Chapter 29: XL Center
The game was over, it ended in a typical fashion, in a whimper, and not a bang. It had been seen many times on this wooden parquet floor. Tomorrow the court would be removed and something else will be held here. The after-game interviews were done with the coaches and the players. The tall blonde woman handed over her microphone and earpiece to the technician.
Her blue eyes studied the crowd of students, fans, and other departing people. This brought back memories for her. This wasn't her first game here, nor was it her first game broadcasting here. Once she was one of these young college players. There was something in this she missed. It wasn't the game; she still played the game professionally. Broadcasting was her off-season job. It wasn't the winning, she had won championships on all levels she played, AAU, High School, College, Olympic, and Professional.
"What are you missing, Angela?" A tall black woman said, walking over to her.
"Caprice, what makes you think I'm missing something?" Angela Scott asked.
Caprice Stewart, one of the assistant coaches, smiled, "Simple, we were roommates for four years, in college, and I was there through that rough first year. Remember, the one you were homesick through?" she said.
"They didn't have good barbeque up here," Angela said.
Caprice laughed, "I introduced you to good pizza and hamburgers though," she said.
Angela nodded, with a chuckle, "That you did," she said.
"You're welcome," Caprice said, "So, you're doing the sideline thing for ESPN now?"
"Only in the offseason," Angela said, "I'm too old for the jet-set basketball lifestyle," Angela replied.
"You play for the Liberty now?" Caprice asked.
"Yeah, last four years," Angela said.
"You should come to the campus and visit. I'm sure the staff would be pleased to see you," Caprice said.
"But the girls won't. It's tough to see people who have their name in the rafters," Angela said.
"We were coached by two," Caprice said.
"Maybe," Angela said.
"Do you miss the closeness we all shared in college as a team?" Caprice asked.
"Yeah, I do," Angela said, "It's all business now."
Caprice smiled, "If there's an opening on the coaching staff, I'll let you know," she said.
Angela nodded, "Thanks," she said, softly.
The two college friends parted ways. Angela used the rest of the time on the clock to tie up a few loose ends. Once she was done, she got into her car and was driving down I84 West, heading towards Waterbury. In Waterbury, she took Route 8 South to its end, in Bridgeport, near the Webster Bank Arena, where the Fairfield Stags play. Finally, she turned west on I95 and traveled that way until she came to her exit in Greenwich Connecticut. She took the roads with a practiced hand and found herself at the gates to an estate, which she put in a code and was allowed entry.
She parked her car near the garage and went in through the side door. Angela dropped her keys into a bowl and walked through the house. Her heels clicked on the stone floors. They were heels of practical height and didn't add much to her six-foot-one-inch frame. Angela, like her brother, got their height from their Dad's the Scott family.
Angela entered the main sitting room and found an older woman with, dark hair, which showed some signs of grey streaks, sitting down drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. The woman looked up and smiled at Angela. Angela sat down on the sofa across from her. Once she was settled, Angela kicked off her heels.
"How was the game, Angela Baby?" Karen Roe, Angela's Mom, asked.
"It was, well typically a normal game," Angela said.
"They made a good team look bad?" Karen asked.
Angela nodded, "Yeah," she said, with a sigh.
"Are you enjoying working for ESPN?" Karen asked.
Angela shrugged her shoulders, "It's a job, and helps pay for what life I do have," she said.
Karen nodded, "Well, you need to be happy, too," she said.
"You worked your ass off while you raised me, and Lucas," Angela said.
"But I will have to say, I did enjoy it," Karen said.
Angela nodded, "Yeah, well got to do what I have to do," she said.
Karen shook her head, "Between you and your brother, you both brood too much. Just be happy, Angela," she said.
"Easier said, then done, Mom," Angela said.
Karen nodded, "Of my two kids, Angela, you've always been the hardest one to find their own happiness," she said.
"I wouldn't say that's a fair observation, Mom," Angela said.
"Enough, let Mommy speak," Karen said, "You're also more stubborn then Lucas, and it closes you off. Just be open and find your happiness."
"I've tried, it doesn't always work out for me," Angela said.
"Keep trying, it's the only way you learn and gets better," Karen said.
"Okay, Mom. I'll take it under advisement," Angela said.
"You better," Karen said.
"Where's Jessi?" Angela asked.
"Outback with a basketball as always," Karen said.
"Probably working on drills," Angela said.
