Chapter 30 Caleb
Caleb
This short time with Brooke gives me all the confidence I need to face whatever is coming our way. The insecurities I once held to so tightly have unraveled and flown off. Dad’s pep talk definitely helped. I still have my own dream, but I see the work we do in a different light.
It’s perfect timing as Judy tries her key in Brooke’s door.
Thankfully, Brooke changed the locks—which she might want to share with her mother.
Brooke’s still getting changed. If it were up to me, she’d keep those shorts on all day as a reminder of how good we are together.
I open the door to find an extremely frustrated Judy.
“Good morning, Ms. Spencer,” I say, holding the door open for her.
“Caleb,” she says, not surprised in the least to see me. “What are you doing at my daughter’s house?” She walks into the living room, crosses her arms, and stares me down.
I’m glad I catch Judy first. Brooke is freakishly calm under pressure when it comes to work, but I have a feeling she wouldn’t be so calm under the pressure of her mother possibly finding out about us.
She’s going to lose it on me, Caleb. I make a mental note to unpack that later.
I may be feeling confident, but Brooke isn’t there yet.
Not when it comes to Judy. For Brooke’s sake, I play my part.
“We have a walkthrough with Hannah and Preston today. Thought I’d pick Brooke up,” I say with a grin. “She’s getting ready. I had the time wrong and got here early.”
“I know the walkthrough is today, Caleb.” Judy narrows her eyes at me. “That’s why I’m here. You’d do well to be a bit more organized with your calendar.”
Before I can respond, Brooke walks into the living room, her cheeks still rosy and her hair disheveled. She’s changed into a fitted blue sundress. After this walkthrough, we’re picking up right where we left off.
“Hi, Mom!” she chirps. “What are you doing here?”
Judy walks to her with something like concern on her face. “Brooke,” she says, placing the back of her hand on Brooke’s forehead. “Are you feeling all right, dear? You look a little flushed.”
I stifle a laugh.
She pushes Judy’s hand away. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“You’re not having one of your little headaches, are you? Always such terrible timing.”
Little headaches. I’m not laughing now. Is she kidding?
Surely, she’s seen Brooke in the middle of a migraine attack.
How could anyone call being curled up on the floor in the fetal position a little headache?
I fight the urge to answer for Brooke and tell Judy a thing or two.
Holding my tongue is not going to be easy.
“No, I’m not having a migraine attack right now.”
“Okay, good. Then let’s get going.”
“I thought you were only coming to the final walkthrough, Mom. This is just the preliminary site visit,” Brooke says. Neither of us want Judy involved any more than she needs to be. “You don’t have to waste your time with this one. Caleb and I have it covered.”
“Don’t be silly, Brooke. With the Times piece, it’s imperative that I’m involved in every detail from here on out.”
Great.
“The pleasure is all mine Douglas,” Judy shakes Mr. Quincy’s hand.
The Quincys do appear pleased that she’s here, and Brooke has Hannah and Preston distracted reviewing some final rental estimates.
Judy and the Quincys exchange more pleasantries, discussing a recent heat wave…
in August… how shocking. It must be exhausting to be Judy. Always putting on a show.
We start the walkthrough with the wedding day and circle back to the rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch.
Maddie’s here too. I should have brought one of my sous to help take notes and make sure we’ve got everything covered.
The enormity of this wedding hits me as we go through the logistics.
It’s the opportunity Dad dreamed of for so long.
Instead of him standing here, though, it’s all up to me.
He’s not getting the chance to enjoy the accomplishment.
I’m even more invested than I was before.
I want it to go perfectly, for my dad and our clients, but especially for Brooke.
I want everything to go exactly according to her meticulous plan.
Watching her now, running this extremely complicated site visit, is incredible.
Our clients hang on her every word, and she has an answer for every question or concern thrown her way.
It’s incredibly sexy how in control she is.
It makes seeing her lose control with me that much more satisfying.
“Is now a good time to review the guest list?” Judy asks. That wasn’t on the agenda for this visit.
“Judy,” Brooke says, shifting uneasily on her feet.
