Page 9 of Brooke's Bliss
Her niece’s room used to be hers.She’d grown up there, thespace morphing from pink and princesses to rock star posters and some blackpaint from her goth phase.The first time she’d seen that room as a littlegirl’s, she’d gotten teary because she’d known she would never be the daughterof the family again.It was Paige’s place now, and she was so happy to be heraunt.
“I’m sure I’ll love it,” Brooke said, trying not to sniffle.It would be good to have a space for herself.
She might have to live in that tiny house and work here atStella’s for the rest of her life and pretend she was doing somethingimportant.
“Hey, if you want to stay in the big house, I’ll make room,”Rye said, looking at her with sympathetic eyes.“We held off on using thatfourth bedroom for as long as we could.I probably should have squeezed myoffice into the living room.”
Absolutely not.“Rye, I don’t live there.I’m happy Paigehas my room.I’ve shown her all my hidey-holes, and when she’s a teen I’m goingto teach her how to sneak out the west window.”
“What?”Max’s head came up.
Stella laughed.“Oh, I remember the days.I’ll be back withlunch.Let me know if I need to heat up a bottle for Eli.”She leaned towardBrooke, whispering conspiratorially.“We keep a bottle warmer in the kitchennow since we are in a baby boom.They are coming up everywhere, and soon we’llhave three more.”
“Four because the Stark-Warner clan is in town, and they’restaying for a month or two while Logan’s on summer break.”She had lunch withGeorgia once a month or so, but they lived on the Upper East Side and she wasdown close to Battery Park.And everyone was busy.So busy.She never had timeto do anything because she was busy making her boss look good.
“Teeny and Marie are going to spoil that baby rotten,”Stella announced and winked as she walked away.
Brooke slid out of the booth.“I’m going to wash my handsbefore we have lunch.Thanks for that, by the way.And for the ride out to thehouse.I’ve heard that the Farley brothers have started up their own ride shareservice.”
Rye shook his head.“Why their parents let them fix up anold limo, I have no idea.It’s a menace, but at least they drive like oldladies.The new schoolteacher used them so they wouldn’t feel bad.It tookforty-five minutes to get from school to her sister’s house.In the valley.”
Well, she liked a nice drive so she wouldn’t complain.“I’vealready put the app on my phone.”
“Let me know if you need to go somewhere,” Max offered,though she didn’t want her brother driving her around.
She turned and walked to the bathroom, taking a long breath.She had time, but she needed to figure out how she was going to tell them shedidn’t have a job anymore.
Keep it together, Brooke.It’s a couple of weeks athome, and Gemma will help you come up with something.
“Brooke Harper?”
She looked over, and a familiar face was at the sink.CleoRhea.She’d been one of the forty-seven students in Brooke’s graduating class.Brooke hadn’t been particularly close to her, but she’d liked working with heron theater projects.She felt a smile slide over her face.“Cleo, what are youdoing here?The last thing I heard you were working the LA theater scene.”
Cleo was a thin young woman with a long blue bob and a nosering.She was clearly in her witchy phase as she wore a flowy white skirt and aT-shirt that saidTheater is Magic.The white contrasted to hergorgeous dark skin.She gave Brooke a hug and stepped back to look her over.“And I heard you were taking over the fashion scene in New York.”
Brooke sighed and shook her head.“I’m working at a housebut definitely won’t be taking over anytime soon.I’m in town for mysister-in-law’s baby shower.”
Cleo laughed.“I can’t believe how many kids your brothershave now.It’s kind of crazy.Everyone’s got babies.I heard Stef and Jen aretrying for another one, and Nell is pregnant again.I think I should protesther.After all those lectures…”
Brooke had to laugh because she remembered those lectures,too.“I think she would probably get teary and say she’d done the right thing.”Brooke sobered.“I think it was an oops, from what Rachel told me.We shouldprobably let it go.I assure you those kids will grow up with the smallestcarbon footprint possible.”
Cleo settled her bag over her shoulder.“I’m directing thedrama at the rep theater this year.”
The Bliss Repertory Theater had been around since shortlyafter the town was established.They ran three shows in rotation all summerlong.A comedy.A drama.A musical.
Her brothers would take her to every show during thesummers.Max would almost always fall asleep, and she was certain Rye hadn’tloved them all—not a big theater person—but they never failed.Her heartsqueezed with the memories.
Cleo’s expression had taken on a distinctly thoughtful air.She looked down at her watch.“Hey, you could be the answer to my prayers.Howlong are you here?”
Forever.A few days.It could be anything.“At least acouple of weeks.I’m kind of on a sabbatical.”
If by sabbatical she meant fired and blackballed across theindustry…
“I’ve got a rehearsal in a couple of minutes, but I wouldlove to talk to you about something.Any chance you could have a drink with me?The cast is celebrating a birthday tonight at Hell on Wheels.We would love tosee you.”
What else was she doing?Brooding.She could do that anytime.Railing at fate.Also something she could put off in favor of drinkingtoo much and making some truly bad decisions.If she’d said Trio, it might havebeen an easy no.Zane Hollister ran Trio, and despite the fact that he hadn’tbeen around when she was a child, he kind of acted like an overprotectiveuncle.Sawyer Hathaway, who owned and ran Hell on Wheels,hadbeenaround for her childhood.He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but he also wouldn’tcall her brothers if she ended up crying in the bathroom.
“Yeah, that sounds great.I would love to meet the cast.It’s been a long time since I got to enjoy a season,” she said.
