Anna’s hand tightened, not so tight as to make Brooke jump, but enough to serve as a gentle reminder that Anna had yet to be introduced to Sybil.
Brooke took a deep breath.“You missed the introduction, Mother. Allow me to introduce you to my girlfriend, Anna Fourchette.” God that felt good. That felt like thirteen years of repression boiling over the edge of the pot with the biggest fuck you Brooke had ever mustered in her life.
Sybil looked like she had been slapped. Her eyes ripped to Anna’s face, her gaze immediately intensifying, scrutinizing. But Brooke knew her mother would come up empty. Anna was flawless. Her dress was impeccable, modern and fashionable. It was well cut, showing off all the right places while still remaining almost modest.
Brooke tore her gaze from her mother for the first time since the woman had entered the room. Her eyes drifted to Anna’s, smiling in the warmth they were met with.“Anna, darling. This is my mother, Sybil Kent.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Anna said, her million dollar smile on full display.
Brooke loved her.
She finally let herself look back to her mother to find that they were being studied. It was as if her mother was water, seeking a crack in the rock with which it could worry until it ruptured. What her mother didn’t realize was that Brooke had already won. The look on Sybil’s face had played all her cards in one. It was clear that she had assumed that Brooke would not be dressed as well as she was, nor did she seem prepared to meet Anna, or maybe it was that she didn’t seem to think that Brooke would ever have found someone as stunning as Anna to date. Which, Brooke knew—all too well—that they weren’t actually dating, but Anna had agreed to come as her date. And while that was a distinction, it wasn’t enough of one that it could ruin this moment for Brooke.
Mel was tense on the other side of Brooke. Brooke felt like Mel might have been the most tense person in the entire restaurant at that moment. It certainly wasn’t Anna. Anna leaned forward attentively, her pleasant smile still locked into place as if daring Sybil to say something. Brooke felt herself relax into the moment. It was here. All of her fears. Every single one for the last thirteen years had culminated in this moment. She nearly laughed when it was burst by a waiter, merely asking what Sybil might like to drink.
And just like that, the showdown had passed. All the women around them eased back into their conversations. Brooke wondered if they had all been warned. It would have been a kindness on Mel’s part if they had been. She wondered what that message would have looked like. On second thought, she didn’t want to know.
Anna’s smile softened and shifted its attention to Brooke.“You did well, Honey.”
Brooke smiled at her in return, leaning forward a bit conspiratorially.“That was amazing,” she let out a shaky laugh.
Anna leaned forward and pressed a soft, swift kiss to her cheek.“I’m so proud of you, B.”
Brooke reminded herself to breathe. She also, intentionally, did not turn to see if her mother saw them just then. She hoped that she did, but she couldn't face the rage or judgment that might be cast their way. She wanted to bask in Anna’s pride for half a second.“Thank you for coming. Seriously,” Brooke whispered, leaning into the crook of Anna’s neck to whisper it. To anyone else, it would look like a secret passed between lovers.
Anna tilted her head back ever so slightly so that she could search Brooke's face. She looked at Brooke like she had five million things she wanted to say, and Brooke wished desperately that they could step away and that she could hear them. She almost suggested it when servers started to arrive at their table carrying appetizers by the arm load.
“So, Brooke,” her mother said from across the table.
Brooke’s eyes shot up. She had honestly expected for her mother to leave it at their awkward introduction. She didn’t respond, she merely gave her mother her attention.
“What is it that you do?”
Of course, her mother was concerned with her occupation. Some things never change.“I’m a computer engineer.”
“I see,” there was judgment in her tone, but Brooke didn’t play into it. In fact she considered turning her attention back to Anna. Anna was remarkably more appealing than whatever her mother was trying to engage in. Her mother continued.“And, Anna, was it?”
Anna’s hand slid down Brooke's thigh. The motion caused goosebumps to rise all over Brooke's forearms. She knew that Anna intended for the motion to be comforting, but Brooke was like a live wire under her touch.“I own my own restaurant, La Fourchette.”
“And what is it you serve at your establishment?” Sybil asked.
Anna grinned a disarming grin.“It’s an upscale, modern, steak restaurant.”
“Everything on the menu is delicious,” Brooke said, fully meaning it.
“When Nate and I come out to visit you, we’ll have to go,” Mel said, happily, clearly trying to diffuse the tension simmering across the table. Much to Brooke's pride, it also showed unwavering support. A massive sign to Sybil that the siblings and their partners had become a united front. Brooke didn’t let herself worry about the semantics of her and Anna not being real and how hard that would be to explain if and when Mel and Nate came to visit. For now, she let herself glow under the sentiment that they would come visit at all.
Anna blushed.“I would love it if you and Nate came to visit, and I would be honored if you came to the restaurant. I’ll even give you the Honey-B treatment.” Anna winked, charmingly.
Mel laughed.“What’s the Honey-B treatment?”
Brooke laughed and rolled her eyes.“It’s getting to try things that aren’t officially on the menu yet. Also, though, Darling. I know I’ve told you this, but those pork chops this Monday were insanely good.” Brooke knew her mother was watching them and she was actually living for the fact that she couldn’t react. Sybil Kent was not one to cause a scene and more importantly, she was smart enough to realize if she reacted now, she would never be able to play the victim.
“Ohhh a special side menu,” Mel said, playing along.“That sounds fabulous.”
“Where did you go to school to learn how to be a chef?” Sybil asked.
Anna blushed, her smile faltering. She hadn’t been professionally trained and Brooke knew it. They had discussed it the night Anna had come over to take photos. Brooke had been able to tell then that it was something that Anna worried about, but Brooke had reassured her then and she would reassure her now.
