Sorry this is so late. I was having some computer difficulties.
"I'm confused. Who is this man living next door to me?" Brooke cried.
"Wait, Ridge was outside shirtless, cutting down hedges?" Dr. Simone Hardy – Davis asked.
"Simone, focus."
"I am. Focusing on Ridge, shirtless," the tall and slender black woman replied.
"You're married, remember, to a tall, good-looking attorney by the name of Connor," she reminded her friend.
"I know and I'm very happy, but I'm not dead and that man has a nice body," Simone smiled. "But you're right enough about his physique." What are you worried about exactly? That he isn't being sincere in wanting a relationship with Justin?"
"No, I think he is. Maybe I'm just nervous, the last time I've seen him this involved with kids is when Ric and Bridget were young- -"
"You think he's going to disappear from Justin's life?"
"I don't know. I just don't want my son to get hurt. And now Ridge is showing up at Bridget and Ric's every other day for at least a half-hour."
"Doing what?" Simone asked curious.
"Nothing, according to them. He told them he just wanted them to know he's there if they want to talk or if they just want to be quiet." Brooke paused. "Do you think he could be on drugs?"
Simone laughed. "You know he's not. I think it's kind of sweet. He's trying to show Ric and Bridget that he's there for them. I wish Tom would do something like that for Tommy," she sighed. "What do the kids think of all this?"
Picking up her Coke, Brooke took a sip and held the cold glass in her hands as she contemplated her answer. "Justin is over the moon and so is Hope- -"
"Hope?"
Brooke nodded. "Ridge includes her. When he and Justin come back from baseball practice, they come over here, pick her up and go to Ridge's and have dinner once a week by themselves and once a week with Thomas, Phoebe, and Stephanie. And, of course, Ric and Bridget have an open invitation. I don't know, maybe I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, this is Ridge."
"Or maybe you feel unsettled because you and Ridge haven't had a knock down, drag 'em fight over the fact that you were silent about Justin- -"
Brooke began to interject, but her old college roommate stopped her.
"Eh, you were silent about Justin for all these years. You should go over there and bring it up."
"But I don't want to rock the boat. I don't want to be responsible for Justin or Hope getting hurt the way Ric and Bridget were because of my actions."
Simone left her seat and sat on the edge of the table in front of Brooke. Putting down the drink and taking her friend's hands, she lifted Brooke's head. "If your bringing out this festering issue between you and Ridge into the open ruins or stops the relationships with the kids, then it was never real to begin with and better everyone knows it now than you spending the rest of your life walking on eggshells around Ridge and his feelings. Ridge has gotten that treatment his whole life."
"Ouch! Saying harsh words about your buddy?"
"I'm just speaking the truth. He's still my buddy."
"Who you let cheat off of you in all your math and science classes."
Simone shrugged. "What can I say, he was an artist, not a mathematician. Besides, who do you think got me through art class?"
Brooke laughed. "The doctor cheated?"
"Who said anything about cheating? I drew what my professor asked me to, and I can't help if I took a nap or went to work on something else and Ridge decided to help reorganize my drawings."
"You're right about Ridge. I should talk to him. I will- -"
"When? I meant in this lifetime."
"Yes, Miss Smarty Pants."
"That's not a when," Simone reminded her.
Picking up pillow and aiming for her best friend's head, she yelled. "Okay, tomorrow. Now let's talk about something fun. Like when we can find out if this baby is a boy or a girl."
"Ugh! Not you, too. I get this from Connor and Tommy all the time."
Brooke and Simone laughed. Today she would enjoy her friend and tomorrow she would tackle Ridge's and her children's future.