Finally deciding to sit, I saw the big, red chair that looked like a giant hand, waiting to cup your ass as you sat in it, and leaned back against the outstretched fingers.
"Comfy," I said, bouncing around a little, trying to get comfortable. Finally I looked at the girl who had a completely amused smile on her lips. "Do I make you laugh, Cody?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Why?" I crossed my legs, leaning into the palm of the hand.
"Cause I don't understand you, mostly. I think you're a little odd."
"Me?" I slapped the side of the chair I was sitting on. "I don't have anatomy as furniture."
"Hey, you're in good hands." I chuckled, adjusting myself again. The little lines in the palm played havoc on my butt.
"So, tell me about yourself, Cody," I said, my voice casual.
"What do you want to know?" She bent one leg up, her foot flat on her bed.
"What else do you do for fun besides skateboarding and driving your mother crazy?" She chuckled.
"I live to drive her crazy. What else in life is there to do?"
"Gosh, let me think," I said dryly. She grinned.
"I don't know. I do lots of things. Me and Jimmy watch movies, listen to music, play pool, whatever."
"Nice assortment."
"I like to think so."
"Cody? Get your butt down here and help me with dishes!" Jodi yelled from downstairs.
"There's my cue." She hopped up from the bed, and waited for me to get up as well. I took one last glance around her room, then headed out.
* * *
It was mid-April, and Keith had called, asking if he could come over. There had been something in his voice that had made me a bit nervous. There had been something in his voice for the last month that had made me a bit nervous.
I changed from my work clothes to a pair of comfy jeans and a sweatshirt from my old alma mater. Pushing the on button on the coffee pot, I waited.
I didn't have to wait long.
The doorbell rang, and I walked over to the door, seeing Keith standing on my front porch, looking down at his shoes, no doubt perfectly shined.
"Hi," I said as I opened it. He looked up at me and smiled, though he looked tired.
"Hey."
"Come in. I just put some coffee on to brew."
"Great. Sounds good. It's chilly out there." He took his hands out from his coat pockets, and pulled the coat off his shoulders, laying it across the back of the couch, then followed me into the kitchen.
"So, what's up?" I asked, taking two cups down from the cabinet, and setting them on the counter next to the Entenmanns's.
"Oh, coffeecake?"
"What else?" he smiled, and walked over to me, holding his arms out for me to step into. He didn't kiss me as he usually did, but he did wrap me up in a warm hug.
"We need to talk," he muttered into my hair. I nodded, turning away from him when the coffee pot sputtered its last perk. Pouring us both cups, and grabbing the dessert, we headed toward the living room.
My mind raced as I tried to imagine what was going on, and what was about to happen. I had a gut feeling, but I didn't even want to put any sort of credence to it until I heard it from him.
"Honey," he began, sipping from his coffee, then setting the cup aside, and looking at me, taking my hands into his. I only stared at him, waiting. "You and I have been friends for a long time, and I love you dearly."
"I love you, too, Keith." He smiled, then continued.
"All my life I've been so confuse about things. Do I want this, do I want that, maybe both, maybe neither." He shrugged. "This was especially true with lovers and love." He looked down, swallowing hard. I squeezed his hands to encourage him to continue. Finally he looked up, his eyes filled with pain. "Honey, I don't think it's going to work between us." He looked down again.
I took a deep, silent breath as the words penetrated through my brain. I wasn't entirely surprised, knowing that this would never be a long-term thing, but still it didn't make it any easier to hear. No one likes rejection.
"Why?" I asked, my voice quiet. He sighed, taking another sip from his coffee.
"Well, I think I've met someone. Well, someone else."
A lump sprang to my throat and my eyes. Though he may not have been the prince charming of my dreams, I still did care about him, and would miss him terribly.
"It's a man, sweetie." My head jerked up, my eyes finding his. I smiled ruefully.
"I had a feeling that would happen."
"I'm sorry, Brooklyn. You know I'd never hurt you. God, I love you so much, and, well, honey, you're the sister I never had." I smiled understanding
"Who is he?"
"Oh, Brooklyn, I don't know,"
"No. It's okay. I want to know." I released his hands, and turned to the coffee table where the coffeecake sat. Opening the blue and white box, I grabbed the knife that I had brought in with me, and began to slice it. "Want some?"
