Chapter 722: Bobbi-Lee's Cottage

Monday, March 20th, Morning

Some of the things that got her through the day were her morning jog, her three cats, coffee, and the peace and quiet of her home. So, the routine started with her rolling out of bed, petting one or more of the cats that slept with her, dressing for her run, petting the cat lying on the couch, going outside, stretching, and then starting her run.

The sun was only just breaking over the houses as she made her way down the block. Bobbi-Lee Burke was never one for exercise until her sojourn to the southwest and the desert. One of the things that the trip taught her was a solid mind/body connection helped with healthy living; one way to strengthen it was routine exercise. So, every morning Bobbi-Lee got up, either ran or did some other exercise, usually stationary bike, but sometimes using her normal bike at lunchtime and yoga at the end of the day. Not only did it help her mind and soul, but her ass was tight as a drum.

The routine was typically the same three or four blocks; some weeks, she wouldn't do the extra block. Some days she would run the course twice depends how stressed she was. The only difference in the route was to start one way on the hill or the other way and end with the hill. It was all the same to her. It was her the road, her earbuds, and her music. The music, like most people, was the music of her youth, which carried would carry her through her run.

Today was The Offspring kind of day; the voice of Dexter Holland filled her ears as Bobbi-Lee pushed through the morning slump. As the turn to the hill approached Bobbi-Lee's mind filled with The Offspring and the daily reliving of the trauma of Johnny dying. She didn't see it or even see him; his body was in no condition for public viewing. She buried him in Arlington, but she still missed him. The dreams of him or her dad visiting her are far less now. She hardly thought about DZ anymore but enjoyed her peace and serenity at home.

As the hill approached, Bobbi-Lee thought her mind drifted to Mrs. Ivanova and how she was doing. They didn't give her information on Mrs. Ivanova's location, so, Bobbi-Lee couldn't visit. It was a sad state of affairs, but not much Bobbi-Lee could do about it.

The hill was kicking her ass today. Bobbi-Lee refocused her energy. If the hill is kicking her ass, her mind is distracted, and usually not in a good way. How do you beat it? Push through it and burn it off.

Once she created the hill, Bobbi-Lee just kept cruising on the hill. The sweat was starting to pool on her back, and she felt the droplets rolling down into her leggings and her sports bra. The ends of her ginger red hair whipped her back as she ran; she wore it in a ponytail. They were connecting with all of it, the sweet, the whipping, the burn in her leg muscles. The steady cadence of her breathing and the sounds of Dexter Holland and The Offspring give her energy.

The next turn was coming around, and that would bring the downslope and the final approach to the house. Time to step it up a notice, Bobbi-Lee reflected, as she reached down for the next gear she knew she had. Bobbi-Lee picked herself up and started to pick up speed. Bobbi-Lee hit the corner hard and started the downslope. As the grade went down, her gears shifted downward. The momentum shifted back into her legs, and she pushed to keep control of the downslope as she pushed down the hill. She caught up with herself a few houses in and started to slow down for her cool down. Bobbi-Lee walked the last few houses to her lot, exhaling and feeling the muscle burn leave her body.

Bobbi-Lee stretched out and looked over to Mrs. Ivanova's cottage. It looked so much like Bobbi-Lee's. She looked over the house and noted the landscapers hadn't come this week. The lawn needed to be cut, and maybe the bushes needed to be trimmed. The for sale sign was still visible and swinging slightly in the wind. The sign above the crossbar said Sold.

They sold Mrs. Ivanova's cottage. Bobbi-Lee nodded; she was going to have new neighbors. That means there will be a change; it could change everything or nothing. Maybe there will be kids; maybe there won't be. Bobbi-Lee sighed and walked into her cottage; stepping through her front door, she kicked off her sneakers.

She looked over to her coach and saw one of her cats lying there.

"Yes, I'm back, Custis," Bobbi-Lee said.

The cat looked up at Bobbi-Lee and shook his head. Custis lowered his head and rolled on his side. Bobbi-Lee shook her head and went upstairs to her bedroom. The youngest of her three rescue cats was lying on her bed. The little cat looked up at Bobbi-Lee and blinked.

"Yes, I'm back, Rob, and I'm going to shower," Bobbi-Lee said.

Bobbi-Lee stepped into her bathroom; she started her shower. There was a changing room off the bathroom, and she chose what to wear. Once done, she returned to the bathroom and removed her running gear. Bobbi-Lee stepped into the shower and started washing off the sweat, grooming, and washing her hair.

Once she completed her shower, she wrapped herself in an extra-large towel. Stepping to the vanity, and started her hairdryer, dried her hair, and brushed out her hair. Bobbi-Lee styled her hair and dressed in the outfit she picked out. She walked into the lofted area she used as her office and started her coffee.

Bobbi-Lee got behind her computer and logged in. She got a notification that she had an up-and-coming meeting. This was typical, as the various locations would get together for a creative meeting.

Opening her email and she started to go over the new emails. Some were just general corporate stuff; others were requests or questions. Bobbi-Lee flagged the requests to follow up on while she answered as many of the questions as she could. The rest were flagged to follow up after the meeting.

The meeting started, and Bobbi-Lee looked at her camera and then the screen to see Trinity "Trin" Adams, Brooke Davis's daughter and the vice president for New York operations.

"Morning, Bobbi," Trin said.

"Morning," Bobbi-Lee said.

"How was your run this morning?" Trin asked.

"Good, now it's time for coffee," Bobbi-Lee said and turned to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"So, did you go to the premiere?" Trin asked.

Bobbi-Lee nodded, "Yeah," she said.

"She set me a file," Trin said.

"What did you think?" Bobbi-Lee said.

"It was true, all was true," Trin said, "Mostly."

Bobbi-Lee nodded as Brooke Davis entered the meeting.

"Trin, Bobbi, how is your Monday going?" Brooke asked.

"It goes well," Bobbi-Lee said.

"Okay, so far," Trin said.

"A few more will be joining us as we're getting ready for Spring Season Shows," Brooke said.

"I've got stuff on the drawing board," Bobbi-Lee said.

Brooke nodded, "Good, people are coming in, so let's get at it," she said and started the meeting.