Chapter 660: 09:00
Sunday, March 12th, Morning
(Bailey-Miller Residence)
After breakfast, the three young women retreated upstairs to Baylee's room. The two young women landed on her bed hard and looked around the room. Brett sat on the edge of the bed with Baylee on the bed with her. Avril sat at Baylee's desk. Baylee slowly crawled her way to put her back against her headboard.
"So, how are we going to get this party going?" Baylee asked.
"I have no idea," Brett said, "Since we're hosting, we'll need to provide for it."
"Yeah," Baylee said, "But how?"
"The lauders at Beaulieu?" Avril asked.
"No," Brett said.
"Then how?" Baylee asked.
"I don't know," Avril said.
"We have to get the word out as well," Brett said.
"Yes, we do," Avril said.
"How do we do that?" Baylee asked.
"I've no idea," Brett said.
"I'll let Parker know," Baylee said.
Brett sighed, "That's going to be some party, the three of Parker and us," she said.
"Garvan, too," Baylee said.
Brett nodded, "Yeah, Garvan, too," she said.
"Garvan is still your boyfriend, right?" Baylee asked.
"Yeah, he is," Brett said quietly.
"All right," Baylee said.
"Yeah, all right," Brett said.
"But how do we get the word out?" Baylee asked.
"Simple," Avril said.
"How, Av?" Baylee asked.
"I just texted Shannon and told her to spread the news. Also, I'm about to send it out in our group text," Avril said.
"Oh, thanks, Av," Brett said.
"Thanks, Av," Baylee said.
"No problem, now to supplies," Avril said and smiled.
(Rothenburg Residence)
The buzzing of her smartphone woke her up, and she rolled on her side. She looked through half-open eyes at her smartphone. Shannon Rothenburg reached out and picked up the phone. She looked, reached out, and picked up the phone. She looked the screen over and opened the text message.
Avril: We're throwing a victory party tonight.
Shannon: Okay, so? You woke me up.
Avril: Sorry, we need to get the word out.
Shannon: How far do you want it to get out?
Avril: The usual suspects.
Shannon: All the usual?
Avril: Sure, why not? It's pretty much our last hurrah.
Shannon: Where is it going to be?
Avril: The Scott Beach House.
Shannon: No Shit! How did you swing that?
Avril: We have our ways.
Shannon: Right; it has nothing to do with Brett?
Avril: I will never tell.
Shannon: Right! What time?
Avril: I'll get back to you on it.
Shannon: Roger Dodger.
Avril: Thanks, Shan.
Shannon: No problem.
Shannon rolled onto her back and sighed. She opened up her group text and looked over everything. Shannon sighed and started to type out a message.
Shannon: Listen up bitches! We have a victory party tonight. Bring all the usual suspects and details to follow.
Shannon sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Shaking her head, she blinked her eyes a few times.
"Jackin!" Shannon yelled and then sat up, shaking her head.
(Tree Hill, NC)
The smartphone buzzed, and he reached over with his big hand. Picking up the phone and looked it over. Garvan Muir nodded and answered the phone.
"Snapchat me, please," Garvan said.
"You didn't answer," Felicia Watt said.
"So, what's up, Fee?" Garvan asked.
"I got a text that the girls' basketball team is throwing a victory party," Felicia said.
"So?" Garvan asked.
"I want to go, Garvan," Felicia said.
"So, go," Garvan said.
"I want you there," Felicia said.
"Maybe, I don't want to go," Garvan said.
"I want you there," Felicia said.
"Why?" Garvan asked.
"Because I just do," Felicia said.
Garvan snorted, "So?" he asked.
"Garvan, c'mon, please, for me," Felicia said.
"What do I get out of this?" Garvan asked.
"Garvan, I'll let you do whatever you want," Felicia said.
"Hmm! Anything?" Garvan asked.
"Anything," Felicia said.
"Hmm! I'll think about it," Garvan said.
"Please, please, please, Garvan," Felicia said.
"Fine, I'll go," Garvan said.
"Yeah, I'll see you later," Felicia said and hung up.
Garvan shook his head and put the smartphone down. He shook his head and returned to doing what he was doing before the call.
(Jamlyn)
After breakfast, Ashlyn checked on the kids to ensure they weren't destroying the place. Once satisfied, Ashlyn retreated to the den that functioned as both her and James's office. James had spent money and bought them an antique partner's desk. From the doorway, Ashlyn stood and looked over the desk, where her laptop sat open, waiting for her.
