Page 120 of Brooke's Bliss
But then that was what the man did.He was their greatestcheerleader, the one who hyped them up and held their hands when they weredown.Shane was the center of their universe, and she was so happy for it.
The influencer nodded.Brooke seemed to remember Stef hadintroduced him as an art critic with a massive following online.“Yes.That’sexactly it.You see both the sorrow of the man and the entire culture on thiscanvas.It’s stunning, but then all the work is.It’s been a while since Ifound an artist who could work across mediums like Mr.Kent.”
“I believe I told you he was one of a kind.”Stef wore hissemblance of a suit.Slacks, dress shirt, and an elegant jacket sans tie.Andhe was wearing cowboy boots.His wife was a willowy beauty in a cocktail dress.
Though she noticed Jen Talbot’s normally full wine glass waswater this evening.
Rachel sidled up next to her.She was in a cocktail dress aswell, with sky-high heels.The best part of her sister-in-law’s outfit thoughwas her smile.In the weeks since the night she’d blown up, Max and Rye andRachel had been working on their marriage.On reconnecting as partners ratherthan just parents.A couple of sessions with Alexei and they were reallytalking.
A couple of sessions in Stef’s dungeon and they were findingtheir groove again.She’d heard they had started using the tiny house as theirown playroom.They had used the Farley brothers’ babysitting service severaltimes now, but they didn’t go out.They ordered in and spent hours locked up inthat tiny house together, reminding themselves of how they got to be theparents of three and a half kids.Rachel had started talking about the new babywith enthusiasm.“They’re trying.Jen’s excited about giving Little Logan asibling.You know I wonder if we’re always going to call him Little Logan.”
“Probably.That kid will be six foot three and we’ll callhim LL.Anyway, I’m happy for them,” Brooke said, sipping her champagne.She’dmade the rounds as the artist’s fiancée.And his brother’s.She had aplaceholder ring for now, but Bay was learning the art of jewelry making fromthe strangest of places.Mel had explained that he’d spent a lot of time on theRen Faire circuit during his active alien hunting days.Because aliens likedthose big turkey legs, and apparently lute playing soothed them.His cover?Hewas a blacksmith who made rings as well as swords—all blessed with beet juiceto keep the aliens away.
She loved her hometown so much.
“Me, too.I have no doubt she won’t be far behind me.Youknow I will be thrilled with any baby we get, but it would be fun for all of usto have girls.Lucy Brooke and my and Jen’s daughters could be a girl gang.Wecould do girls days.Let me tell you I wish Paige would spend more time withgirls.She runs through the woods with Charlie and Zander, and I think sheforgets she’s a girl sometimes.”Rachel took a long breath and let it out, herexpression going soft.“Or I should let Paige be Paige and not worry about it.That’s the hardest thing about parenting.Letting them be who they are evenwhen you think they’re headed for rough times.”
Paige would handle the rough times by kicking a shin or two.Her niece was a force of nature, and she would figure out who she was.But thatwasn’t all Rachel was trying to say to her.“We’re good.I understand.Rye andMax are more likemy dadsthan my brothers.I think Iwas also an easy place to focus all their worry on.Like it was easier to worryabout me than their marriage.”
Rachel grinned.“Oh, you have been reading the same books asAlexei.He said the same thing.You should know how much we love you.”
She glanced over and Max was holding a beer, standing nextto Shane.He and Rye had become mentors to her men, and they were soaking upthe big brotherly affection and advice.Sometimes too much.They were takingthe jail thing seriously and looking for reasons to get locked up so they couldpay her back in servitude.
Her nights were interesting.
“I love you, too.All of you, and I can’t wait to meet thenew baby,” Brooke said.“I promise we’ll be back in time to greet this oneproperly.”
Rachel sighed, but there was a smile on her face.“I’m goingto miss you.So when do you leave?”
Plans were already in motion.“Cleo has the financialbacking she needs.Turns out she ended up talking to Seth at the opening nightparty and she coaxed a nice check out of him, so now Seth and Georgia areproducers.”
She’d been working on Georgia’s Met gown for a solid month,and it was coming together beautifully.It was a full-on statement gown to beworn by a queen taking her rightful place in society.That gown offered noapologies for taking up space and shining the way the woman who would wear itdid.
It didn’t matter if some critic didn’t like it.She wasdesigning for Georgia, and only her opinion mattered.
It was deliciously freeing, and now her ideas flowed, herart like breath in her lungs again.
Rachel hugged her.“I’m going to miss you so much, but I’mexcited for you.Remember you always have a place to come home to.”
She hugged her sister back, a sweet sense of belongingflooding her veins.
All her friends were here.In the last month she’d spenttime with Lucy and River and their families.River and Jax were trying to getpregnant, and Lucy was thinking about it.She’d gotten to know Sawyer’s family.Sabrina and Wyatt were lovely, and her sister Elisa was wonderful.
She would miss this place so much, but she would always comehome to it.“I will.We’re going to start looking for a cabin.”
Rachel’s head shook.“Don’t bother.You should know Stefplans to get you a place in the valley for your wedding present.When you getmarried.”
“It won’t be long.”She should probably turn that cabindown.Or not.Stef wouldn’t have offered without Jen’s approval, and he waslike another big brother.“Tell him I don’t mind a fixer upper now that I knowmy sister-in-law is so talented.”
Rachel was finding more than her groove.She was finding apassion.“I like laying tile and putting in drywall.I thought I would go andbe like some designer, but what I loved was doing the work with my hands.I’mtalking to the guys about adding on to our house.I think I’d like my ownoffice and eventually we’ll need another bedroom.I’m excited about it.”
It was easy to see her sister-in-law was where she needed tobe.
“Hey, little sis.”Rye strode up and wrapped an arm aroundher.“What are you doing with the most beautiful woman in the world?Hello.Inoticed you seem to be here without a man.”
Oh, and they role-played now.A lot.Brooke managed not toroll her eyes.“Uh, she’s pregnant so she’s technically not alone.”
“Hush,” Rachel said with a grin on her face.“Well, kindsir, I’m afraid I am alone tonight, and I don’t understand anything about art.Could you explain it to me?”