"Please."
"So, tell me." I pushed all my feelings down, dealing with them later, as I knew he was confused, and felt horrible, and needed a friend.
"His name is Ben. He's been coming into the gallery for a little while. " I nodded.
"You've mentioned him before, and even Cody's mentioned him to me." He took the plate of dessert that I offered him.
"Really?" I nodded.
"Yup."
"Look, Brooke," He set the plate down and took the knife and plate out of my hands, wanting my full attention. I looked into troubled blue eyes. "I wasn't fooling around on you. I'm doing this now before that is the case. I care about you far too much to go and do something stupid." He stared into my eyes. "Okay?"
"Yeah."
I didn't understand it, but I knew that Keith would have to do what Keith would have to do, and apparently I wasn't in that plan anywhere. Truth be told, part of me was relieved. I had been feeling something missing for some time, on his part and my own. Damnit! Why couldn't I do this?
Later that night, long after Keith had left, I laid in bed. He had stayed for about two hours, and we had laughed, talked, cried, and just held each other. I still wanted him in my life no matter what. In fact, tears running down my cheeks, I had asked,
"Who's going to rush over and hold me after one of my nightmares?" He had looked at me with tear-filled eyes, bringing up his hand to caress my cheek.
"Oh, sweetie, please call me, I am still here for you, Brooklyn. Nothing's changed, just no sex."
I had smiled at that, and buried my face into his neck.
As I laid in my bed, staring up at that dark ceiling, suddenly I felt very alone. Despite what he had said, he had a new life now, and a new person to share it with. He had been my date, my friend, my confidante, and just all around nut ball. What now?
A tear slipped out of my left eye, making a slow, chilled path down my cheek, gathering in my ear to make me shiver, followed by its twin headed down to my right ear, which I stopped, looking at my fingertip, then rubbing the wetness between my finger and thumb.
Why did the people in my life leave me? My parents and brother, Uncle Bruce had tried to do his best, but when it came down to it, he had no interest in the responsibility of raising a teenager, no matter how short the time. Rand, who I knew deep down would get that job. She had already aced her phone interview, and now they wanted her to fly out to D.C., on their nickel, to meet with the senator, and hobnob with those she'd be working with, if she got the job.
And now Keith. No, we didn't have the perfect relationship, and the fire was basically nonexistent, but at least he had been there for me, so gentle and loving in so many ways.
I turned over, curling up on my side and staring out toward the solarium. With a heavy sigh, I gladly let sleep take me away.
* * *
The year was flying by, April nearly over, my birthday a memory, and the weather was beginning to change, the warmer weather creeping in, thrilling me to no end as I could start shedding layers of clothing during my rides now. Work was hectic, and my personal life was dull. But, such is life.
I hung up the phone, a smile plastered on my lips as I thought of the bravado of that girl. Plus, I had to admit, the idea of her giving Keith such a hard time over something she knew nothing about, made me happy.
I picked up the phone again, and dialed seven numbers.
"Hello?" came a decidedly childish voice. Brows knitting, I asked for Cody. "Cowy?" the voice said, and then realization dawned on me.
"Jakey?"
"Yeah?" he nearly yelled, causing me to draw the phone away from my head.
"Is Cody there, honey?"
"Yeah!" There was an awful sound, yet again yanking the phone away from my ear, and a round of giggles with Tom's voice in the background.
"Hello?" Does anyone there still have a brain?
"Give it to me, you little turd." I heard growled in the background, a voice that was definitely female.
"Mine!" Jake yelled.
"Give me the phone before I turn you into dog food."
"Mine!" More obnoxious noise, then finally,
"Hello?"
"Cody?"
"Yeah?" She was most definitely irritated. I chuckled.
"This is Brooklyn."
"Oh, hi."
"Having some problems over there?"
"Yeah, the little shit head is going through a 'mine' phase." I laughed outright.
"So I gathered. Do you have a few minutes?" I sat on the couch, putting my feet up onto the coffee table.
"Uh, sure." The girl sounded skeptical, probably wondering why the hell I was calling her.
