Brooke showed Drew to the dining room. They sat at the same table Brooke had spent her childhood eating at. Her mother wasn’t an overly emotional woman, but she had a way ofholding onto things with memories attached to them. The sound of the screen door opening and closing caused both of them to glance towards the kitchen.
“You’re here. Come to the dining room and meet Brooke and her girlfriend,” Susan was saying.
A tall man with broad shoulders and a greying beard stepped into the doorway. Brooke watched as Drew went still as a statue. From the doorway the man mimicked the motion. Brooke couldn’t put her finger on what the trouble could be. Drew was usually the more extroverted of the two of them. Brooke didn’t mind taking the initiative this time around. She rose from her chair, sparing Drew an uneasy look.
“Hi, I’m Brooke,” she offered her hand. The man seemed to regain his senses and his smile widened.
“I’m Frank,” he took Brooke’s hand, shaking it.
“And this is my girlfriend….”
“Oh Frank and I already know each other,” Drew interrupted.
Brooke watched as Frank shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other.
“Isn’t that right, Dad,” Drew added.
“Dad?” Brooke asked, she could feel her own shock beginning to set in. She couldn’t even imagine what Drew must be feeling.
“Hi, sweetie,” Frank offered. He rubbed the back of his neck with a hand.
Brooke saw the look of shock on her mother’s face and was glad she wasn’t the only one.
“I didn’t know you were back in Nashville,” Drew stated, there was ice lining every word.
“I haven’t been back long. Less than a year.” Frank’s nerves seemed well deserved. Brooke had never heard Drew use this tone with anyone.
Drew pushed up from her seat so suddenly that Brooke startled.
“Thank you for the invitation, Ms. Foster. I think I’m going to excuse myself from dinner.”
Drew was moving towards the door before Brooke had a chance to form a sentence. She caught up to Drew on the porch.
“Drew, stop. Wait,” Brooke called out.
Drew halted, her hand already on the handle to her car’s door. Brooke stopped in front of her.
“Are you okay?” Brooke asked.
Drew looked at her as if she’d asked why it was dark outside.
“I don’t know,” Drew finally admitted.
“Let me drive you home,” Brooke offered.
“I don’t want to mess things up between you and your mom,” Drew said.
“My mom will understand.”
“I think I need to be alone for a while. I’m not going to be good company right now,” Drew stated. Her tone was so flat that it was almost unrecognizable.
Brooke couldn’t hide the sting she felt from the words. Drew was hurting and Brooke wanted to be the person that she turned to, not the one Drew wanted space from.
“Okay,” Brooke whispered.
“Can you get a ride home?” Drew asked.
“Of course,” Brooke answered.