"Sounds familiar," Karen said.
"Gee, thanks, Mom," Angela said, got up, and grabbed her heels.
"Welcome," Karen said.
Angela went upstairs and went to the room she stayed in. Slowly she put her shoes away and stripped out of her work clothes. After she removed her bra, she sighed in relief. Angela dressed in sweatpants, a t-shirt and slipped on a pair of cross-trainers.
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and slipped on a sweatband style of earmuffs. She grabbed a well-worn black UCONN Hoodie and pulled it on. Grabbing a pair of sunglasses, a Hoes over Bros style called Chastity Davis Special, they were small and fit Angela's face well, and headed out.
Leaving out the backdoor Angela walked along the footpath. Through the gardens, now in the winter drabness, she could hear sounds. They were the sounds of a basketball bouncing against the pavement. It could be heard from the moment Angela walked out the back door. It brought a smile to her face. Angela then shivered slightly from the cold weather, but she didn't mind, as she didn't plan on staying still too long.
Turning the corner in the gardens, she could see the half-court that was built here years ago. Angela's Stepdad built it after he bought the place when she was a freshman in college. There were many breaks she came down from Storrs and would practice here, and Kay joined her when Kay came to play at UCONN. It reminded Angela of the half-court Lucas had built in the gardens of Leighton Manor.
Angela stood there and watched the person working on the court. It was a tall Tween girl, wearing green and gold sweatpants, a hoody, and a sweatband earmuff. The girl moved through several drills, and her long blonde ponytail flew with her movements. Angela stood there nodding in approval.
The girl laid up the ball. Angela could see the name of the school she went to, Greenwich Academy, on the hoodie. The girl turned around and looked at Angela.
"Well, what do you think?" The Girl Asked.
Angela nodded, "Pretty good, need to tighten up when you do the crossover, and work on your left," she said.
"They've been having me play forward or center recently," the girl said.
"You're the tallest girl on the team, I started out that way too. It wasn't until college I was locked into two-guard, but I also ran the point in college," Angela said.
"Why did they stop that?" the girl asked.
"What?" Angela asked.
"Moving you around," the girl said.
"I moved to small forward in high school because of Ashlyn getting hurt, you should know that I've told you enough. Also, in college, it was when Kay joined, she was good at running the point," Angela said.
The girl shook her head, "I want to play guard, you've seen my fade away, and I can drive the basket too," she said.
"I know, Jessi," Angela said.
"Mom, please call me Jess," she said.
"Jess?" Angela asked.
"I like it better," Jessica "Jess" Scott, ten-years-old, said to Angela, her Mom, "That's what they call me at school."
"Okay," Angela said, "Jessi," she paused, "Buy, that's going to take some getting used too."
"Please try, Mom," Jessi said, "For me."
"I'll try, Sport," Angela said, trying to avoid making the mistake of calling her, Jessi.
Jess smiled, "So, when are you taking me to see Wyatt and Trin again?" she asked.
"Wyatt and Trin?" Angela asked, "Are you crushing on Wyatt, Jessi?"
It was hard to tell with the cold air why Jessi's cheeks got redder. "No," Jess said, defensively, "Please, call me Jess."
"Well, for one thing, he's your cousin, and for another, I don't know," Angela said.
Jess nodded, "Well you want to play horse?" she said, changing the subject.
"How long have you been out here?" Angela asked.
"About an hour," Jess said.
"Let's go inside, get you dried off and warmed up, it's too cold out here," Angela said.
"You worried I might kick your butt?" Jess asked.
"One, no, two, only in your dreams, and three I'm your Mom so don't question me," Angela said.
"Mom," Jess said.
"Don't Mom, me," Angela said, "You also know if it was warmer, I'd take you up on a game."
Jess gave off a huff, which released a larger than normal puff of steam. Angela noted Jess already had a mouth on her, and she was starting to get that teenage attitude. Angela had considered sending her down to Tree Hill, to be around family, and to have stability. But that meant either Lucas or Keith would have to take her in. Lucas had his hands full with Sawyer, and Keith was a no go, because of his business trip. Angela wasn't also sure if she preferred Jess being exposed to Brett, PJ, Lennon, or Nomi. It didn't matter, really, they were all good kids, for the most part, but some were the opposite of Angela.
Jess and Angela walked back into the manor house. Jess left the basketball in the mudroom and took off her hoodie and headband. Angela removed her headband, sunglasses, and her hoodie. Jess looked at Angela.