The dynamic between them is bizarre to watch.
To anyone that didn’t know them, it’d seem like a typical boss and employee relationship.
A demanding boss and an employee trying to get it right.
But it’s not a secret to anyone here that they are mother and daughter.
Brooke calling her Judy throws me off. I can’t imagine calling my dad by his first name.
“We’ve been tracking the RSVPs closely. We don’t need to take up everyone’s time by reviewing now,” Maddie offers.
“Nonsense. There are several VIPs attending and it’s important we review to ensure we have all the necessary arrangements in place.”
“That’s a great idea, Judy,” Mr. Quincy says.
We settle at the large outdoor dining table on the patio.
Though, patio is an understatement. I’d call this a veranda.
A veranda that will hold seventy-five for the rehearsal dinner and another hundred for the farewell brunch.
I try to snag the seat next to Brooke, but Judy beats me to it without a glance in my direction.
I end up across from her. Brooke pulls out her iPad, opening up the guest list, and we discuss missing RSVPs and important guests.
Just when I think we’re finally wrapping up and Brooke and I can go back to what Judy interrupted, Judy shifts the conversation.
“Quite a few eligible bachelors on the guest list,” Judy says, looking at Brooke. I clench my fists under the table. When I look to Brooke for her reaction to Judy’s unprofessional comment, she’s rubbing her temple.
“Oh, yes,” Mrs. Quincy says. “We’d be happy to introduce you, Brooke.”
Brooke smiles apologetically in Hannah’s direction. “Mom…I mean Judy, I’ll be too focused on making this day amazing for Hannah and Preston to concern myself with finding a date.”
“We were so sorry to hear about you and Kent, dear,” Mr. Quincy says. “He’s a fine young man.”
“Yes, he is,” Judy clips, eyes darting at Brooke. “Now, Gage Wilson…I’ve heard some wonderful things about his family.”
Maddie stifles a laugh, trying to cover it with a cough.
“Ms. Spencer, as fun as matchmaking is, I think we should get back to figuring out these final seating details, don’t you?” Hannah gives her a sweet smile.
“Yes, of course. My apologies, Hannah.” Judy places her hand over her heart. “I want my daughter to settle down and be as happy as you and Preston.”
Bullshit.
She moves on to discussing some local politician who may or may not be able to attend at the last minute and what contingencies we’ll need in place.
“Excuse me, I’m going to pop inside and use the restroom,” Brooke says, leaving the table quickly.
Judy continues talking, barely noticing her daughter’s rushed exit from the table.
I wait a moment to confirm no one cares about my thoughts on the seating.
I don’t give a shit where anyone sits. All I need are the final numbers a few days before the wedding.
I’m not sure why I’m even sitting here. I lock eyes with Hannah.
She tilts her head toward the house. I quietly get up from my chair and follow Brooke inside.
When I walk into the kitchen, Brooke is leaning against the massive island with a glass of water, her back to me. The kitchen is big enough that we’ll be able to use it for service for the rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch. We’ll only need a catering tent for the wedding reception.
“Hey,” I say. “You okay?”
“Shit.” She places a hand on her chest. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry, I need to stop doing that.”
“It’s okay. You make my heart jump even when you’re not startling me.”
Warmth grows in my chest. My heart jumps, too. “Are you okay?” I ask again.
She places the water down and sighs, fixing her beautiful face into a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed a minute.”
“Brooke, it’s me. You don’t need to pretend you’re fine when you’re not. I saw you rubbing your temple at the table.”
“I just took my medication. It should kick in soon, I caught it at the start. I mostly needed to get away from Judy for a minute. I promise I didn’t know she was coming to this.
The final walkthrough, yes, but not this.
Now I know why. She’s trying to find the next Kent to shoulder all of her hopes for me… I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
It’s cute that she thinks I’m worried about some finance bro taking her away from me. Now that I’ve got her, I’m never letting go. What I’m worried about is the way Judy treats her. “I know who some of those guys are, Brooke. I’m not concerned.”
Her gaze softens. She raises her hand to massage her temple, but I stop her and put my fingers there instead. Putting a little pressure and massaging like I did the night I found her at the office.
