Page 27 of I Really Do

“I’d sleep on the couch. Or get us hotel rooms.” Brooke shook her head.“It shouldn’t be an issue though. Nathaniel said he had plenty of room for us.”

Vivienne nodded.“Your mother.”

Brooke groaned.“I’ve tried to warm her. Just every time my mother comes up, Anna just says something like‘oh, I’ll tell your mother exactly what I think,’and then we move on.”

“So, she’s not prepared,” Vivienne surmised.

“Not really, no.”

Vivienne nodded.“Your father?”

Brooke rolled her eyes.“The man barely spoke to me when I lived in a house with him. I wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to even prepare her for him in the first place.”

“Fair,” Vivienne acquiesced.“Aunts and uncles?”

This was a sore spot for Brooke, something that had truly burned and lingered well into her adulthood. No one had stepped in to intervene. Her mother had two brothers and her father had a sister and a brother, all of whom were married, and none of whom had reached out to her in any way since she had unceremoniously been given the boot. She shrugged.“I wouldn’t know who they were if they came up and shook my hand.”

“I see.”

Christine finally interjected with some much needed positivity.“I think you’re going to be just fine. You clearly have chemistry, your backstory checks out, and Nathaniel wants you there. It’s going to be fine. Better than fine, even.”

Brooke gave Christine a weak smile and glanced nervously at Vivienne.

“I think I'd advise avoiding your mother as much as possible. If Anna’s not prepared, it’d suit you both to not subject her to Sybil,” Vivienne said.“But, that being said, I think you’re as ready as you possibly can be. Did you buy your tickets?”

Brooke nodded.“I did, we fly out Tuesday evening and arrive there first thing Wednesday. Nathaniel is coming to pick us up from the airport.”

Christine beamed at her.“I’m so happy for you about Nate.”

Brooke smiled, a real, full smile.“Me too. I can’t wait to see him. At the very least, when all this is over, I hope I fully have my brother back.”

“What else is on the itinerary?” Christine asked.

“Nate said they have a few options for us for Thursday, given how much family we want to interact with, or don’t. Friday is the rehearsal dinner. Saturday is the wedding. And then we fly back Sunday afternoon.”

“Are we still doing dinner this Monday night?” Vivienne asked.

Brooke nodded.“Yes, Anna wants to introduce me to Maddie, her best friend and business partner.” Brooke smiled softly.“I believe it’s to prove that I’m not kidnapping her.”

Vivienne laughed at that.“I like the sound of Maddie already.”

Christine scooted over on the couch, making room for Brooke.“Okay, so tell me more about how good she smells?”

Brooke let out a laugh and plopped down between her two friends.“I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s somehow a combination of every good smell you can think of. It makes me want to say things like‘Earthy undertones with a hint of fruit and floral.’”

“Dear lord, I’m getting more wine,” Vivienne said, teasing as she pushed herself up from Brooke’s couch.“Three tackily filled glasses?”

Christine nodded as Brooke said,“Yes, please.”

“Hey, B?” Christine said, softly after Vivienne had stepped into the kitchen.

“Hmm?” Brooke hummed in response, turning to face her friend.

“You know it’s okay, right?” Christine rested her hand on Brooke’s forearm. None of the three of them were particularly touchy people, but Chris was by far the most. Brooke couldn’t help but think about how different the simple gesture had felt when it was Anna who attempted to comfort her through contact.

“What’s okay?” She mumbled, feeling her innate shyness creeping in.

“To fall in love,” Christine said softly, her words just north of a whisper. She spoke so softly, it was as if one decibel higher and Brooke might have been scared out of her own apartment.