"That's why you didn't want to play horse, Mom, you're not wearing a bra," Jessi said.
"Shh! Also, when you get older, you'll understand," Angela said.
"Sure, whatever, Mom," Jessi said.
"You're too young to whatever me," Angela said.
"Whatever," Jess said and walked into the house proper. Angela shook her head and followed.
In the kitchen area the Maid, Keeleigh met them.
"Is there anything I can get you, Miss Jessica?" Keeleigh asked, Jessi.
"Hot chocolate, Keeleigh," Jessi said.
"Very good, Miss Jessica," Keeleigh said and turned to Angela, "And you, Ms. Scott?"
"The same thank you," Angela said.
"Very good, Ms. Scott," Keeleigh said and left.
Angela smacked Jess on the butt, playfully, "Get to the library and get on your homework," she said.
"Och! Mom, that hurts, I know it's supposed to be playful but…och!" Jessi said.
"Go, do your homework, I'll be in there in a few," Angela said.
Jess nodded, "Yes Mom," she said and headed to the library.
Angela sighed and went to the sitting room, where Karen was still sitting. Karen looked up at her daughter.
"Back so soon?" Karen asked.
"Too cold," Angela said, and sat down, "Where does she get it from?"
"Who gets what from?" Karen asked.
"Your granddaughter?" Angela asked.
"Which one, I have five," Karen said.
"My daughter," Angela said.
"Where does she get what? The attitude, the mouth, you name it," Karen said, "That's all you. She reminds me of you at her age."
"I'm screwed," Angela said.
"You weren't that bad," Karen said.
"We'll leave that there to lie," Angela said, "But I didn't have all this or a staff," she finished with a gesture to the house around her.
Karen nodded, "You only got a rich step-daddy when you went to college," she said.
"I know, Andy spoiled me before that, but not to the same extent as Jessi is," Angela said.
Karen laughed, "That's just a purview of a grandparent, and he's just being a proud granddad," she said.
"I know," Angela said, "Did you know she wants to be called Jess now?"
"No, I didn't," Karen said, "Is this like Sawyer no wanting to be called Sassy anymore?"
"Well, I don't know, and now you know," Angela said.
"Okay," Karen said.
"Mom, I've been thinking about sending Jessi down to Tree Hill for Middle and High School. I think she'll have a better chance for being noticed for scholarships," Angela said.
"I see, are you sure it's because you don't her going to high school up here?" Karen asked.
"I'm thinking about her future," Angela said.
"Greenwich Academy is a good school," Karen said.
"I went to public school and I turned out good," Angela said.
"Turned out well," Karen said, "Also, no staff?"
"Maybe," Angela said, "But also family."
Karen nodded. Keeleigh came in and handed Angela a warm cup and saucer. The Maid disappeared, and Angela looked at her Mom.
"Well I'm going to check on, Jessi," Angela said and stood up.
"Speaking of, where is my granddaughter?" Karen asked.
"The library doing homework," Angela said, "That's what she's supposed to be doing."
"Okay," Karen said, "Oh and Angela."
"Yes, Mom?" Angela replied.
"If you're going to be wearing a t-shirt at dinner, please also wear a bra," Karen said.
Angela nodded, "Yes Mom," she said.
Angela walked through the house, cup, and saucer in hand. She stopped in front of a painted portrait, taken from a picture that was taken out back two years ago. It was of Karen, Angela, Candi, Kay, Ellie, and Sassy. It was taken two years ago, the last time they were all together. Angela reflected that none of the ones taken with Jessi came out good enough to be displayed. Three generations of women she noted, and that they needed to get together again and make a new one with Jessi and Nomi in it now.
As she finished admiring the painting she walked to the library. Sitting at one of the tables was Jess with her books spread out. Angela put her cup and saucer down and took a seat next to Jess.
"What are you working on, Jessi?" Angela asked.
"Mom, Jess, please call me Jess," Jessi said.
"Okay," Angela said, "What are you working on, Jess?"
"Some reading, that I had assigned to me," Jess said.
"I see," Angela said, "Well dinner will be soon, and I have to change for it."
"Why?" Jess asked.
"Your grandma wants me to wear a bra at dinner," Angela said.
Jess shook her head.
"Well do your reading, I'll be back," Angela said, got up and took her cup and saucer with her. Angela headed out of the library towards her bedroom to get changed.