Chapter 33: Upper East Side
It was the typical mid-winter grey overcast of New York City. The winds whistled by and every so often, Trin Adams could hear them through the glass. She pressed her hand against the glass, feeling the cold against her skin. That was one thing she did miss from her Mom's place the warmth.
She walked away from the window and into the open concept living/dining/kitchenette. Since returning from her weekly "coffee date" she changed into more casual wear. Going out she dressed to impress, given her role in her Mom's companies, she always felt that she had to leave a good impression.
Now, Trin was in faded jeans, a simple NYU sweatshirt, and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Looking around the apartment, she reflected on how well maintained it was, especially with the help of a cleaning woman. Yet, Trin, never really employed a nanny. She raised Tucker by herself, maybe with a babysitter here and there. It was a shock to the other Upper East Side Woman, a working single mother that didn't have a nanny. Trin liked that, she smiled and walked over to one of the bookshelves.
Trin reached onto one of the shelves, she removed a statuette of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. She moved it around in her hand and ran her fingers over it. It was a present from one of her sisters, there was Alice and Wonderland stuff scattered throughout the house, all presents. But the White Rabbit was a special one to her. Trin always liked the story of Alice in Wonderland. When she was younger, she always liked Alice Liddell, but now she's looking for her White Rabbit. That's what this meant, it was Izzy telling her to find and follow her White Rabbit.
Putting back the statuette, she rubbed her hands together. Looking at the clock she saw the hour was starting to be getting late. Wyatt was in his room, probably on his computer.
Trin sighed, she needed to get Wyatt out more, maybe find him a sport. Not an eSport, but a real sport. The things that a parent worry about that your own parents didn't tell you about, Trin reflected on. Trin couldn't complain, Wyatt was overall a good child, he did have some rough edges. Usually, they came out when they were on Summer Break. When he interacted with his brothers and sister, his Dad's other children. Trin had always tried to have Wyatt know his younger brothers and sister, it was easier since their grandparents had custody of them.
The house phone rang. Trin walked over to the house phone. The only reason she had it was for the door. She looked at it and pressed the button. "Hey Trin, it's Fallon," came across the phone.
"You're early," Trin said.
"So? I brought coffee," Fallon said.
"Okay, you can come up," Trin said and pressed the button that would buzz Fallon in.
Trin sighed and headed towards the front door of the apartment. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. Trin looked in the peephole, seeing Fallon standing there holding two coffee cups. With a smile, Trin unlocked the door and let Fallon in.
"Welcome," Trin said.
"You knew I was coming over," Fallon said.
"I was talking to the coffee," Trin said and laughed.
Fallon shook her head and handed Trin her cup of coffee. After Fallon stepped into the apartment, Trin closed the door.
"So, where is my nephew?" Fallon asked.
Trin finally swallowed her first mouthful of coffee, "He's in his room, probably on his computer," she said.
"Gaming, watching videos, or porn?" Fallon asked.
"He's only eleven, Fal, he shouldn't be watching porn," Trin said, "I hope."
"You let a boy have a computer in his room, and I bet you didn't set up the parental controls, either," Fallon said.
"Well, it's possible," Trin said.
Fallon shrugged, "Well, I hate to break it to you, but he's Brian's son as well," she said.
"Yeah, I know I was there too when he was conceived," Trin said, "So, we need to make you fit in at some party."
"Yeah, I have to do some face showing, for these young hipster rich people," Fallon said.
"You're thirty-two, that's not old, god if that's old what does that make me?" Trin replied.
"Trin, you're younger than me," Fallon said.
"Yeah, you're right, then you're old," Trin replied.
"Bitch!" Fallon said.
Trin smiled, "Why don't you shed your stuff and head to my room," she said.
"I brought a few things, too," Fallon said.
"Good, now get going," Trin said.
"Okay! Trying to get rid of me already?" Fallon said.
"Nah! I just have to get your nephew away from his girlfriend," Trin said.
Fallon nodded and laughed a little. She slipped off her jacket and laid it across the back of one of the sofas. Trin looked at Fallon and wondered if Fallon was ready for what she was about to head into tonight. Trin finally shrugged and watched as Fallon headed towards Trin's bedroom, carrying her garment bag.
After her bedroom door closed, Trin shook her head and followed her down the hallway. This was the apartment she lived in until she was fourteen years old. Her bedroom was her Mom and Dad's old bedroom, but she mostly remembers it just her Mom's bedroom. Wyatt was in Chase's old room, after some structural repairs. About halfway down the hall she stopped and knocked on the door. After a minute Trin opened the door.
"Wyatt, I'm coming in," Trin said and came through the door. To Trin's relief, he wasn't watching porn, he was watching a person live stream a video game. That gave Trin a slight smile.
"Mom, what's up? I'm watching something," Wyatt said.
"Well, you could watch it on recording or whatever you call it," Trin said.
"Mom, but it's RavenHussar," Wyatt said.
"You can listen to your crush later, your Aunt Fallon needs our help," Trin said. Trin had gone on a and watched some of the YouTube content that RavenHussar had posted and found out it who it was and that young woman and she was generally harmless in what she posted.
"What does she need help with?" Wyatt asked.
"She has some hipster party in Brooklyn and it's not her usual thing," Trin said.
