Chapter 110: Jamlyn

Wednesday, January 4th, Morning

A quiet house was always a blessing, but she only had three children with her this week. But the kids were strong-willed and a handful, that's at least what she told herself. Ashlyn sat on the couch in the living room of Jamlyn. Most of the lights were out, and she had pulled her feet up and now sat on the couch cross-legged. Slowly, she pulled a blanket over her shoulders, pulling it tight around herself.

After a minute or two, she reached out from under her blanket. She took hold of her long-stemmed wine glass with her red wine. It was from a local winery, Noni Bacca, and it was a Pinot Noir. She fell in love with it about nine years ago when she and James went to visit the winery. They bought several cases and put them in the wine cellar.

Ashlyn sighed, she believed that one night after drinking several bottles of the Pinot Noir they conceived the twins. Ashlyn shook her head, and she reached over to the side table and retrieved her glasses. Gently she put them on and reached over to one of her books.

She slowly opened it and started to read. It was something she did now, to cut herself off from social media. She wasn't famous, nor did she want to be. Her husband had social media accounts, but only because he was a player in the NBA. It was sort of expected.

There was a time she also had social media. It drove her nuts looking at all the pictures posted to or tagging James in. What were these women, and girls, thinking, sending naked, near-naked, pictures to a married man, and one with children? Stuff like that made her purposely hid here in Tree Hill, and stay out of the spotlight.

But it could be a lonely life. Most of her friends have moved away. There's Chase, but between their kids, and the fact Brett prefers her step-mom there's tension there. Maybe she could spend more time with Ashton, but Ashton's busy with her practice and her family. It would be so much easier if James was home, or at least in Charlotte. If James was in Charlotte, she could take the kids down there for his home weekends. It's even worse when they're in the playoffs. Which is still a possibility this year, he may not get home until June, not a lot of time together.

Slowly she sipped her wine. What glass was this today? Ashlyn had lost count, it started out as one a night to calm down. Now it's probably three a night, she still gets up every morning, makes sure the kids are off to school, works out, and gets to work on time. But it would be bad if it was a whole bottle a night. Well, that's what she told herself.

Ashlyn reflected on what was around her. She shouldn't complain, she doesn't want for anything, she has four great kids, a beautiful house, but she does complain. Ashlyn sighed because she feels alone, and surprisingly she misses her sister, Savannah.

Her knee groaned under the stress of being bent the way she had it, for too long. Ashlyn chose to ignore it, that knee robbed her of her first career, and of her dreams of playing in the Olympics. She had to settle for being an assistant high school basketball coach and watch her best friend win the gold. Ashlyn was a guest for that Olympics and cheered her heart out for Angela, but part of her heart died too.

The smartphone sat next to the open wine bottle and it was silent. Not that she was expecting many calls, but one would come later. Maybe she should turn on the NBA network since Miami was in Sacramento, it's a late-game and a late night. He'll call as soon as he could after the game, and he'll want to know about the kids and might ask about his game, and if she coached the game how it went. James was always good about that.

She took another sip of her wine, putting the glass down. With her other hand, she reached for the remote and turned on the oversized TV. She clicked on the guide and scrolled through to find the game she's looking for. Flipping the channel to it, and almost right away tuned out the pre-game banter.

Ashlyn would look into the background to see who was on the court. Every so often she would see James on the screen. The next three games were all in California. So, they were late games, so even though the kids, well at least the boys, loved watching their dad play, they had school so they went to bed. Maeghan hated basketball, smart girl Ashlyn reflected, but even though she hated the game, she would watch just to see her dad.

When he played in Charlotte, she would rad trip with the kids down there to see him. Of course, it was over the road, Ashlyn had a fear of flying, especially in helicopters. Through James, she got to know several old-time basketball players, and many of them told her horror stories about flying in helicopters. Which totally freaked her out and she insisted James shouldn't fly by helicopter.

The pre-game ended and the game actually started. Watching basketball wasn't fun for her anymore. She would fall into coaching mode and pick everything apart, how to adjust offenses and defenses, what the players themselves had to adjust to how they were playing and being played against.

But she was as always, the dutiful wife and watched her husband games. She never wanted to be a WAG, and the one season she was down in Miami, James' rookie season, made her choice of coming back here sound. The original intent of her living in Miami, without Brett, was to see about living there and finding a graduate school. But the team demands, the other wives' demands, being from a small town, and her own issues with losing basketball didn't make it a good fit. So, she returned to North Carolina and got her Master's degree from UNC-Wilmington, and raised Brett, soon after Maeghan joined them as she was finishing her degree.

By the time she came back basketball had already sunk its teeth deep into Brett, and wouldn't let go. So, her oldest daughter started down the trail Ashlyn never wanted her to go down. Brett is a good basketball player, probably as good as Angela, but she didn't have the dance background that her Auntie Tall has, but Brett is good.

The game finished up, and Miami broke their losing streak, beating Sacramento 107 to 102. So, their six-game road trip has a high point, so far. James had a good game, and he's been a high point this season. Hopefully, they can keep the wins coming, not that Ashlyn wants James in the playoffs, but James is always in a better mood when they win. Their next game is against the Lakers, they beat the Lakers for their last win before the losing streak.

Ashlyn finished her latest glass of wine. Putting the glass down, she felt the wine warm her body. That was when her smartphone rang. She reached over and picked up to answer it.

"Hey James," Ashlyn said.

"Hey Honey, how are you and the kids?" James asked.

"The younger kids are in bed, hopefully sleeping," Ashlyn said, "Brett's over her Dad's so I don't know."

"So, how are you?" James asked.

"Probably a little drunk," Ashlyn said.

"Oh really?" James asked.

"Yes, this Pino is very good," Ashlyn said.

"So, what happened?" James asked.

"What do you mean?" Ashlyn asked.

"You generally don't get drunk, what did Brett do?" James asked.

"How would you know if I generally don't get drunk? You're never here," Ashlyn said, "Also, I don't want to trouble you."

"You're not troubling me," James said.

Ashlyn took a deep breath, "Brett's not listening to me," she said.

"Okay. What's she not listening to you about?" James asked.

"I was trying to coach her on something last game, and she started arguing with me. Lucas had to break it up," Ashlyn said.

"What did Uncle Lucas do?" James asked.

"He yelled at both of us, in private," Ashlyn said.

"What were you arguing about?" James asked.

"I don't even remember," Ashlyn said.

"Well Baby Bear is sowing her oats against Mommy Bear," James said.

"I don't like it when people refer to me as a bear," Ashlyn said, "What do you mean?"

"She's seventeen and trying to be a grown-up. Brett already knows where she's playing next year, she doesn't want to be told anything by her mom," James said.

"Even if I know best?" Ashlyn asked.

"Yes, even if you know best," James said.

Ashlyn shook her head, "So, when are you coming home?" she asked.

"Soon," James said, "I'm going to see Candi this week."

Candi Scott, James' cousin, and probably the best looking of the Scotts, Ashlyn thought. If they go out together there will be a shit storm, as most paparazzi won't connect Candi and James as cousins. Great another rumor, but they were close. Candi went to Duke with James and herself, and Ashlyn remembered how great a point guard Candi was. Probably the best she ever played with, in fact, but Candi walked away from basketball and has a life. Something Ashlyn admired greatly.

"So, you're going to see the most accomplished member of the family," Ashlyn said, matter-of-factly.

"Just saying," James said.

"Yeah, just saying," Ashlyn said, "It's late, I have work tomorrow, I'll talk to you soon," she hung up the phone and threw it aside on the couch and looked down at her empty wine glass, and cried.