Chapter 7
brOOKLYN
“He did what?”
I moved to the side as a small child began to skip down the pathway and winced at Aly.
“He kissed me.” I tried to whisper the words, but it felt as if I were screaming them across the void.
It didn’t matter that we were in a public place, and countless others were milling about as they got their mid to late season plants for their home do-it-yourself gardens, I felt so lost that I could barely even keep up with my own thoughts.
“And? Why? How? How was it? What happened next? Did you talk about it? Is this the first time? Oh my God, I have so many questions and you’re not saying anything.”
My lips twitched at Aly’s enthusiasm, and in that moment, I knew telling Aly first was the right choice.
Unlike nearly everybody else in my life, she didn’t know my family.
She didn’t have a history or a full connection as to who we were.
She hadn’t dated or been with any of my cousins or numerous other family members.
In fact, I was pretty sure the only two people in my family that she had met were myself and Dash.
I wasn’t even sure if she’d met Dash outside of those few moments where he had given her a look and then shuffled away because we were working.
“I don’t think I have any answers to those questions,” I said after a moment. I moved closer to her so I could whisper. While I didn’t know anybody around us, the pipeline of Montgomery information was oddly quick. You just never knew.
“You have to have at least one answer. So Reece. He’s worked with you for how long?”
My teeth worried my lip, and I forced myself to calm down.
It was a kiss. An accident. I could talk about it and get over it.
Then I’d go home and make way too much bread.
“For a while now. He used to be a firefighter. And he’s worked with a few other construction crews.
Now he does fire restoration and contracting directly with us. ”
“Ooh. A firefighter. I would say something inappropriate, but I’m sure that has to get old.”
“Considering his three younger brothers are still firemen, probably.”
“And are they single?” Aly asked, nearly bouncing on her toes as we moved toward the fruit trees.
“I don’t know. It’s not like Reece and I talk about personal things. Except that’s all we’ve been talking about lately with the whole Bella situation.”
Aly’s expression changed. “That has to be terrifying. For both Bella and Reece. But he has a supportive family. Right? And he’s not married?”
“I think his parents and brothers are supportive. He gets along with the Montgomerys as we work as a family. Like, he’s part of a big family of his own. And no, he’s not married, Aly. He kissed me. He’s not a cheater.”
“That’s good. That’s good. So, he just kissed you out of the blue?”
When I had shown up to go through a few spreadsheets and talk plants for the upcoming season, I had just blurted out that he had kissed me. She didn’t even know Reece, and she was trying to be supportive. And here I was, rambling.
“Not exactly. I mean, there’s always been looks.”
“Interesting.”
I shook my head, my lips twitching even as my stomach revolted.
“Not like that. I was with Duke. And we were happy.” Or so I thought.
“And whenever I saw Reece out he had a different woman each time. Not that it was often, but I’ve never actually known him to date anybody.
He was married for a bit, then wasn’t. It’s like all of my single cousins who just date around. ”
“He must have kissed you for a reason. It’s not like he just fell on your lips.”
We paused by another grouping of trees, and I let out a breath, trying to find something to do with my hands so I wouldn’t wring them in front of me.
“Brooklyn?”
“I think he kissed me just to calm me down.”
“What happened?”
I let out a shaky breath before going through the long story of Duke, the restoration committee, my baking, and then about Chelsea.
Aly’s face paled, before she took me by my arm and tugged me to the side by the employee area. “She did what? Oh, Brooklyn. I’m so sorry. Did you tell anyone in your family what happened?”
“Considering Dash and Lex were there, I’m pretty sure the entire family knows what happened yesterday.” I stopped for a moment. “And I’ve been dodging calls from my parents, so the grapevine has been worked.”
“I know Duke’s sister’s hurting, but what a bitch. And I don’t use that word lightly. She has no right to take her pain out on you. You’re hurting just as much.”
I wiped away tears, angry they were coming again.
“I don’t know what I did to make her think I deserve that.
But she is hurting. And I guess we weren’t friends.
I thought we were, but we weren’t. And that just adds a whole other layer of betrayal and brutality to this grief thing.
I want to be angry that he’s gone, but that seems selfish. ”
“It’s not selfish to have feelings. And you’re allowed to be angry that the life you thought you were going to have is gone.”
I looked at Aly then, knowing she was saying the same words my family had said before, but it was still hard to believe them.
“The vitriol in her words. I just don’t understand. And she thought that—” I shook my head. “Well, she thought that I was with Reece, and she lashed out.”
“Ah. He kissed you, so maybe you think that part of what she said was right? But she’s wrong. Even if you and Reece just had sex in the middle of the break room, it isn’t any of her business.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh. “I’m pretty sure that’s nobody’s business other than the fact that I shouldn’t be having sex at work. And I’m not. At all. Not with Reece. It was just a kiss.”
“Your voice got quite high-pitched just then,” Aly said dryly.
I rolled my eyes, feeling slightly lighter and yet still panicked. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Chelsea, or what I’m supposed to do about Duke’s family.”
“Nothing. If that’s how they’re going to treat you, and, come on, if his parents haven’t reached out either, then that’s on them. You do nothing, and you find a way to move on. Maybe not with Reece, but maybe not not him.”
“It’s kind of hard to cut away all parts of a life I thought I was going to have.”
“Brooklyn,” Aly whispered.
I shook my head and lifted my chin. “I know. I know. I really am okay. Which sounds trite in a way, but I am. I want to be happy. I want to find this new Brooklyn and not cry every time I think about Duke’s family.
But we’re working with a major group that the family happens to run.
And not only is it a good project for the community, it’s going to bring in a lot of money. ”
Aly’s eyes widened. “Oh. I didn’t realize you were talking about Chelsea Rochester.”
I froze, ice sliding down my spine. “You know the family?”
