Chapter 54: Hargrove Mansion

Monday, January 2nd, Morning

Morning, and it always brought a run around the neighborhood. In recent years, she had started to be joined by her daughter, Jessica. Angela Scott tried to keep running at her normal pace, but wouldn't let Jess, with her shorter legs and less conditioning, fall too far behind, and Jess tried her best to keep up. Under her sunglasses, her beloved Chastity Davis Specials, as it was a bright early morning, Angela would glance over to Jess. Angela had to suppress a smile, with how hard Jess was working on her conditioning. Angela reflected, even though Jessi was really just starting out, she was progressing along just fine.

Angela had a plan, and it was to get Jess the best possible life and give her the most options out there. Her ten-year-old daughter was partially coming up as Angela did. Jess did take ballet, she played AAU Basketball, and cheered for the local pop-warner team. Angela was also looking into getting Jess into self-defense classes. Angela nodded, she also left enough time for Jess to be a kid, and if her plan panned out, she would be working too. With a nod, Angela could see the driveway and started to slow down, partially to cool down, but also so Jess could catch up. Once Jess caught up, they started to walk down the driveway.

"Remember arms above your head," Angela said, "Also you did a fantastic job keeping up today."

"I've been trying harder, recently," Jess said, huffing and puffing.

Angela smiled, "You'll get there, just keep working," she said.

"How long did it take for you to get to where you're at now?" Jess asked.

Angela nodded, "Years, Jessi, Jess," Angela caught herself, that was recent, Jessi wanted to be called Jess, "After my knee surgery in college it took me until my junior year to get back to where I was," she said.

"Really?" Jess asked.

Angela nodded, "Ask your Aunt Ashlyn about how long it took her to get back. Her knee injuries were worse than mine," she said.

"Then why do you wear the brace as oppose to the straps?" Jessi asked.

Angela shrugged, "My knee responded better with it, and your Aunt Ashlyn wears one as well," she said.

"Aren't you scared that you're going to get crippled if you keep playing?" Jessi asked.

Angela sighed, "It's in the back of my head, and I fear, like your Aunt Ashlyn I'm going to need a knee replacement, eventually. Can we talk about something cheerier?" she said.

Jess nodded as they entered the house via the kitchen door. They walked through the kitchen and saw the cook was working on breakfast. Angela smiled and greeted the cook as they passed through to the dining room. At the table they found Karen sitting at the table reading the morning newspaper. They still got the morning newspaper here, several actually. Angela noted her mom was reading the local paper the Greenwich Times. Karen lowered the paper and looked at her daughter and granddaughter.

With a smile, Karen spoke, "How was your run today?"

"It was good, Grandma, tiring, and just plain cold out," Jess said.

Angela smacked Jess on her bottom playfully, which caused Jess to yelp, "Get showered and dressed, or your breakfast will be cold," Angela said.

"Yes Mom," Jess said and ran off to go upstairs.

Angela sat down, just as breakfast was brought out. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took a piece of toast and took a bite, "She's getting there," she said.

"Angela, shouldn't you be setting a good example for Jessi by showering yourself?" Karen asked.

Angela shrugged, "Do as I say not as I do?" she asked.

"That's not how it's supposed to be done, Angela Baby. Also, you don't have to, nor shouldn't you expect Jessi to be like you. Don't push her," Karen said.

"I'm not, she wanted to start running with me," Angela said, "You're just mad because she's not girlie."

Karen shook her head, "No, not at all," she said.

"You have two girlie granddaughters, there are named Ellie and Sawyer," Angela said.

"Don't forget Candi, she's quite a young woman," Karen said.

Angela laughed, "The White Mamba? She worked harder at basketball than I ever could," she said.

"My point was, Angela, I just want Jessi to choose her own path," Karen said, "As you did."

Angela took a sip of her coffee and after she swallowed, she looked at Karen, "She's choosing her own path, but there is one thing I need to do for her, though," she said.

"What's that?" Karen asked.

"I need to get her into self-defense classes," Angela said.

"Like Peyton insisted that you take?" Karen asked.

"Yes, like Peyton wanted me to, which she had particularly good reason to suggest that. I also happen to believe it's a good set of skills for a woman to have," Angela said.

"What's next? Taking Jessi to a gun range?" Karen asked.

Angela tilted her head and took a bite of her toast. "Not a bad idea, but maybe when she's in high school if I can find one," she said.

"Really Angela Baby?" Karen asked.

Angela shrugged, "Probably not, but if she wants to learn how to shoot guns, I'll support her," she said and took another bite of her toast.

"So, what are you doing today?" Karena asked.

"I'm heading up to Bristol, getting my next assignments today for the college games. So it will just be you, Jessi, and the staff," Angela said, "You know the God-Emperor Micky the First of his name, pays me well but demands my soul in turn."

"What do you think it should be?" Karen asked.

Angela shrugged, and took another bite of toast, "I don't know," she said, and sighed, "I'll probably be on the road and away from Jessi."

"You don't like being apart from her?" Karen asked.

Angela shook her head, "Did you like being apart from me or Lucas? No, I don't, but have to pay the bills," Angela said, "It's probably going to be my post-playing career."

"No, bites on the coaching front?" Karen asked.

Angela shook her head, "Not a one yet, Caprice, is keeping an eye out for me at UCONN," she said.

"Have you talked to Jessi about when you plan to retire?" Karen asked.

Angela nodded, "A few times," she said.

