40. Brooke
40
***Brooke***
I showed up at the diner with two things I was hoping would soften Henry. I’d framed a small painting of the diner and I’d broken into Mom’s house and stolen back the walking stick she’d stolen from Henry when I was still a kid. He’d looked for his prized possession, the walking stick he’d carved out of the tree Mom first scared him from, for years, knowing it was Mom who’d stolen it but never being able to prove it. Henry had cut the tree down as a big middle finger to Mom and she hadn’t liked that. It was time to pull out the big guns to get Henry to forgive me so I could eat out again.
As soon as I stepped into the diner, Henry was right there, frowning at me. I shoved the painting at him before he could tell me to get out. “Before you say anything, Henry, let me just say how sorry I am. Here’s a painting I did of the diner. I even painted you in the window there, see? And if that isn’t enough, look what I found.”
His eyes widened as he saw the stick. “Betty!”
“I can’t say where I found her.” I smiled. “Is this enough to get you to forgive me?”
“You? Yes. The rest of your crazy family? Not hardly.”
I hugged him. “Honestly, that’s preferable. They’re nuts.”
He grunted and pointed at the table in the back where said family was sitting and watching, scowls on their faces. “I’ll bring you an extra waffle.”
“Hey! Why’d you let them back in so fast? Did they give you bribes, too?”
“Nope. They just showed up and getting them out of here is hard as hell.” He patted my head and then walked back into the kitchen.
My shoulders drooped as I made my way to their table. I knew I was going to be in trouble for stealing the stolen walking stick.
Aunt Karlene put her finger to her head and woo -ed. “I see an ass whoopin’ in your future.”
I slunk in next to her and tried to smile at Mom. “Sorry. I was desperate. The guys can’t cook every morning and I don’t want to.”
“I should steal that stick back and hit you over the head with it.” Mom crossed her arms. “And I’m just in the mood to do it, too.”
“Jimmy dumped her.” Aunt Karlene licked her fingers after taking a bite of syrup drenched pancake like it was finger food.
“No, he didn’t!” Mom’s voice was shrill as she leaned over the table, towards me and Aunt Karlene. “We decided it together. Your aunt got in my head about those stupid compression socks and I asked him to take them off. The man had the audacity to tell me to get over it. What an asshole.”
I looked at my aunt. “And Dakota? Has he forgiven you for your bad behavior?”
Mom snorted. “He told her that she’s the reason he’s giving up on the dark arts.”
“It’s a bunch of hogwash if you ask me. He was never serious about it.” She sniffed. “And I already made plans to go giggin’ with Brent and David.”
“He’s a married man, for god’s sake, Karlene.” Shaking her head, Mom turned on me. “And you. I heard you were screwing Logan on the sidewalk by your nice painting.”
“You think it’s nice?” I kind of did, too. It was coming together. “Wait. You ruining things with Dakota isn’t going to hurt my job, is it?”
“Of course, it’s nice, Brooklyn. You’re an artist.” Mom rolled her eyes. “Focus on the public coitus, though.”
“I was just sitting on his lap. We were talking, that’s all.” I pressed my lips together as tight as possible but I still failed to remember I didn’t have to act like my mom and aunt. “I love them. Logan and I all but said it to each other yesterday. Is that crazy?”
Aunt Karlene tapped her head. “I tell you and I tell you that I know things and you never believe me.”
“Oh, come off it, Karlene. You see three men lusting after my daughter and see her drooling after them. Of course, this is where it was heading.”
“If you weren’t my sister, I’d curse the shit out of you on a daily basis.” Aunt Karlene looked at me and patted my cheek. “You take after me, thank god. Your mom had no imagination.”
They argued back and forth but my eyes were caught on the person who’d just walked into the diner. Finn Love. He was tan and wearing swim trunks, like he’d been taking a leisurely vacation. When he spotted me, his smile widened and he came right over.
“Brookie!” He knelt next to me, blocking me into the booth. “I came to find you.”
Mom hissed like a feral street cat. “You mean you didn’t find her between her boss’ legs?”
Aunt Karlene put her finger to her temple. “You are already cursed with a small dick and a shitty personality. It would be cruel to add more to your plate.”
I bit back a laugh and leaned away from him. “No, thanks, Finn.”
He waddled closer. “Don’t be like that. I wanted to talk. I need to run something by you.”
“Whatever you need to say to Brooklyn, you can say to us.” Mom picked up her butterknife. “Careful how you say it, though.”
He blanched. “Um… Outside, please?”
I shook my head. “I said no, thanks.”
“Look, I didn’t want to have to do this, Brookie, but it’s my dad.” He looked down and when he looked back up at me, there were tears in his eyes.
I wasn’t the world’s biggest fan of his dad, but he was world’s better than Finn or his mother. “Is he okay?”
“No! He snapped and lost his mind. He’s still in control of grandpa’s estate and he’s cutting me off. He found out about Meredith and he’s angry. He’s angrier than I’ve ever seen him.”
Aunt Karlene cackled. “Well, pumpkin, I guess that sucks for you.”
I couldn’t help it. I threw my head back and laughed with her. I laughed until I was crying and holding my sides. “Oh, god. That’s too good.”
“You have to help me, Brookie. Help me show him that we’re okay and I’ll never cheat on you again.”
“That’s not something most people have to promise. It’s just implied.” I pushed him away. “Go away. Henry is about to bring out my breakfast and I don’t want you breathing all over it.”
“Don’t be stupid, Brooke. We can help each other out here.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed tight. “Besides, I know you miss me.”
Boomer Perry chose that moment to have his listening ears on. He leaned back from the table he was at behind Finn and slapped him on the back with his cane. “You’re wasting your breath, sonny boy. Brooke has three boyfriends and I hear they’re very well endowed. You don’t seem like the type.”
I groaned. “Boomer!”
“What? It’s true. You told everyone you’re screwing all three of them. And then you did that eel dance that one of your exes did and it was a wild night.”
Finn shot to his feet. “You did what ?”
Aunt Karlene laughed even harder. “ You’re eel boy? Of course, you are!”
His fake kindness had worn off and he stared down at me with rage oozing out of his pores. “Fuck you, Brooke. Meredith is a way better fuck than you.”
Boomer shot out his cane when Finn tried to stalk off and instead of walking to the door, he stumbled and fell his way across the restaurant. It was a debacle. Boomer cheered. “It’s just too bad he didn’t open the door with his head. Then maybe he’d have some decency and respect. This is a nice town, boy!”