“Brooke. Everything okay?” Cody’s concern touched her, but she wasn’t his responsibility anymore.
She shook off her dark thoughts. They were just flowers.
She didn’t answer him and turned to leave yet again.
Her mom’s voice faded as she made her way to the kitchen, but she caught every word. “Whatever happened between the two of you, fix it. We’re a family. This isourhome. You two have been friends since the day we moved in. She’s leaving tomorrow to go back to school.”
“What? So soon?” Panic filled his voice.
“Yes,” her mom snapped. “Don’t let it be the last time she walks out that door.”
Cody hadn’t known she planned to cut her holiday vacation short and return to her dorm. Better that than have to spend any more time watching Kristi touch Cody and command his attention when Brooke would never get to do that again.
It hurt too much to look at him and know it was over. If she couldn’t be with him now, after what they shared, then she simply couldn’t be here at all.
Her mom followed her into the kitchen. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on here?”
Their housekeeper and cook, Janie, read the tone and the shift in energy in the room and carried a platter laden with roasted leg of lamb and a bowl of mashed potatoes out to the dining room.
Brooke tossed the flower box on the counter next to the garbage can and slowly turned to her mom. “Cody and I… There’s never going to be… He’s not mine. He’s marrying Kristi. They’ll have a beautiful baby soon. And I have to start my own life.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Her mom cupped her face and stared into her eyes with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
“I love him,” she confessed. It was the only part of what happened she could really tell her mom. “I know you think it’s silly. A crush. Whatever.”
Her mom shook her head. “No, Brooke. Those feelings are real and they run deep. I understand that seeing him with Kristi hurts.”
“I can’t love him and not have him. Not anymore.”
Her mom wrapped her in a hug. Brooke wanted to run away again. But she’d promised her mom Christmas dinner and wouldn’t back out now after spending days away and cutting her winter break short.
“It will all work out the way it’s supposed to, Brooke. You’ll see. You will love again.”
She didn’t think so. Not right now. Because she couldn’t imagine not loving Cody because she’d always loved him.
“Come. Let’s get through dinner, then we’ll go up to my room, crawl into my bed, and we’ll drink hot chocolate and watchElftogether. You love that movie.”
She wouldn’t be on Cody’s side of the house. She wouldn’t have to see him pass her room with Kristi and go to his, because of course Kristi would never leave Cody alone now. Not when shesuspected something happened between Brooke and Cody. Not until she had a wedding band on his hand.
“Sounds great, but I’ll need to pack first.”
Her mom held her by the shoulders. “I hate that you’re leaving.”
“It’s time I grew up, finished college, and started my own life away from here.” She had plans already in place without even knowing she’d not only want to live on her own, but would need to as Kristi slowly pushed her out. Well, with the baby coming,shovedwas more like it.
Her mom frowned, put her arm around Brooke’s shoulders, and they walked out into the dining room. Her mom hugged her close as they approached the table where Cody and Kristi were already seated. “Maybe your secret admirer will contact you again.”
Brooke hoped not. Because now the messages had a stalker vibe to them that worried her.
Cody’s eyes filled with fury.
Brooke loved her mom for poking at Cody and trying to make her feel better. “I don’t have a clue who sent the flowers or what they meant in the card. Or why they didn’t sign it.” She scrunched her lips and thought about all the messages she’d been receiving since she returned to school after summer break.
Kristi gave her one of her famous not-so-nice smiles. “Well, you certainly got a lot of attention at the party. You’ve got your pick of those guys to choose from.”
Yes, so many suspects.
You’ve watched too many crime shows.
