Page 30 of Coming Unraveled
“Don’t be such a priss. This was all here before any big city. Take it in. Enjoy it.”
Against her better judgment, she rolls down the window and rests her elbow along the edge, resting her head against her arm, letting the sunshine on her face. He watches a smile perk upon her face and Brooks grins inwardly.
Another one bites the dust.
A large tractor pulls out in front of them when they’re about ten minutes from Carson and Charlie looks at him like she’s just encountered an alien.
“What is that thing? Can we go around it?”
With the tractor taking up most of both lanes he knows that the trip is a short one on the main road and it is better than to push their luck trying to pass. He explains this to her and she gazes at him as if he is the alien now instead of the tractor.
“Just calm down, Charlie. You’re on a break remember. You’ve got nowhere to be and no one to answer to.”
She huffs back in her seat and, just as he expects, the tractor turns down an unmarked road and Brooks continues. He makes it to the first stop light in town and smiles when he eyes his and Logan’s clinic. Pointing out the small businesses he feels a sense of pride every time Charlie gapes at something or happily acknowledges something that reminds her of pictures she saw as a child.
“Damn, you said this town was nostalgic, but geez, I completely underestimated it.”
“And you wonder why I wanted to come home,” he adds just as he parks in front of Cassidy’s store. “We’re here. I’m sure you’ll find something inside that will suit your style.”
Charlie eyes it wearily but takes Brook’s hand as he offers it after opening her passenger door.
“I’m not so sure.”
“You can trust me, Charleston.”
She nods just as a group of older women begins to peer out of the pane window in the fabric store next door, whispering wildly to each other. He recognizes the Fitzgerald sisters, Temple and Shirley, at the forefront, their noses practically squished against the glass like children. Noticing their attention on him he winks in their direction and then holds the door open wide for Charleston to step through.
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaims as she takes in the store. “Are these knockoffs? I just saw some of these on the runway.”
“Whose runway?”
“Cassidy’s Fall line, of course. She’s only the biggest designer in the world right now,” she claims as she fingers through the garments as if they’re a national treasure.
“Did you read the name on the awning before you stepped in? Or were you too busy making judgments?”
Before Charleston can reply, Cassidy steps down from the back stairwell dressed in a loose fitted tee shirt and frayed jean shorts followed by her fiancé Harlan; a far cry from the woman that sashays down the catwalk at the end of her shows.
“Brooks! It’s so good to see you,” she cries as she rushes over to embrace him.
“I wasn’t sure you could make it.”
Harlan steps up beside his fiancé and shakes Brooks’ hand as he offers a greeting.
“I told Avery I would be here. Anyway, this here is my friend Charleston. She needs some normal clothes and a dress for tomorrow. She’s coming as my plus one if that’s ok.”
Cassidy looks over to Charlie skeptically, taking in her measurements and then probably something else he isn’t ready to consider as of yet.
“I have some things that will work for you. I’ll start picking them out if you want to go to one of the dressing rooms.”
“Thank you so much. I’m a huge fan of your work.” Charlie tries to ease the tension by offering a sincere smile and compliment, but it does little to crack the veneer in Cassidy’s grin.
“Brooks, can I speak to you for a minute?”
“Sure. Go find a room, Charlie. I’ll be back in about half an hour.”
As Charlie rushes along to set herself up Cassidy drags Brooks to the corner of the room and Harlan trails along, a smirk gleaning on the corner of his mouth.
Smug bastard.