Ashlyn crept across the room and took a seat at her desk. She panned her eyes across several pictures, including one of her four children. There was also one of Ashlyn, Angela, and Ashton, her and her two best friends; it shared a frame as one of Brett, Avril, and Baylee. Her oldest daughter was so much like her, down to her rebellious streak. Ashlyn sighed, but Brett got a lot from her dad, her height, Brett topped Ashlyn by two or three inches, and her fiery ginger hair was also from her dad.
Shaking her head, Ashlyn pulled out her smartphone and set it on the desk. She looked over to an old high school picture tucked in the corner of her desk blotter. Ashlyn pulled out the picture and looked it over; in the picture were Ashlyn, Angela, and Chase; it was taken the summer after their first year of college. They were stretched out, sunning themselves at Beaulieu; Angela was still wearing her knee brace after surgery.
Steeling herself, Ashlyn reached down and picked up her smartphone. Shaking her head, she put the phone and picture down. Ashlyn pushed away from her desk and paced around the den. Finally, she returned to the desk and sat down. Reaching over, she unlocked her smartphone, scrolled through her contacts, and pressed the call button.
"Hello," Chase said.
"Chase, Ashlyn," Ashlyn said.
"What can I do for you, Ashlyn?" Chase asked.
"I came across some news that involves our daughter," Ashlyn said.
"Okay, do tell," Chase said, and Ashlyn nodded.
(Gatina Cabin)
The squall didn't hang around as Nathan entered the small town where his destination was. Driving through the primary and only major street, he found the turn-off that led up the mountain. The road, only gravel halfway up, was a careful drive up the road. The feel of the wheels changed as the road changed from rock to dirt. The road was packed down from use but was slightly soft from the recently passed-over storm. Eventually, the road broke out of the tree canopy to the clearing where the cabin was located.
Nathan pulled next to Rachel's car and put the SUV in park. Shutting the engine down, he exited the SUV and looked up at the old cabin. The humid weather made his knee sore and stiff as he slowly walked towards the cabin's front door. Slowly, Nathan walked up the stairs to the front door. At the door, he rang the bell.
Looking around the clearing, Nathan thought; he could see a deer along the tree line. The birds started chirping at the sweet scent of the fresh rain. The mountain air smells lovely, but the rain squall enhances the sweetness.
Finally, the door opened, and Nathan came face to face with Rachel. Around the same age as Nathan, Rachel seemed to have aged more dramatically. Her red hair had faded, and her face was etched with age lines.
"Nathan, I didn't expect you here so soon," Rachel said.
"Why?" Nathan asked.
"The storm," Rachel said.
"It wasn't that bad," Nathan said.
"Okay, please come in," Rachel said.
"All right," Nathan said, and Rachel allowed him in.
(Beaulieu Manor)
The cold weather in Tree Hill was unseasonably cold but not as cold as New York City. The two people chose to walk the Privy Gardens of Beaulieu Manor. These gardens sat outside the East Range; most sat underneath the windows of Brooke's suite of rooms.
Fallon had her arm looped into Grant's, and she leaned against Grant's arm. She rested her head on his shoulders and looked at the winter plants.
"So, this is where you come when you're not in New York?" Grant asked.
"Well, yes, but I don't own it," Fallon laughed.
"But you grew up here?" Grant asked.
"Yeah, until my sophomore year, I bought my townhouse," Fallon said.
"So, what is going to happen here?" Grant asked.
"What do you mean?" Fallon asked.
"With us," Grant said, "It seems my mother wants anything but us together."
Fallon shrugged, "Well, I look at this; this way," she said.
"What way?" Grant asked.
"When you find yourself going through hell, keep going," Fallon said.
"Even with my mother?" Grant asked.
Fallon shrugged, "So, these gardens are beautiful in the summer," she said.
"Yeah?" Grant asked.
"Yes, we'll have to return to see it," Fallon said.
"Oh, why?" Grant asked.
"I'll be coming down to pick up Sawyer and Keni to spend a month in New York," Fallon said.
"Oh, I guess we're going to have to do that," Grant said.
Fallon smiled, "Yeah," she said as they walked through the Privy Gardens.
(Beaulieu Manor)
After breakfast, Izzy brought Nomi and Ellis to one of the game rooms. Ellis ended up on a sofa and started playing video games. Nomi went to a corner, picked up a tablet, and began to browse. Izzy found herself in a chair watching the kids.
Izzy sighed and leaned back. That was when her smartphone rang. Izzy reached into her pocket and noticed a name on the screen, Kari Johannsson. Izzy answered her phone.
"Hey, Kari," Izzy said.
"How are you doing, Boss?" Kari asked.
"Doing well, watching Nomi and Ellis," Izzy said.
"Well, when will you be back in the district?" Kari asked.
"Late tomorrow night, have a movie sneak peek tomorrow," Izzy said.
