Page 101 of Falling for Brody

Later,when they were back at the firehouse, Brody couldn't seem to get enough of Rhea. Wherever she went, whatever she did, he followed. Cooking dinner for the crew turned out to be a family affair as his sister, Rachel drove up with Bea and Chip in tow.

Brody felt his whole life falling into place like a game of Scrabble when all of the letters he pulled out of the bag ended up making a seven-letter word that gave him all the extra points.

He knew that he'd have to talk to his parents sooner rather than later, because as soon as Rhea was ready to make this public, he was going to put a ring squarely on her finger.

CHAPTER18

Rhea was startingto feel like the song 'Somebody's Watching Me' was part of her life's soundtrack.

She had no proof of it and really, she knew she had to be a little paranoid, but the delays in Richmond were weighing on her.

Keely had called the other day for another update.

The attorney for the Russell family was trying to bury the court in legal filings.

Keely said that most of them were ridiculous, but there was enough law in them to warrant hearings.

And she was happy to pay Keely to fight them.

Happy, but quickly becoming poorer in the bargain.

She'd pay whatever she had to to keep Chip with her.

Money didn't matter if she lost her son.

Shaking her head at her own thoughts, she made her way up to the front steps of Howard and Louise's house, a couple of pies in a carrier. She'd made them with Chip's help and was pretty excited to share with the family.

Brody had to run an errand and was going to pick up Bea and Chip on the way and she had planned to help out in the kitchen with whatever she could.

Of all of the people in the Armstrong family, she'd spent the least amount of time with Brody's mom and she knew that if something was going to happen of a permanent nature between her and Brody, she'd have to get along with Brody's mother. And she was planning to start today before they told the family anything.

She knocked on the door and Howard answered, smiling at her. "Rhea! Come inside. Come inside."

She stepped inside and lifted the carrier that was hanging from her fingers. "I brought some pies for dinner."

Howard started to reach for it. "I'll take those."

She gave him a curious look and laughed.

"Yeah," he sighed, "better not. They'd never last for dessert." He gestured to the kitchen. "Come in. Helene's running a little late and Rachel and Kay just ran over to Kay's house to bring some dishes they prepared last night. Come on in with Louise. She'll be happy for the help."

"Thank you."

They stopped just outside of the tiled floor.

"Louise? I have a kitchen helper for you!"

Brody's mom chuckled softly. "Who would need to knock- Oh! Rhea! It's you."

Howard was already making his way out of the room or she might have begged to go along with him.

The way that Brody's mom had talked? She wasn't sure. But she was more than a little worried if there was something that was wrong.

"I brought some pies." She took a few steps closer and stopped when Louise looked at the dessert carrier with a strange twist to her mouth.

"Well, we have plenty of dessert for today, but more is always welcome."

"I know I probably should have asked, but Brody liked the pie the other night when I brought some to the firehouse. He said I should bring some here for the family."

---