"What does Jessi think about it?" Karen asked.

"Me retiring to either be a full-time broadcaster or coach?" Angela asked, finishing her toast, and now started going after her eggs.

"Yes," Karen said.

Angela swallowed her mouthful and washed it down with some coffee, then turned to her mom, "She laughs and says that it will never happen," Angela said, and went back after her eggs, "I want to bring her down to DC over MLK weekend."

Karen nodded, "Really?" she asked.

Angela nodded, "Yeah, Izzy may not be in town, but it's something we have to do," she said.

"You have to do what's best for you and Jessi," Karen said, "But are you sure that's good?"

"I just hope, I'm not on the road then," she said, "and I plan on it," she poked her eggs a few times and took another bite of her eggs, then swallowed, "So, when is Andy coming home?"

"He's almost done wrapping up in New Zealand, and he'll be heading back soon," Karen said.

Angela nodded, "I miss him," she said.

"So, do I," Karen said, "and I'm sure Jessi does too."

"Call me Jess, please, Grandma," Jess said coming into the room, her hair still a bit wet from the shower, and now was wearing preppy and somewhat feminine clothes, "Also what do I do as well?"

"Sorry, Jess," Karen said.

"Don't worry Grandma," Jess said, "So, what do I also do?"

"Miss Grandpa Andy," Karen said.

Jess nodded, "I do miss him, when will he be back?" she asked.

"Soon enough," Karen said.

"It's really fun when he takes me to school," Jess said.

"Hey! Are you saying I'm not fun?" Angela asked.

"No, but Grandpa Andy is funnier," Jess said.

Karen shook her head and chuckled, "No one is ever the cool parent to their kid, Angela," Karen said.

"I thought you said you were, Grandma?" Jess asked.

"Well, I was," Karen said.

"No, she wasn't, Jess. Don't let her BS you," Angela said, "If you don't believe me ask Uncle Lucas."

"Hey! Angela!" Karen said.

"Mom, it's a hard truth, but you know I'm right," Angela said.

Karen nodded, "I guess," she said, defeated.

"So, Jessi, Jess," Angela said, catching herself again, "What do you have planned for today?"

"I was hoping to go over to Emma Blakeslee's today," Jess said.

Angela nodded, "Well, Mom, what do you think? You're going to be home," she said.

"Emma Blakeslee? Doesn't see live in Old Greenwich?" Karen asked.

Jess nodded, "Yes," she said.

"If you Mom says it's okay, I'm good, I'll call when I'm picking you up," Karen said.

"Thanks, Grandma," Jess said, and turned to Angela, "Well Mom?"

Angela finished her breakfast and stood up. She walked behind Jess and hugged her from behind, "Hey eat up, when I come down, we're leaving and I'm taking you to Emma Blakeslee's," Angela said.

Jess nodded and smiled, "Okay Mom," she said.

Angela let go and headed upstairs. Jess looked at Karen and raised an eyebrow. Karen just shrugged, and Jess turned back to her plate.

Upstairs Angela went into her bathroom, stripped, and started up the shower. As the shower started to warm up, Angela stretched out and felt the tension in her muscles. She looked down and flexed her knee and studied the scars on it. She nodded and walked into the shower and enjoyed the stream from multiple shower heads.

Under the shower's water, she started to rub down her body. Pushing her hands back over her head bunching up her hair and letting fall back down her back. Next, she started lathering up and letting the steam clear out her sinuses.

When she finished washing, she washed her hair. It felt good after the run to have the sweat washed off and the chill taken out of her bones. Once finished she got out of the shower, reluctantly, and wrapped herself in a towel.

Angela wrung out her hair and then started to pat it down with a towel. Once she was satisfied, she was dry enough, she left the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Angela carefully walked into her bedroom.

She carefully dressed as she was looking in the mirror. Angela noted there were a few scars and a slight miss alinement of her nose. A few years ago, she had her nose broken in a basketball game, and she had to wear a face mask for the rest of the season when she returned. The scars just showed a life well-lived, and she was proud of all of them. As she was with her angel wing tattoos on her back, and the JS surrounded by flowers on her ankle.

Once she was done getting dressed, she collected up her hair and tied it back. Grabbing a pair of shoes to wear at work, she headed out of her bedroom, with sneakers on her feet. Angela walked downstairs and re-entered the dining room. She looked at her Mom and daughters. Karen looked up at Angela and smiled.

"You look nice, Angela," Karen said.

"Thanks, Mom," Angela said, and walked over to Jess, "Are you ready, Jessi?"

"Mom, please call me Jess," Jess said.

"Just answer the question," Angela said, not feeling the conversation about her nickname.

"Yes, I'm done eating," Jess said.

"Good, get your stuff so we can get going," Angela said.

Jess hopped up, "Yes Mom," she said and started heading off.

"Hey don't forget me," Karen said.

Jess walked over and kissed Karen on her cheek, "I'll see you later Grandma," she said.

"See you later, Jess," Karen said.

"See you tonight, Mom," Angela said.

"See you tonight," Karen said, "And good luck today."

"Thanks, Mom," Angela said.

Angela said left the dining room and got her keys and coat. She used her remote starter to start the car. Jess came to where Angela was, wearing her coat and carrying what she wanted to bring with her.

"I'm ready, Mom," Jess said.

"Let's go," Angela said, and lead Jess out of the house. That left Karen alone in the house smiling at her daughter and granddaughter as they left.