The sigh she makes shouldn’t turn me on, but it does. “You’re so good with your hands,” she says. Jesus Christ. All I can do is kiss her forehead while all the blood rushes out of my head.
“I wish she’d stop meddling in my life. Let me live it instead of trying to fit me into this plan she has.
I’ve done everything she wants me to do.
I went to the college she wanted me to. I joined Spencer Soirees when she wanted me to.
I followed in her footsteps like she wanted me to.
It’s never enough for her. I don’t know what else to do.
” Her voice breaks with those last words.
“Brooke, is this what you want to do?” I ask. She gives me a puzzled look. “Listen, you’re the most talented wedding planner I know. You’re incredible at your job, and I love watching you do it. But is it what you want?”
“Yeah…of course it is. I mean, it’s what I always wanted to do…?” It sounds like she’s trying to convince herself. “I never knew to want anything else, and I am really good at it. Not all of us want to run away from the path our parents started us on, Caleb.”
Ouch. I wince.
“I don’t mean that…I’m sorry. It’s so complicated with her.
She says she wants me to take over but hangs it over me like I haven’t done enough to earn it.
Your dad is so excited and proud to hand Foley’s over to you, Caleb.
He believes in you. He’s proud of you. I wish my mom felt that way about me.
” Her eyes fill with tears. She bites the inside of her cheek, working so hard to keep tears from falling, but a few roll down her cheeks.
“I don’t mean to question you. It’s just…
I…listen, this…” I point back and forth between us and then step closer to her, hooking my finger under her chin.
“…it’s new, brand new. But we’ve known each other a long time.
I care about you, Brooke, and I want you to have whatever you want.
I want you to be celebrated for being the best wedding planner in Connecticut.
I want your mom to give you the agency if that’s what you want.
And because I care about you, sometimes I’m going to ask hard questions.
But I’m always on your team. Team Brooke, always. ”
I lower my face and kiss her, tasting the salt of tears on her lips. The whoosh of a door makes me pull away. I carefully wipe her cheeks. She’d hate for our clients to know she was crying.
Hannah walks in smiling with Preston behind her. “Looks like my mom doesn’t need to play matchmaker after all.”
Brooke straightens her posture and steps away from me. It’s too late to deny anything. We’ve been caught red-handed. At least it wasn’t Judy.
“I knew it,” Preston says, grabbing an apple from a bowl on the island and taking an enormous bite.
“Hannah. Preston,” she says. “I’m so sorry, we were…uh…”
“Making out in my future in-laws’ kitchen?” Preston laughs. “Been there.”
I can’t help but laugh with him. “Brooke needed a minute.”
“Your mom is something else, Brooke,” Preston says, chewing on another bite of apple. He barely said a word during the walkthrough and suddenly he’s the chattiest guy I’ve ever met. “I’d need a lot more than a minute if I was working with her, and I’ve worked with some real assholes.”
“Preston!” Hannah scolds him.
“What?” he asks. “You’re always saying the guys I work with are assholes.”
“Well, they are,” Hannah says. “Brooke, don’t worry. You weren’t here five minutes and I could sense something going on between you. Judy doesn’t know?”
Brooke shakes her head.
“Your secret’s safe with us,” Preston chimes in. “Believe me, we know how complicated families are.”
“Thank you, both,” Brooke says. “I’m sorry for being so unprofessional.”
“Oh, please.” Hannah waves a hand in the air. “You needed a minute, and your boyfriend wanted to make sure you were okay. I’d be concerned if there wasn’t kissing involved.”
“Maddie wrapped things up and we sent Judy off. Told her we’d drive Brooke home,” Preston says, clapping my back. “But I’m guessing you’ve got that covered?”
“I do, thanks.”
“Thank you, Hannah, Preston,” Brooke says. “We got a lot accomplished today. I truly can’t wait to celebrate you both in a few weeks. It’s going to be a beautiful day!”
We still have a lot of work ahead of us to make it incredible, but right now all I care about is making sure Brooke feels okay.