"Oh really? What movie?" Kari asked.
"A documentary about Brian Scott," Izzy said.
"Oh, that would be a porn or a horror movie," Kari said.
"Funny, Kari," Izzy said, "So, why did you call?"
"We have some movement," Kari said.
"I see; what do we propose?" Izzy asked.
"How about some pizza Tuesday night?" Kari asked.
"What is on the pizza?" Izzy asked.
"Italian Sausage," Kari said.
"Spicy," Izzy said.
"Very," Kari said.
"See you then," Izzy said.
"Later, Boss," Kari said and ended the call. Izzy shrugged; this should be interestingly flashed across her face. Shaking her head, Izzy went back to watching Nomi and Ellis.
(Beaulieu Manor)
After the hardy breakfast, uncomfortable questions, and a hot shower, Ellie changed into her workout gear. She headed out to the gardens of Beaulieu, stretched out her muscles, and started to run around the gardens of Beaulieu.
Ellie had to admit one thing, Beaulieu Manor was a beautiful place to jog. She took up jogging to regain muscle tone after she finished her treatments her senior year and got a clean bill of health. To Ellie's surprise, she enjoyed jogging, and it kept her head clear and mind sharp.
The garden of Beaulieu was beautiful, and often Ellie would do a second lap to enjoy the gardens. Ellie would also jog the grounds of Leighton. The first ground she liked to jog on was her dad's land, Leighton.
As she passed through the Privy Gardens, Ellie saw Fallon and Grant walking in the gardens. It was a sweet thing to watch, as Fallon seemed happy. That's a good thing; Fallon has been unlucky in love as long as Ellie knew her.
Ellie jogged around the front of Beaulieu, not often referred to as South Range. There wasn't much here, but it existed. Turning along the West Range, the differences here were stark. The West Range is where Brooke ran her business. The buildings had a more functional feel to them. Instead of gravel, the parking areas were paved. Ellie shook her head and checked her smartwatch. She had time, as she jogged by the B&B part of Beaulieu through the North Range maze-like gardens before finishing her jog.
(River Court)
Once he finished breakfast, he headed to the parking area of the East Range. Lucas watched as Fallon and Grant went for a walk in the gardens. Lucas shrugged and climbed into his veteran SUV.
Lucas headed out of Beaulieu and headed towards the river. He listened to the radio playing the typical Sunday morning music. Finally, Lucas pulled into a parking space in a park with a lone basketball court. Getting out of his veteran SUV, Lucas walked over to the basketball court, the court he played on as a young man, the River Court.
Standing on the court, Lucas looked over the river to downtown Tree Hill. Lucas sighed and turned back to the court. He looked at the hoop of one of the backboards. The chain-link net was covered with a thin layer of rust scale.
Lucas sighed and walked to center court, and looked down. Badly faded words were barely legible on the old, faded asphalt. He used to play blacktop ball, and over the years, the youth would leave messages to each other here.
There was one spot Lucas was looking for, a specific place and set of words. Finally, he found the faded words he was looking for. Looking down at the badly faded words, Lucas knew what they were from his heart.
However far away, I will always love you.
(Seaview)
Meggy walked up the stairs and stood outside her son's door. She wondered what was up with Gareth. The usually quiet boy had become a withdrawn and angry young man. Meggy wondered if Gareth was involved with drugs or something different but equally as wrong.
Taking a deep breath, Meggy steeled herself for the confrontation. Finally, Meggy felt strong enough to open her son's bedroom door. She strode into the room like a person on a mission.
Gareth was asleep in his bed. Gripping the covers, Meggy set her jaw. She hated doing this, but she had to, and Gareth looked so innocent sleeping there. That didn't dissuade her from the task and purpose on hand. Meggy ripped the covers off the sleeping Gareth.
The teenage boy woke with a start and stared up at his mom with anger in his eyes.
"What the hell, Mom?" Gareth asked.
"Don't swear at me, Gareth, and we need to talk," Meggy said.
"About?" Gareth asked sourly.
"What's been up with you? Fighting, disappearing for hours, and I hardly hear about your friends anymore," Meggy said.
"So?" Gareth asked.
"Are you using?" Meggy asked.
"No, and why are you even asking?" Gareth shot back.
"If I search this room, I won't find anything?" Meggy asked.
"No, you won't," Gareth said.
"So, why have you changed?" Meggy asked.
"Nothing," Gareth said.
"Gareth," Meggy said.
"Do you really want to know?" Gareth asked.
"Yes," Meggy said.
"Hold on, it's going to be a ride," Gareth said.
"I'm waiting with baited breath," Meggy said, sat down, and waited for Gareth to tell his story.