Wyatt laughed, "So, she needs an eleven-year-old to help her pick out a dress," he said.
Trin laughed, "Yeah, and I'm sorry you learned from Grandma how to understand fashion better than me," she said.
Wyatt put down his headphones and slipped out of the chair. Trin nodded and lead Wyatt down the hall to her bedroom. Wyatt was tall, he had the Scott tallness, but he had the hazel eyes and brunette hair of the Adams. It made him stand out against his brothers and sister as they were blonde, and one was a redhead. Wyatt did have a lot of the Davis in him. Trin smiled as they entered her bedroom and found Fallon going through Trin's closet.
Trin reflected on Fallon. She was slender in build and very much had a model's build. Her Mom, Lydia Stafford, was a model before she married Fallon's dad. Fallon had the look and build of a model, but one thing really prevented her from doing it, she was short. Trin had a few inches over Fallon. Trin never remembered Fallon's parents being short, but Fallon was. Fallon mentioned that it was from her grandma.
Trin looked at the stuff she had brought and hung up. She also knew that Fallon was checking out Trin's closet for anything. Trin didn't remember really having much left from her early college years, she stopped the partying when she was pregnant with Wyatt during her sophomore year at NYU.
"I'd figure you'd bring stuff for us to say yea and nay to," Trin said.
"I did," Fallon said, "But, I don't think I have anything that works in my closet," Fallon said.
Trin sighed, and looked at Wyatt, "You know the drill," she said.
Wyatt nodded and took a seat on the bed. Trin walked over to the closet. Fallon was looking at the clothes. After a minute or two Fallon and Trin came out with several outfits and laid them down on the bed.
"Are you ready, Wyatt?" Fallon asked.
Wyatt sighed, "I've been doing this for as long as I can remember," he said.
Fallon smiled and walked over to Wyatt and mussed his hair. Wyatt shook his head and Fallon laughed. Fallon picked out the first outfit and held it up.
In quick succession, the three of them knocked it down to three outfits. Fallon then took the three into the bathroom. While waiting for Fallon, Trin put the rejects away.
The next round came with Fallon coming out wearing each one of the three. They each made a comment out two. The one they all agreed on turned out to be the one Wyatt suggested,
"Thanks, Buddy," Fallon said and kissed Wyatt on the top of his head. She went into the bathroom to change out of it. Trin dug out Fallon's garment bag for Fallon. While in the closet, Trin went to the whiteboard and put a hash mark by Wyatt's name. She kept track of who's choice won out, it started out of curiosity, and found out, Wyatt won more than she or Fallon did.
Trin came out of the closet and watched Wyatt was sitting there watching the bathroom door. Fallon finally came out with the outfit.
"Thanks for the help," Fallon said.
"You're welcome, Aunt Fallon," Wyatt said.
Trin smiled, "I laid out your garment bag and put the outfits you brought in it, for you," she said.
"Thanks," Fallon said, laid down the outfit on the bag and hugged Wyatt, "What would I do without my secret weapon here?"
"Look foolish," Wyatt said.
"Wyatt!" Trin snapped.
"It's true, Trin," Fallon said.
Trin nodded, reluctantly, in agreement, she looked over to see the time, "Almost time for the suck," she said.
"What?" Fallon asked.
"I have a meeting with Brooke and Bobbi," Trin said.
"Have fun with that," Fallon said.
"Yeah, I heard in June you have a big board meeting about Red Bedroom Records," Trin said.
"What's happening there?" Wyatt asked.
Fallon nodded, "It's been put off too long, and Keith going away delayed it even more," she said.
"Things have run well," Trin said.
Fallon put the outfit in the garment bag, "Yeah, they have, but it's time to fix it all permanently," she said, "Just have to wait for Keith to come home."
Trin nodded, "You hanging or do you need an UBER or something?' she asked.
"I got one coming, thanks," Fallon said.
"Am I done? Can I go back to the stream?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, you may," Trin said.
"Thanks, Mom have a good time tonight, Aunt Fallon," Wyatt said and left the room.
"He's a good kid," Fallon said.
"Considering who his Dad is, it's amazing," Trin said.
"That's all you," Fallon said.
"Thanks," Trin said with a slight smile, "There is one thing I'd like him to do."
"What's that?" Fallon asked.
"Do something more active," Trin said.
"Basketball?" Fallon asked.
"I don't care, just something," Trin said.
Fallon nodded, "It's probably hard on him with the family history with athletes," she said.
"I think it's just Lennon that pushes him," Trin said, "Lacy doesn't help, either."
"Well Lacy is, well Lacy," Fallon said.
Trin nodded, "True," she said.
"Honestly, Trin you got the better deal, and the better kid," Fallon said.
"That's an awkward statement, Fal," Trin said.
"I'd take Wyatt every day over Lennon, Lacy, or Darren," Fallon said.
"So, would I," Trin said.
Fallon's phone chimed; she took it out. "My UBER is here," Fallon said, "Thanks for the dress and the help."
"You're welcome," Trin said.
"Well, I'll see you soon," Fallon said.
"Call me," Trin said.
Fallon collected her stuff and was gone. With Wyatt back in his room, Trin was left alone again. Trin walked back to the window and looked back over the city.