Aly pressed her lips together and nodded.
“I know of the Rochesters. I’m not in that circle, and I don’t want to be, but I know of them.
The committee however, they do good work.
They’re not going to let personal matters get in the way of things.
If they did, the circles of old money would never get anything done,” she added dryly.
“Anyway, let’s go look at that list of yours.
And you can tell me all about this kiss and if you want it to happen again. ”
She changed the subject quickly, and I understood, some things were off-limits. But the fact that Aly seemed to know the world of the Rochesters, and all the old money that came with it, was indeed interesting.
“Can I ask one thing?” I whispered.
“Maybe. But there are some things I don’t want to talk about. Okay?”
“As somebody who has certain subjects she never wants to discuss anymore, I understand. But, if you know the Rochesters, do you know the Longs?”
Aly’s eyes widened. “Yes. Not well, but I do.”
“As in Bella Long. Reece’s daughter.”
“Oh.” Aly shook her head. “I don’t know Bella, but I know her grandparents. That poor girl.”
I reached out and squeezed Aly’s arm. “What do you mean by that? Is she okay?”
“I just mean about losing her mother. And Reece is her father? I guess I have been out of that world for a long time now.”
I went on to explain everything in detail from the time Bella had shown up at the office until now.
“I don’t know how it will all work out. What I do know however is that there is a little girl in the middle of all of this, and if Reece is the man that I know, he’s going to do all that he can to protect his daughter. ”
“Now I have even more questions.”
“Brooklyn!”
I turned, heart racing at the familiar voice, as the subject of our conversation ran towards us.
She’d pulled her hair back in a tall ponytail and smiled brightly.
Bella skipped towards us and waved, and I looked up to see Reece walking briskly behind her, an odd expression on his face that I couldn’t read.
I hadn’t seen him since he’d walked back into the office after kissing me. He hadn’t been there when I’d returned. In fact, only Lexington was there as Dash had taken the committee to do what they needed to do, and Reece had gone to the project site.
This wasn’t awkward at all.
“Hey there, Bella. How was art camp today?”
“I love it so much. Your cousins are the best. Like legit.”
I blinked and looked up at Reece, mouthing the word legit.
He rolled his eyes and held up both hands. “Hello Brooklyn.”
“Reece.”
And look at that, we were adults, who happened to know each other’s names.
“Hi, I’m Aly. I own the nursery. I take it you are Bella and Reece?”
I could feel my face heating as I looked over at Aly, wide-eyed.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Aly, this is Reece and Bella, Reece and Bella, this is Aly.”
“Hi. You own this plant shop? It’s so pretty.
Reece brought me over to help me pick out a couple of things for the yard.
” She looked down at her feet and squirmed a bit.
“I know you helped me and showed me a few things at the house, Brooklyn, but do you think you could help me pick out more? Reece is good at it, but I bet you’d be better. ”
“And just like that, shoved to the side,” Reece said dryly.
“Oh. I’m sorry,” Bella said, her face paling.
I could see Reece wanting to curse, but he held out his hand and patted her shoulder awkwardly.
“I was just kidding. Brooklyn here is the best plant person I know.”
“Hey, I am the queen of plants.” Aly winked.
“Oh, so now we’re going to have a competition?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“Well I tend to kill plants, so you both beat me,” Reece added.
“You don’t kill them, you still have a few things alive in the front yard,” Bella told Reece, as if trying to reassure him.
My heart nearly expanded two sizes.
“Brooklyn planted those,” Reece explained.
Bella’s gaze turned to me, as Aly snickered at my side. Yes, it seemed I’d have more to explain to my new friend.
“So what are you in the mood for?” Aly said as she clapped her hands. “This girl over here pretty much knows the layout of my shop already. I need to go help a customer over there, though since my team is waving at me, but if you need anything else, let me know. Brooklyn, you’ve got this?”
I would have thought she was trying to push us all together, but there was indeed a young teenager waving her down.
“I can help, no worries,” I said, grinning as Aly skipped off to help her team and actually run her business, leaving the three of us behind.
An awkwardness settled in before Bella leaned to the side and nudged me with her shoulder.
“Will you really help us? I know you’re probably busy.”
“I’ll really help. I was looking for plants for my own yard, because I can’t help myself.”
“I’m surprised you have any space left,” Reece pointed out.
“Excuse me, there’s always room for plants.”
“Well Reece has a lot of room,” Bella mock whispered.
“I’m sure we could find something to fill up those spaces.”
“It’s the wrong time to plant flowers. Isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yes. It’s a little late because of the high heat, but there’re other things we can do. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t go too crazy.”
“I feel I should just hand over my credit card now.”
I held up my hand at the same time as Bella, and I looked down at the girl, realizing I didn’t have to look down too far, and we both burst out laughing.
Reece let his head fall back and he groaned. “A menace. Both of you.”
“I try,” I teased.
“Will you come with me this way? I saw a stone turtle that looked really cool.”
“Lead the way,” I said, as Bella moved forward, and I glanced over at Reece.
“If you want, I can head out. I didn’t realize you two would be here.”
He shook his head and pushed a lock of hair back behind my ear. I tried not to lean into the touch, but goosebumps pebbled my skin. “She likes you. I realize that it may be a lifeline, but she’s easier when you’re around.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling oddly disappointed.
“And I like you being around too, Brooklyn.” He shook his head. “Even though I’m not good for you.”
And with that cryptic comment, he moved to follow Bella, leaving me alone for a moment.
I had been panicking before over his kiss, wondering how I was going to ever forget it.
And now it seemed I had a whole new level of panic to add.
Because Reece’s daughter liked me. And I liked her just as much.
But Bella’s father? I could see myself easily falling for him.
And that sounded like a recipe for heartbreak.