Page 43 of Brooke
“A baseball reference?” Sawyer’s brows rose. “I like it, Madison, but I’ll go with another metaphor. Brooke’s a go-getter, Thea, and sometimes it’s hard for hunters when the gatherer ends up becoming self-sufficient and can feed herself. You know, the more I think about it, the more sure I am that Axel’s right. Everyone in this house is in transition. I mean, who would have imagined Thea finding her own wedding dress!”
“Sawyer,” Kyle called with an edge.
“I didn’t mean it as an insult.” Sawyer gave her a mopish look. “You know what I mean, Thea, don’t you?”
She nodded, suddenly seeing her journey with such clarity. She’d shown up in Paris needing a life and fashion makeover, not having a clue where to begin. Her friends had helped her, and she’d dug deep for answers of her own. Jean Luc had come into her life. She’d decided to follow her heart and stay in Paris and open the bakery of her dreams instead of going back to the safe confines of Iowa and her old life. “I’ve taken charge of my life. God…”
“Uh-oh.” Madison nudged Sawyer. “She said, ‘God.’”
“Do you know what that means?” she continued, waving her hand in the air as new excitement shot through her. “I’ve done it. I’ve taken control of my life and finally gone and baked myself the life of my dreams. All the way!”
Laughing, she spun around in the kitchen, making a few of her roommates dart out of the way. Dean joined in, slowly twirling Jacqueline.
Madison muttered, “Little sister has gone a little coocoo.”
“She’s entitled,” Sawyer commented. “It’s been a big day.”
Kyle caught her before she could careen into a barstool. “Careful there, slugger.”
“Slugger.” She hugged herself. “I’m a slugger! And a boozer.”
“What’s she talking about?” Kyle asked as the others started laughing.
She stopped twirling and watched as the room continued spinning. But that was how it went, she realized, when you hopped onto the magnificent merry-go-round called life. Brookewouldcome around because she loved her, and maybe she’d even start seeing her as the Thea she was now.
She was growing up and didn’t need Brooke to help her fix her life anymore. That was a win-win for both of them. First, it was long past time for Thea to do it, and second, Brooke would have more time to focus on herself. Because her friend could use more time for that. For herself.
Thea only hoped Brooke would see it that way.
CHAPTER
NINE
Brooke was having a crisis.
She berated herself for not meeting her goal of finding Thea the perfect wedding dress. Not only that, but she’d missed seeing her try it on—that magical moment when woman and bride became one. That hurt. More than she could have imagined, like she’d speared herself with the hot poker Madison used on meat in the kitchen.
Walking to the restaurant in heels hadn’t been her best plan, but stalking off her bad mood had seemed advisable. When her phone buzzed in her purse, she pulled it out, wondering if it was Axel. She was surprised to see Nanine calling. She immediately stepped to the side of the street and picked it up.
“Nanine! I’m so glad you called,” she began in French, clenching the phone as her heart tore. She needed counsel, and Nanine always knew how to handle things, something Brooke was failing miserably at right now.
“I heard Dean’s message about Thea finding her wedding dress,” she responded smoothly. “When I called back tocongratulate First Course, I learned she had been with Fabiana and thought you were deeply upset. She mentioned you’d left for a dinner meeting. I decided to see if I could reach you beforehand.”
Oh…
She thought back to that moment when she and Thea had gazed at each other with rare awkwardness. “You know me. I wanted to find the perfect dress for her, but isn’t it wonderful she found it on her own?” She could hear the tremble in her voice and hated it. “Wait until you see it, Nanine.”
“Youaretaking it hard, which speaks for how much you love your friends,” Nanine replied softly. “But you should not feel bad. My dear Third Course, I know you wish to do everything for everyone, but don’t you see? Thea managed to find her own dress. Dean is figuring out how to begin a new life and business with Jacqueline. While I am forging ahead on my own terms. This is something to celebrate, Brooke.”
“I know, Nanine.” She clenched her eyes shut, fighting with herself. “I’m just having a moment.”
“You are allowed.” Nanine was quiet before continuing. “And do not take it hard that I am not around as much right now. I am exactly where I need to be. As are you. Perhaps this space is giving you time to focus on you because you and your life are as important as ours. All right,chérie?”
Her throat was scratchy and hot with emotion. “All right, Nanine,” was all she could manage.
“I will let you go to your dinner,” Nanine said, her voice filled with warmth. “You think about what I said.”
“I will, Nanine.”