"So I heard you had an interesting little chat with Keith today." I smiled, remembering what he had said. The line went quiet. "Hello?"
"Um, yeah." Gosh, Cody, is that embarrassment I detect in your voice? I grinned again. "Well, how the hell was I supposed to know you guys were broken up?" I laughed again, this time hearing the slightest bit of a laugh on the other end of the line.
"You got him pretty good, though."
"Yeah, he had no idea what hit him."
I thought back to what Keith had told me, explaining that his new friend, Ben, had come into the gallery, bringing him lunch, and had given him a nice hug and peck on the cheek before he'd left. Cody saw this, not knowing what was going on, and decided to give him the third degree about cheating on me.
"I just wanted to call and say thank you. I really appreciate you looking out for me, Cody."
"Well, come on. If the dude had been screwing around on you, I would have reattached his balls somewhere else. That's just fucked up."
"Yes, it is. My hero."
"Um," I could almost imagine her looking anywhere but at the phone, her hands playing nervously with something.
"Well, are you hungry?"
"I'm always hungry."
"Want to grab something to eat?"
"I always want to grab something to eat." Rolling my eyes.
"Would you like to grab something to eat with me right now?"
"See that? You gotta be specific."
"And you have to be difficult."
"Basically."
"I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Yup."
The line went dead, and I shook my head as I set the cordless on the table That girl was impossible.
Changing into an old pair of jeans with a nice hole in the knee, one on the back pocket, and another started on the other thigh, I threw a sweater over my head, and headed out to my car.
When I pulled up to the Thomlin's house, Cody was sitting on the front porch, black cargo shorts, a black shirt covered by a gray flannel, and her skateboard sitting next to her, hand resting on it as she rolled it back and forth. I pulled into the driveway and rolled down my window.
"Don't you ever get cold?" She stood, shaking her head.
"Nope."
"And if you were, I doubt you'd tell me," I muttered. The girl got into the car, and glanced over at me.
"So, I see you found religion." I looked at her, confused, then looked where her eyes were focused, and saw the holes in my jeans. Rolling my eyes, I grinned as we backed out of the driveway.
* * *
"Okay, so I was thinking of having the girls' birthday at my place," I suggested, sitting in one of the chairs in Rhonda's office.
"Really?" she asked, her excitement level growing.
"Sue, why not? We could have a barbecue."
"Oh, what a wonderful idea." She clapped her hands together happily, sitting forward in her chair. "You want to make steaks? I'll bring the meat."
"No," I waved her off. "I can provide the food, you just provide the twins." I smiled.
"You know, speaking of, Cody has been amazing lately. She actually cleaned her room last week without one word from me. Plus, she actually did dishes last night on her own." She put her reading glasses back on, letting me know that our lunch chat was over. "I have no idea what's gotten into her."
I smiled, looking down at the floor as I stood. Somewhere deep down I hoped I had had something to do with that. Perhaps showing Cody what can happen in life had made her see what does have in life.
"Oh, Brooke,"
"Yeah?" I asked from the door.
"Is it possible you could grab Cody and pick Jake up from daycare next week? I'm going to need the car after work for my Mary Kay meeting."
"Oh, Ron," I grimaced. "Are you still selling that crap?" My boss looked at me, hands on her hips.
"I happen to like the products. They make my skin feel and look younger."
I rolled my eyes. "What time?"
"Four-thirty?"
"Hmm. Well, you know, that'll mean I'll have to leave work a little early, and well, frankly, my boss might just get a little ticked at me."
"She just might fire you if you don't."
Her laughter followed me out the door as I smiled, headed back to my desk.
* **
"So, where is this place?" I asked Cody as she got into the car.
"Well, go that way," she said, pointing down the street.
"Gosh, you're helpful." I muttered dryly. So we drove down the street, headed toward Jake's daycare center. I stopped at the stop sign. "Now what?"
"Turn that way." She pointed toward her right. I looked at her like she was nuts.
"Is this far?"
"Not really." She shrugged. I shook my head.
"Infuriating." As I drove, we passed several kids out and about, riding bikes, skateboarding and playing basketball. It was a beautiful day, the rain had managed to stay away for a few days, and I was relishing it.
"That way," Cody offered when I hit the next stop sign.
