Brooke stiffened immediately. All these years later and she would still recognize that tall, lean, perfect postured stature anywhere. It was her father and he was headed right towards them. She sighed and stepped back from Anna, nodding in the direction of her father as he slowly approached.
“Hello, Daughter.” Augustus Kent’s voice could rival James Earl Jones in depth and magnitude. He nodded his head towards Anna.“Ms. Fourchette.” His military medals, earned long before Brooke was ever born, reflected the light from inside the dancing tent in all directions. Brooke found herself staring at them, more wanting to ask him about the medals than she wanted to participate in whatever conversation he had approached them to have.
Her father had never been a man of many words. She wasn’t even sure how to begin a conversation with him.“Father.”
“It’s been a lovely evening, hasn’t it?” He asked, turning his attention to the gardens and the lawn.
Anna, the world's greatest awkward situation diffuser smiled and leaned on the railing as well, letting herself look in the same direction as him.“It really has. It’s like something out of a romance novel.”
Brooke stood uncomfortably in between them, her eyes still on her father. She couldn’t help the anger that had begun to bubble within. He had done nothing to ever assure her she was loved, wanted, or welcome, and now he wanted to discuss the weather? Brooke's jaw clenched tight. Her silent seething must have finally registered for her father because he let out a long, heavy sigh.
“I can’t fix it,” he began, never taking his eyes off the long shadows of the terrace.“What we’ve done, it can’t be changed.” Finally he forced himself to turn to face Brooke, to match her gaze.“But I can acknowledge that we were wrong. And I can tell you that I am sorry to have missed this much of your life.”
Brooke’s eyes watered, but she willed her tears to not fall. She would not lose herself to her emotions in this moment. If she did, he might not continue.
“I’m proud of the woman you’ve become. You’ve handled this weekend with far more grace and civility than your mother or I have deserved. For that, I thank you. I won’t press you for a response or for an answer now, but I would like to move forward in such a way that we might begin to be able to make amends. If I’m ever in your city on business, I should like to see you.” He chanced a small smile at Anna, who returned it immediately.“I’ve heard there’s a restaurant worth trying.”
When Brooke didn’t respond, he continued.
“Nate has told me you’ll be back for visits and potentially a few holidays. I should hope to see you then, as well.” Augustus cleared his throat.“I mean to say that we failed you.” He paused, searching for the right words.“And I’m asking you for a second chance.”
Anna looked at Brooke hopefully, offering her an encouraging smile.
Brooke wanted to scream yes. She wanted to bury herself in her father’s arms and take the hug she’s needed for so many years, but there was a notable and important person missing from this touching moment.“Does Mother know you’re here?” She couldn’t help the bitterness that had seeped into her tone.
Augustus warmly laid a hand on Brooke's shoulder.“I believe this is the conversation she’s been trying to have with you every time she’s seen you this week.”
Brooke snorted out a laugh.“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Realizing that you’ve been wrong for many many years is hard.” He reached out and squeezed Brooke's shoulder lightly, a small sad smile tucked up the corners of his lips.“Sometimes, pride makes you sink your teeth into your errors and hang on for dear life, and the fear of letting that go is too great.” He dropped his hand and slipped it dutifully into his pocket, ever the appearance of an unruffled gentleman.“I’ll speak to your mother and urge her to try again. We’re tired of missing your life.” He nodded his head with a finality that Brooke had never seen, and strode off, back in the direction of the tents and the throng of the wedding guests, leaving Brooke and Anna to themselves on the veranda.
Anna snuggled into Brooke's side and shifted them both so that they were leaning on the railing. Brooke just let herself be moved, having Anna this close to her made her feel better, more held together.
“Are you okay?” Anna asked, softly.
Brooke hummed, deep in thought and played absentmindedly with a lock of Anna’s hair that had come loose from dancing, twirling it around her finger as she let her father’s words soak in.“It’s just, if that’s truly what she’s been trying to say this whole time, why has she been nothing but a complete and total bitch?”
Anna cupped Brooke's cheek and ghosted a small kiss to her lips, so soft Brooke hardly felt it.“There might be something to the point your father made. She could just be clinging to her old ways, desperately afraid you’d reject her if she tried to change her tune. She did have us participate in family photos this evening.”
That thought simmered between them. Brooke hadn’t exactly accepted her father’s apology. It had been nice to hear, but so much damage had been done. That didn’t get erased after one nice evening. It would take work, and nothing in her mother’s behavior had even remotely suggested that she’d be willing to do it.“She hasn’t exactly done anything worth not being rejected,” Brooke murmured, her thoughts shifting to the night before when her mother had been such a horrible person to Anna outside of the restroom.
“You’re not wrong,” Anna said, easing some of the tension by kissing both corners of Brooke's mouth.
It pulled an involuntary smile from Brooke, but Brooke continued her point.“She needs to apologize, not send Father as an envoy.”
“You’re right about that, Honey-B.” Anna kissed her again, this time on both of her cheeks.
Brooke frowned, still frustrated with her parents.“And she needs to apologize to you, too. She’s been rude to you this whole time.”
Anna let out a small laugh and wrapped her arms around Brooke's neck, clearly trying to distract her.“You’re batting a thousand, Honey.”
Brooke finally focused on Anna, letting Anna’s last comment sink in.“Are you a baseball fan?”
“I’m a fan of good phrases.”
Brooke wrapped her arms around Anna’s waist, pulling her into the hug she so desperately needed.“Thank you for being here.” Hugging Anna Fourchette was dangerous, Brooke thought. Anna really gave her all in each and every hug, and right now, her whole body was pressed up against Brooke's.
“You’re welcome,” Anna whispered, her face buried in Brooke's neck.
