After a few minutes, Lexi calmed down and pulled away from Brooke, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Why don't you start getting ready for bed? Tomorrow is going to be a long day," Brooke told her niece, getting up from the bed
"Ok" Lexi replied softly.
Brooke studied her oldest niece for a moment. Her usually glowing tanned skin seemed pale and washed out. Her beautiful, streaked
hair was up in a messy bun, and instead of one of her usual adorable ensembles, she was adorned in sweats and an old Bobcats t-shirt.
She didn't look anything like Brooke's bubbly, outgoing niece.
Brooke gave Lexi one last tight squeeze, and walked out of the room.
Her next stop was little Ryan's room. Molly had always told her that Ryan was her "surprise" baby, coming six years after Olivia. But,
he was her little boy and she loved him to death.
Brooke pushed open his door and walked into his bedroom. Ryan was sitting in his racecar bed, hugging his "lovey" or blanket, that he
had had since he was a little boy.
"Hey buddy!" Brooke smiled at the little boy, sitting down next to him, " are you all ready for bed?"
"Yeah… me and lovey are just waiting for mommy and daddy to come tuck us in." Ryan said seriously back to her.
"Sweetie…. we've talked about this. Mommy and Daddy can't come tuck you in right now, remember? But, even if they can't be
here right now and talk to you, if you talk to them I sure they would love to listen" Brooke said, trying to explain once again to a six
year old why his parents couldn't be here with him.
"I know…I just really want them to be here with me" Ryan said sadly, hugging his lovey even tighter
"I know baby…how about we get you all tucked in? Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and you need your rest!" Brooke said,
trying to lighten the mood a little bit.
"Okay Aunt Brooke…I love you" Ryan said suddenly, wrapping his arms around her neck.
"I love you too buddy" Brooke replied, hugging him back.
After getting Ryan tucked in, her next and final stop was Olivia's room.
Olivia shared many similarities with Lexi, yet they were still very different. Olivia was much quieter than Lexi, but she usually expressed
her emotions much more. She and Brooke had always gotten along, but they had never had the close bond that Lexi and Brooke had
had.
Brooke stopped and knocked on Olivia's door. "Hey Livvy, can I come in?"
"Yeah" Olivia called back.
Brooke opened up the door to find Olivia already curled up in bed, watching an old re-run of Laguna Beach on tv.
"How are you holding up sweetie?" Brooke asked softly, kneeling down next to her.
"Ok" Olivia replied tightly
"Yano…I was just telling Lexi, it's ok to cry about it Olivia. You don't need to hold all of your feelings inside" Brooke told the
younger girl softly.
"Aunt Brooke, I'm not a total idiot, I know that. This is just how I deal with things, okay?" Olivia responded seriously.
Brooke should have known that. She knew that Olivia was smart, and that if she needed help, she would ask for it. She wasn't like
Lexi, who tried to keep up the perfect exterior. Olivia didn't care what anybody else thought about her, and dealt with things however
she needed to, whether it was quietly or not.
"Ok sweetie. Just know that I'm here okay?" Brooke smiled softly.
"Ok" Olivia smiled back.
Brooke kissed her head and walked out of the room.
She started heading towards the guest room where she had robotically tossed her things this past Saturday, when she stopped out side
Molly and Jack's room. The door was open, and she knew the kids had been in there. That afternoon during the reception, she had
been sent upstairs by Julie to find them. She had found the three of them curled up in the back of Molly's closet, because, according to
a teary eyed Ryan, "it smells like mommy in der". Just hearing those words made her heart want to break.
She walked around Molly's room mindlessly, looking at all the pictures on her dresser. There was her and Jack's wedding photo, as
well as photos of the children. Stuck in the mirror was a picture of the three sisters, taken that summer at a fourth of July barbeque at
Julie's house. Their three smiling faces all looked so happy. It was hard for Brooke to think that that was less then two months ago. It
was amazing how quickly her world had shattered.
She walked out of the room and back into her own. She changed out of the black dress she had been wearing all day since the funeral
and into sweats and a tank top. After removing her make-up and pulling her long hair into a ponytail, she climbed into bed. She took
the letter that Molly had left her again and re-read it for what seemed like the millionth time, trying to make sense of her oldest sisters
words;
Dear Brooke-What the hell, I don't even know why I'm writing this to you. But, my always be prepared Jack told me I should, just in case
of an emergency. Well, I guess if you're reading this, he's right, and the unimaginable has happened. You're probably
wondering why I decided to leave my three kids to you, a twenty-something who knows nothing about kids. I can just picture
your reaction. "Why not Julie?" you're probably wondering. I mean, even I know, she's super-mom!! Well, I guess that's why
I didn't pick her. I picked you, because you are the most like me. I may be a mom, but I will never be as great a mom as Julie
is. You, on the other hand, are most like me, and I think that's what my kids need. They need someone who is most like their
real mom, the mom they lost and never really got to know. Julie can help you, of course, with the logistics of it, but I think
just being yourself is what they need the most. Listen to Jules, for once, on most things though Brookie. She'll help you learn
how to be a mom! I know the kids already love and adore you. You and Lexi have a special kind of bond. I know you two
have always had the "big sister" thing going on, and that's a wonderful thing to have. But now, you need to also remember
that you're her mother figure. Instead of helping her plot how to get away with things (which I know you do!), you need to be
the enforcer, and make sure that she knows it. Olivia, on the other hand…she'll try to keep it all together. She is my little
optimist. While Lexi may act out more than usual thinking she can now get away with more, Livvy will do the opposite. She
will do anything it takes to make this work, and I couldn't be more proud of her. Ryan. My little surprise. He probably doesn't
understand what is going on, and probably won't really understand for quite some time. The girls should recognize this, and
will be extra supportive of him. He is smart for his age, but I don't want him to grow up sooner than he has to. I want him to
be able to enjoy his childhood to the fullest, as if I were there to help him along. I know you will do great with the kids
Brooke. Don't be afraid to rise up to this challenge. You can be stern with them, ground them, whatever it takes. Be their
mother!! I know it may seem scary now, but I have faith in you Brooke, and I know you can do this.
All my love forever,
Molly
Brooke folded up the letter and put it back on her bedside table. Oh, how she hoped Molly was right, she thought to herself as she let
her head hit the pillow and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
A/N: Ok so that's the second chapter!! PLEASE review and tell me what you guys think!! Thanks!!