"Can I have a few directions in advance, please?" I asked with a smile.
"Sure. Why didn't you ask?"
Throwing my hands up in exasperation, the only thing that stopped me from strangling the girl was the small chuckle I heard from my passenger seat.
Finally the squat, red building came into view, the word "Squiggles" scrawled across a large, green sign, meant to look like a chalk board. I parked in front, and we headed inside, the halls quiet, everything from posters to drinking fountains on little kid levels. I was completely charmed as we headed down the long main hall, toward the double doors at the end.
"I went to school here, you know." Cody said, pulling one of the doors open, and stepping aside for me to pass. Awww, how sweet.
"Oh, yeah?" She nodded. "Scary."
"Tell me about it."
Once outside, I realized we were in the middle of a small courtyard filled with play equipment, slides, swings, sandboxes and the little horses kids could rock on.
A dozen young heads turned when the door opened, and my eyes spotted the little boy with the big smile, playing with an adorable little blonde boy.
"Hi!" Jake yelled, running toward us, first wrapping his arms around Cody's legs, then moving to mine.
"Hey, sweetie," I said, looking down at my new leg warmer, and running my fingers through his soft hair. He looked up at me with adoring eyes.
"Ready to go, little man?" Cody asked, mussing his hair. He nodded, finally letting go of me. We turned around, nearly running smack into a woman with short, dark hair, wearing blue jeans, black boots, a white shirt with a black blazer over it, and carrying a very young bundle of dark hair in her arms.
"Cody, you're looking sloppy as ever," she said, a cocky grin on her face.
I looked over at the girl, wondering who on earth would talk to her that way. But, to my surprise and relief, Cody smiled.
"Chase. How goes it?"
"Great." The woman took Cody in a monster, one-armed hug, growling as she squeezed the girl, then gently pushed her back to look at her. "Have you stopped growing yet? I think every time I see you, I'm always worried you're going to be taller than I am."
I looked from one to the other, trying to figure out who this woman was. They had such an easy rapport, and the girl seemed to almost step off her high horse around this woman. Cody finally looked at me, seeing the confusion.
"Oh, um, Chase, this is a friend of mine, Brooklyn. Brooklyn, Chase Marin, and," Cody looked at the baby in Chase's arms with a questioning lift of her brow.
"Jeremy," Chase said, looking down at her bundle. She looked at me "Nice to meet you." She took my hand in a warm, strong shake.
"You, too." My eyes traveled down to the baby again. "How old is he?" I took a step closer, as did Cody, looking over the green blanket that he was wrapped in.
"Two months." I smiled at the unmistakable pride that shone in the woman's blue eyes. "This is our newest little guy, Cody." The skater looked closely at the baby, then up at his mother.
"He's yours, isn't he?" Chase nodded.
"Yep. I lost the coin toss." They both laughed, and I stood there, utterly confused. Luckily the woman came to my aid. "See, my partner, Dagny, is Hunter's mother. Hunter, come here, big guy." I turned to see the blonde boy that Jake had been playing with run over, and stand next to his mother. Wait, I was confused.
Cody snickered. "They're both chicks, Brooklyn."
"Same father, though." Chase added. I looked from one to the other of the boys and did, in fact, see similarities. Hunter had blond hair and bluish, green eyes, while his baby brother had dark hair and green eyes. A smile spread across my lips as the entirety of the situation finally managed to soak through my brain, and I looked up at Chase and smiled.
"How wonderful." She smiled at me, hugging both her sons closer to her.
"So, where's Dag? Doesn't she usually grab the monster man?"
"Yup." Chase answered Cody. "But, she's still at the school." She looked at me. "My partner has her own practice on the side, but her day job, as we like to call it, is teaching psych at the university."
"So, you're both into trying to fix the psyche, huh?" I grinned.
"Yes, ma'am. That's how me met." She winked at me. "Well, Cody, tell your mom I said hi, but I have to get these two fed before they start getting cranky." She turned to me. "It was really nice meeting you, Brooklyn. The four of us will definitely have to get together and get some lunch."
"I'd like that."
As we walked back to my car with Jake walking behind us, looking like he was about to fall asleep standing, Cody started to talk.
