Brooke watched as her mom leaned back on the couch. The admission had likely taken up what little emotional equity her mom had.
“It’s not just you and dad. I haven’t seen very many successful relationships. I don’t want to invest in something for ten years and then have it fall apart.”
“That’s one of the risks that you run with love. That despite your best efforts sometimes it stops working.”
“How can it be worth it? If it stops working somewhere down the road, why do it at all?”
“It doesn’t have to stop working. Sometimes it lasts a lifetime. For me, I still think back on times with your father with fondness. Once I was able to move past the hurt feelings, I was grateful for our time together. It did give me you, after all.”
Brooke smiled at her mom’s words. This was as close to a real conversation as she’d ever had with her mother.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course.” She watched as her mom wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“What’s new in your life?” Brooke asked. She appreciated the emotional headway, but she was desperate to move onto something a bit more ordinary.
“Well, I have my cruise coming up in May.”
“That’s right. Where are you going again?”
“The Bahamas.”
“Maybe you’ll meet someone new on the cruise,” Brooke suggested.
“Actually, I’m bringing someone new with me on the boat,” Susan offered.
“Oh,” Brooke said. She wanted to say more but her mind was going so much faster than her words were coming out.
“Who’s the lucky new person?”
Brooke hoped that the question was enough to cover her obvious surprise to the news. Her mom offered her a warm smile.
“His name is Frank. He’s been an absolute gem. I was hoping you’d be willing to meet him.”
Brooke caught the note of hope in her mom’s tone. She could tell this was important to her mom. Brooke took in a short breath.
“Of course. I’d love to meet him. Just let me know when,” Brooke smiled.
“Thanks, honey. I’ll get with Frank and compare our schedules.”
There had been men that her mom had dated in the past, but Brooke had never been asked to meet any of them. Their names had been passing pieces in her mom’s stories. The men figured into whatever part of her life Susan had chosen for them. The fact that she wanted Brooke to meet Frank was a definite indication that he was important to her. Brooke couldn’t be sure what that meant. Whether her mom and Frank were on the edge of a relationship or an engagement, only that for her mother it must be significant.
An hour later the two of them stood in her hallway saying goodbye. She heard Drew’s door open and then close again. A moment later Robin walked down the hall past Brooke and her mom. Brooke had to fight the urge to groan. She’d been the one to push the two of them together. Brooke had just never planned out how much time that meant she’d spend running into Robin.
“Brooke,” her mother scolded once Robin was out of earshot.
Brooke rolled her eyes. She could try to explain the entire situation to her mom, but she doubted either of them had the energy for that. Instead, Brooke mouthed the word sorry. Susan gave her a slight smile. Her mother had a smile for every mood. This smile told Brooke that Susan understood more than she was being given credit for.
Brooke heard Drew’s door open once again and watched as Drew came running out. She caught sight of Brooke and Susan a moment too late. Too late to go back inside herapartment and pretend she hadn’t seen them. Too late to avoid Brooke the way she had been since their kiss.
“Sorry. Robin forgot her keys,” Drew said in way of explanation. Brooke watched as the woman ran a hand through her long dark hair. Brooke could only get out a smile and nod her head. Every time she’d gone to speak to Drew words lodged in her throat. Drew had seen the truth of Brooke that night and had silenced her. Drew smiled curtly and ran past them.
“Okay, what was that?” Susan asked, suddenly reinvested in their conversation.
“Mom, don’t,” Brooke half pleaded.
“Well, now I have to know.”
