“Good morning, Darling,” Brooke said, her voice hardly louder.
Anna bit her bottom lip. Her eyes darted away from Brooke's face, before fluttering back. Brooke couldn’t read the depth in them, but she could see Anna’s blush deepen.“Did you sleep?” Anna asked, still barely louder than a whisper.
It was such a simple question, so laced with genuine care and concern that it took Brooke's breath away. She nodded.“Yeah, there at the end.”
Anna didn’t tut or titter about it, she just nodded, her face still filled with concern.“Okay, but how much sleep?”
Brooke had never been asked questions like this before. No one had ever thought to ask them. She swallowed the lump that had unexpectedly formed in her throat. It was lack of sleep that was making her emotional, she thought. Surely, that was it. She cleared her throat and blinked a few times.“Almost two hours.” It was only a slight stretch of the truth, and not so far a stretch as to ease the line of worry that had taken up residence on Anna’s forehead. Brooke was too exhausted to stop herself as her free hand reached up and gently thumbed over the wrinkle.“It’ll be okay, Anna,” she said reassuringly.“If it makes you feel better, I didn’t let myself spiral the whole time.” She offered a small, but genuinely proud smile.
“It does. I’m sorry you didn’t fall asleep.” Anna looked genuinely guilty.“I wouldn’t have slept if I didn’t think you would, too.”
“No, Darling, I never would have wanted that.” Brooke shook her head.“I had hoped that you would get some rest. I just don’t sleep well around others.” She had meant strangers, specifically–as in, the plane full of people–but Anna was looking at her now with an unparalleled fascination.
Brooke wondered if she should amend her sentence, to awkwardly blather on that she only meant sleep in public spaces, but she actually didn’t sleep well with others. She had never thought of that before, but the realization struck her now. She hadn’t shared a bed with many people, but she had never really gotten a good night's sleep when she had. She had always just chalked it up to the fact that she wasn’t great at sleeping anyways. It was rare that she actually slept through the night. But looking back on her previous relationships, she always got awful sleep when they had slept over.
Just then, the plane started its descent. Brooke gripped Anna’s hand tighter, hating landings as much as take-offs. Anna lifted their hands to her lips and placed one soft kiss against the back of Brooke's knuckles. Brooke wasn’t sure which made her stomach swoop farther, Anna’s lips pressed against her skin or the plane as it touched down on the runway. But she did know which feeling stayed with her. Long after they had retrieved their bags from the overhead compartment and made it down the single file aisle of the airplane, and after they were finally out onto the gangway, Anna slipped her hand back into Brooke's and threaded their fingers together with ease, Brooke could still feel the warm press of Anna’s lips against the back of her hand.
Chapter Nine:
A loud whistle got their attention as they waited at baggage claim for their two checked bags. Brooke somehow knew instantly that the sound was for her. She spun and scanned the crowd. Nate wasn’t hard to find. He was a bit above average height and holding a big homemade sign that said“Welcome Home Brooke (& Anna)!”
Brooke’s eyes immediately watered at the sight of him. His smile was the same, toothy and free. It crinkled around his eyes now, she noticed as she ran towards him. She hadn’t realized she was running. When had she let go of Anna’s hand? If she didn’t slow down she was going to tackle him, but he seemed braced for it. Surprisingly, he met her hug with a force of his own and kept them from toppling over.
The last time she had seen him, he had been eleven years old, just a boy. He had been confused and sad and hurt and Brooke hadn’t had any answers for him as their father had loaded her luggage into the family car and ushered her into the backseat. She had hardly been able to hug him bye. This hug though, this was the type of hug that made up for lost years.
“You’re all grown,” she said as they broke apart. She cupped his bearded face. His jet black beard hairs were surprisingly soft against her palms.
He wiped her tears away with his thumbs.“You look almost exactly as I remember you.” Nate laughed.
“You look so much like Father,” Brooke marveled.
“You look almost nothing like Mother.”
They both laughed at that. That insane kind of hiccuped laugh that came from so many emotions all at once. Brooke pulled him into another fierce hug. When they broke apart this time, they both seemed to realize they were in an airport and had people physically there with them. Brooke spun quickly, searching for Anna. She found her immediately, her eyes drawn to her like a magnet, the very sight of Anna was calming and reassuring.
Brooke's heart completely melted. Anna had managed to roll all of their suitcases over and was happily chatting with Melanie, Nate’s fiancee. Brooke recognized her from the wedding invitation. She was just as beautiful in person, long dark hair, round, happy face, complete with a radiant smile. They fit together, Mel and Nate. Somehow, Brooke could already tell.
Anna’s smile lit up the airport.
“Sorry, Darling,” Brooke said suddenly, gesturing at all the luggage.
Anna just waved her hand.“Seriously, it’s nothing, Honey.”
Brooke’s heart soared. This might be the happiest moment in her life.“Um, Anna, this is my younger brother, Nathaniel. Nate, this is Anna.”
Anna bounced forward in a way that only Anna could.“Can we hug? I’m a hugger?”
Nathaniel laughed.“Please, I’d be delighted.”
Brooke wished she could have a photo printed from her memory of that hug. Of Anna’s genuine delight, and of her brother, her baby brother, all grown up and just as joyful.
When they broke apart, Nathaniel gestured to his fiancee.“This is Mel, my almost wife.”
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Brooke. I’m so glad you could make it,” Mel said, pulling Brooke into a warm and welcoming hug.
That hug brought a fresh round of tears to Brooke's eyes, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was just because Mel was a massive piece in Nate’s life. She was someone who had helped him become the man he’d somehow become in all the years that Brooke had been away.
“Well, come on. Let’s get you two home. You have to be exhausted,” Nathaniel said. His smile still managed to take up his whole face.“Oh, but look! We made you a sign.” He picked it up off the ground from where he had dropped it to catch Brooke.