"Chase used to be my counselor," she said shyly.
"Yeah?" She nodded.
"Yeah, mom made me go to her a few years back."
I unlocked the car. "Did it do any good?" I grinned. She looked at me with a smirk on her face, shook her head.
"Can't fix what isn't broken." She got Jake settled in the car, snapping him in the car seat we'd brought along, and then got into the front seat next to me. "Anyway, we kind of became friends, and she started hanging out with my family after my sessions stopped. She's a cool chick. So is Dag."
"She seems very nice." Cody nodded, looking out her window, her fingers tapping against her knee, almost nervously.
"Yup."
And just like that, all conversation between us stopped. I did not understand this girl.
* * *
I sat on the bed, watching, holding my head up on my hand, trying not to focus so much on the bad aspects, but on all the possibilities for Rand. Her dreams could very well just be within a week and a half's grasp.
"Do you really think you'll need that cocktail dress, Rand?" I asked, adjusting my position so I could sit up, tucking my bare feet under me. She paused, garment bag in hand, then looked at the dress, chewing on her lip.
"Well, the senator said I may be attending the annual party that she holds for her staff during the week I'll be there,"
"Gee, how auspicious." I grinned. She tossed the luggage tag at me.
"Don't get me too excited, sugar lips."
"Well, why not? Come on, pumpkin, do you really think she'd take the money out of her budget to lug your ass all the way over to D.C. and put you up for a week if she wasn't about ready to sign your employment papers?"
"I don't know." She put the dress down on top of the open suitcase, and sat on the bed, flopping back and looking at me. "Do you really think so?"
"Well, duh!" I moved so I was laying next to her, our heads touching. "Rand, you may be an absolute nutball who dresses like a mortician, but you're damn good at what you do. And, you're ambitious. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll get this."
"Do you want me to?" she asked, her voice low and serious. I could see the fear in her eyes; the fear of the unknown, the fear of really reaching success, and leaving all that you know behind. How could I possibly tell her that I didn't want her to leave me like everyone else, that I didn't know what I'd do without her.
"Of course I do, Rand. I mean, I don't want you to go, god no. But, I do want you to be happy, and I know that this move will make you very happy. Seeing your success is amazingly satisfying for me.
Rand studied me for a few moments, then smiled.
* * *
I sat against the pillows I had leaned up against my headboard, staring into the fire that warmed up the cool, night air. The wet streaks on my cheeks were beginning to dry, making my skin feel stiff, but it wouldn't last long before they were refreshed, as I could feel more tears gathering.
Rand had been on my mind since I'd left her house two hours ago, and I was having a hard time concentrating on the book that I had begun to read for that specific purpose. I couldn't get into the story, none of the plot making sense as my mind wandered to a life without the closest link to family that I'd ever known. Nobody knew my secrets like she did, and certainly nobody cared like her.
Grabbing the tissue that had been placed beside me, I brought it to my nose, ready to blow when the phone rang.
"Crap." Hastily taking care of my mess, I picked up the cordless off the nightstand. "Hello?"
"Is Brooklyn there, please?" a woman's voice asked.
"This is she,"
"Hi. This is Chase Marin. I got your message at the office earlier this week, but life's been rough with a new baby." She chuckled, I smiled.
"I imagine so, and don't worry about it. I understand. After all, I do have two hamsters." I smiled at the low, rich laughter on the other end of the line.
"Trade you. So, what can I do for you?"
"Well," I tossed my novel aside, and threw the crumpled up tissue in the general direction of the waste basket, though I doubt it landed in its mark, usually didn't. "I understand that you've known Cody for a while."
"Yes, ma'am. About, oh, four years. Is she nineteen already? Wow. Time flies."
"Well, she'll be nineteen this weekend." I heard a low whistle over the phone.
"She walked into my office as a cocky fourteen year old girl."
"What's changed?" More of Chase's laughter. "I guess I just want to try and understand her," I said, glancing back over at the fireplace, watching the flames dance.
"Good luck, hon. People have been trying to do that for years," she said, her voice suddenly serious. "How long have you known her?"
"Since February. I work with Cody's mom, and finally got to meet the indelible twins."
"Oh," There was a low chuckle on the other end. My brows drew.
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