JUST YOU AND ME
35. The Moments We Almost Lost
"God," Amber groaned. "I hate the fact you'll be leaving this weekend,"
Brooke knew she would be leaving by the weekends so she decided to threat the girls to shopping like they always did since she arrived.
She sighed. "I know but I could always come back,"
"Just promise you come back at least on Christmas and New Year before you finally find out you made the hideous mistake of marrying my cousin and decide to divorce him," Amy said seriously.
"I promise," Brooke said.
……………………………………………………
"So what happened?" Haley asked Taylor who was still in Charleston.
"What do you think?" Taylor said through a sigh. "Dad went ballistic and started going on about Chris being my brother…I mean lets face it, Chris Keller is no James,"
"What did the others say then?" Peyton said as she sat beside Haley on the sofa with her Ben and Jerry ice cream.
"You mean your father and our uncles…yeah they were great help," she replied sarcastically. "Uncle Jared began talking about the result our marriage will cause for the families reputation,"
"What reputation…scaring the shit out of scum bags?" Rachel said as she walked into the room, kicking off her shoes and joining the girls. "Seriously they should just admit that the reason Chris is not allowed to marry you is because their wives already have a groom for you,"
"I seriously hate when they do that," Haley said as she tried the ice cream from Peyton, who pushed her hands away.
"Get yours," Peyton said.
"How is Chris taking it?" Haley asked.
"well he is taking it like the man I love…even though uncle Ed keeps threatening to cut him to pieces," the girls rolled their eyes. "Then you have Matt and the twins promising to bust his car up…and we know how much Chris loves that car,"
"What is Brian doing back home. I mean isn't he supposed to be in camp?"
"The lazy ass couldn't stay away from mum's cooking…so he says," Taylor said deadpanned. "But we all know he's probably running away from one the bimbos he's been sleeping with,"
"How did mum take?" Haley asked.
"As usual…I mean mum is rarely surprised about anything,"
"How are the other two senioritas?" Peyton asked.
"Oh great. Rachel your mum is still a chain smoker…"
"What's new," she muttered.
"A few days ago she struck a bet with mum and Auntie Merissa that she could go without smoking for a whole day,"
"Please tell me that sharp objects were taken away from her," Haley said.
"She did pretty great considering how she is without a smoke,"
"How long did she last?" Rachel asked.
"Five minutes,"
"Wow, that was great," they agreed.
"When are you coming back?" Peyton asked.
"As soon as I get their approval," Taylor said stubbornly.
"So next year then," Rachel said.
"With the way things are going…I'll say in two years,"
………………………………………………….
"Okay this is crazy!" Amy wailed. "Can we watch something else other than this crap?"
"ESPN is not crap," Nathan said.
"Plus we don't feel like watching sweet sixteen," Lucas added.
"Give me the benefit of a doubt, will you?" she sad. "I don't watch brats screaming about an unnecessary huge party…grant me some taste,"
"Sure,"
"I'm serious!"
"We believe you,"
"You guys are the worst cousins I got have wished for," Lucas and Nathan grinned at her. "Oh hi! Brooke, please tell your husband and brother in law that…Brooke what's wrong?"
Nathan and Lucas got up with they saw how white Brooke was.
"What's wrong?" Nathan asked.
"I just got a call from Rachel," she said barely audible. "Haley…"
Nathan's heart dropped. "What's wrong with Haley?"
Brooke shook her head. "Not Haley. Her father,"
"What happened to her father?" Amy asked.
"He had a heart attack last night,"
Nathan tried not to feel selfish but he just couldn't help himself. "How come they didn't inform you earlier?"
"They did want to bother us yet," then she gasped and tried to hold back her tears. "Haley…s-she doesn't know yet…Rachel and Peyton are going to break it to her,"
Nathan heart tighten at the thought of Haley might go through. "Okay I'll tell mum that we are leaving tomorrow morning…"
"No need…my plane is coming right now to get me,"
"Your plane," Lucas looked surprised. "I didn't know…"
"It's my dad's," she said immediately. She was scared of this moment but she knew was going to have to tell the both of them about their family.
"I'll go pack up," Nathan said.
……………………………………………………..
She just sat in the darkness.
Seven years.
Seven years she hasn't seen her father and several hours ago…she almost lost him. She couldn't help the 'what ifs' that were running through her head. She couldn't foster the strength to pack her cloths due to the shock…
"Haley?"
She heard his voice. The one that made her feel safe and then she felt his arms around her.
"I almost lost him, Nathan,"
"He's okay now…Rachel just got off the phone with your brother,"
"But what if he hadn't…" but she stopped when Nathan shook her head furiously at her.
"There is no what if…he made it. Your dad is alright,"
"Our plane is waiting and I haven't moved a muscle,"
"Come on…I'll help,"
……………………………………………
"Brooke if you come with us…you know you have to tell them you're married," Peyton said as they sat on the plane that was getting ready for take off.
"I know," she said faintly as unshed tears rested on her eyes.
"And you know you may never come back," Haley whispered and Brooke's hands as she let out a strangled sob. "You didn't tell Lucas, did you?"
"I couldn't…"
"Haley the same goes for you too," Rachel said.
She looked out the window because she knew it was true. She'll have to stay in Charleston with her family because, if she was being truthful, she was tired of hiding. Almost losing her father has shown her what she almost lost. Yes it would break her heart to leave Nathan but he would have to understand.
Family always came first.
At least for a James.
………………………………………….
Steph!