired, Mom," she said.
"Right, and don't argue with your mom," Angela said.
Jess nodded and reluctantly wandered past Angela and Karen. She walked up the stairs, painfully slow. Angela knew she was trying to stretch out every last moment with her mom.
Once Jess was gone Angela turned to her mom. "I've arranged for Jess to have the week of the thirtieth off from school," Angela said.
Karen looked at Angela, oddly, "Why did you do that?" she asked.
Angela sighed, "They're honoring my senior year basketball team, and trying to get all the girls together," she said.
"That's nice," Karen said.
Angela nodded, "It is, and a great honor for Lucas," she said.
Karen nodded, "Yes, it is," she said.
Angela smiled, "I thought it would be a good time for Jess to spend time with her cousins," she said.
"And show her some of your past?" Karen asked.
Angela nodded, "Yeah, and I miss Lucas and Sawyer," she said.
Karen nodded, "There's more, isn't there," she said, reading through her daughter's thin façade.
Angela nodded and looked up the stairs to make sure Jess wasn't listening. Finally, she came to look at Karen. "Ashlyn is having issues with Brett, and James isn't around," Angela said.
Karen nodded, "Ashlyn, well she's who she is, and Brett is not your responsibility," she said.
Angela nodded, "Brett's not the easiest person to get along with," she said, "She's too much like her mom. Also, I'm not going for Brett, Ashlyn needs me."
Karen shrugged, "You got along with Ashlyn well enough," she said.
"That we did," Angela said, "Because we were difficult in different ways."
Karen smiled, "That you two were. Are you going to have the house opened up?" she asked.
"Thinking about it," Angela said.
"We could always open up the manor, Andy still owns his place down there," Karen said.
"Are you saying you're coming along as well?" Angela asked.
Karen nodded, "Why wouldn't I? My son, daughter, and a granddaughter were all involved with that team. Also, I've not seen everyone down there in a while, and that includes my great-grandchildren," she said.
Angela nodded, "I bet Lucas would love that," she said.
Karen smiled, "I know I will," she said.
That was when the gate buzzed. Karen walked over to the box and pressed a button. "Yes?" Karen asked.
"Car for Angela Scott," the voice came back.
"She'll be right out," Karen said.
"Thank you, Ma'am," the voice came back.
"You're welcome," Karen said, and turned to Angela, "Well, your ride is here."
Angela nodded, "Yes, it is," she replied.
"Now be safe, and let me know when you get to the first city," Karen said.
"I will, Mom," Angela said, hugged her mom, again. Once they broke apart Angela grabbed her bag and walked out the front door. Karen closed the door with a sigh and shook her head. She misses Angela when she's away. Finally, she decided it was time to get a little more sleep and headed upstairs.
