“Is everything she cooks this good?” Mel asked before taking another bite.
Brooke nodded and wiped the corners of her lips before speaking.“Yes. I can say without question, yes.”
Anna blushed an even deeper shade of red.“You’re just saying that,” she said softly.
“No, I’m not. Not at all.” Brooke took another big bite of pancakes. This time she made sure to get some bacon on her fork as well.
“Where did you learn how to cook?” Mel asked, though not unkindly. She had witnessed the brief interrogation from Sybil the night before. This wasn’t anything like that. This was kind, curious, inviting even.
“I taught myself,” Anna said with a shrug.“I had an…interesting childhood.” She forced a smile.“When I was on my own, or well, mostly on my own, I wanted to taste decadent foods, but couldn’t afford nights out at fancy restaurants. I waited for meat to go on sale, scouring recipes online. I figured out what flavors I liked, savory over sweet for me for sure, and then I just kept tweaking recipes until I could replicate them. I was working at Charlies by then. I would watch the cooks there, and how the head chef would taste their work.” She let out a laugh.“He was always saying stuff like, needs more salt, or more garlic, more lemon, more thyme, and I would type those things into my phone and add more to my own recipes until I figured out when it was too much.”
“When did you go out on your own?” Brooke asked, not worried about the fact that Mel and Nate were there, she wanted the rest of the story.
Anna hummed.“They wouldn’t let me cook. I was too good of a waitress. To try and convince them, I made them bacon wrapped filet mignon with a side of mashed potatoes and asparagus with a red wine sauce. The chef wanted the recipe. He wanted me on his team, but Charlie and Hunter said no.” Anna sliced her fork through her stack of pancakes.“So, I started looking for my own space and less than six months later, I had my grand opening.” She took a big bite of pancakes and happy-danced in her seat at the taste.
Brooke smiled warmly at her. Her heart swelled in her chest. That made Anna all the more honorable for her loyalty to Charlies. She could have hated them, but instead she let them make her stronger.“I had never asked the timeline,” Brooke said softly.“You’re so incredible,” she murmured.
Anna practically melted in the seat beside her. She reached out and ran her hand down Brooke's forearm, squeezing gently at her wrist, just above her watch.
“Well, all I know is that these pancakes are going to be far better than our ridiculous rehearsal dinner tonight at Mother and Father’s country club, and I for one am strongly considering filling a bag with them and sneaking them in,” Nate said, eyeing the stack of pancakes left as he worked on finishing off his fourth.
Brooke’s heart plummeted to the bottom of her stomach. "It’s at the country club?”
Nate groaned.“Ugh, don’t remind me. But yes, they insisted.”
“It’s hard to argue with them when they’re the ones paying for it,” Mel said, clearly unhappily.
Brooke’s jaw clenched. She had been on her own, physically, emotionally, and financially since she was eighteen and Nate’s wedding was being paid for by her parents? That burned. It wasn’t Nate’s fault of course, but it felt like a punch to the gut nonetheless. She wondered how she had even been permitted to come at all. Maybe her parents were only paying for the rehearsal dinner. Maybe she should ask if she was welcome to it. She knew that Nate had told her as much, but knowing that her parents were paying for it changed things. She cleared her throat and took a steadying breath.“If Mother and Father are paying for the rehearsal dinner, are we sure that I’m allowed to be there?” She braced for impact, for a wince or a doubting look.
Instead, Nate just smiled easily. He looked so much like he had as a boy when he smiled like that.“You’re definitely allowed, B. I made it quite clear where I stood on it.”
Mel snorted out a laugh.“Yeah. Allow me to reenact.” She did her best Nate voice then.“‘Mother, I’ve invited Brooke and her partner to the wedding, and every event accompanying. And before you voice your opinion, please know that should she chose to attend, either she’s included and welcome at every event, or Mel and I will simply elope.’” Mel did a small bow.“End scene.”
Nate let out a laugh.“I don’t feel like I sound that proper.”
“You do when you talk to Sybil Kent,” Mel countered.
Brooke froze. When he told her that he had stood up for her, she didn’t realize he had given their mother an ultimatum. He had all or nothing’ed their mother on her behalf. Her eyes watered, overwhelmed with affection.
Nate’s eyes widened when he realized it.“Whoa, Brooke are you okay?”
Brooke nodded.“You didn’t even know if I would come when you told her?”
He shrugged.“I hoped. But either way, I’ve wanted you in my life for so long, B. This wedding”—he laughed and looked at Mel, who just nodded happily at him—“Mel and I got married over a year ago. In a little courthouse about two hours north of here one weekend while away on holiday.” He scratched at his beard.“For the record, Mother doesn’t know that. But I’m telling you that because this wedding is what she thinks is necessary. It’s what’s best for her and Father politically. If I have to do the penguin suits and the stuffy tie and force our friends through a painful dinner with politicians and dignitaries, I thought at the very least I could push to try and mend the family.” His eyes watered.“I thought if I could get in touch with you, that it might be a big enough event to get you to come home. Which might be a little unfair. I know that none of this was your fault, but I hoped you’d brave them for me. For this.”
Brooke pushed back her chair and stood. She couldn’t go another second without hugging her little brother. She all but yanked him up out of his seat and into her arms.“I’m so glad you found me.”
“You take really nice photos,” he said in response.
Brooke's tears fell even faster. He had stalked her instagram. Her heart had never felt so warm.“You’re already married.”
He laughed.“Yeah, we are.”
“You did so good, Nate. I’m so proud of you.”
“You’re proud of me?” He leaned back and then crushed back in for an even tighter hug.“Are you kidding? I’m proud of you. If anything you’ve been a massive inspiration over the past few days. You didn’t need Mother and Father for anything.”
Brooke laughed. He was right, she didn’t need them, but this right here was everything. She sighed happily and then eased out of his embrace. They wiped their tears away with laughs and smiles. Her eyes found Anna’s over the table. It was clear that both she and Mel had shared their own helping of tears. Brooke pulled Mel into a quick, but equally as tight hug.“I’m happy to have you as a sister.”
