I dropped the shirt I was holding and absorbed every word coming out of the
speaker.
"Oh Brooke!" Karen's voice was heard clearly. She either had or was crying. I couldn't tell at the moment. "Lucas called me and told me what was going on!" Sobs were heard. Yes, she was definitely crying. "Are you ok? Is the baby ok? Do you need any help? I'm so sorry I'm ranting. And that it's 2:00 in the morning. This is so big Brooke. How can you keep Lucas away? He's the father for crying out loud." A shaky sigh was heard before she continued. "Brooke I really just think you need to think about this. It's the hormones; I've been there. (Pause) Please just when you get this come see me. It would mean a lot to me. Bye."
It beeped I rolled my eyes. "He's the father for crying out loud," I mocked. "Father my ass." I was going to see Karen though. She had gone through the same situation almost. Except Dan didn't try to be in Lucas's life. Not that I knew of, of course.
I sighed and threw on some pants and a black hoodie with white words on it that said 'Nirvana'. I had always loved their band. My favorite song was definitely Come As You Are. I entered the bathroom and threw my hair up in a ponytail. I definitely needed to let me hair grow out some. It was spiked in the ponytail, sure sign. But who cared? I didn't. I put on a little bit of makeup and threw on my tennis shoes before slipping out the front door unnoticed.
I was very nervous about seeing Karen. What if she hated me? I couldn't believe Lucas waited this long to tell her! He was the responsible one for crying out loud! Oh god. I sounded like Karen. Bad, very bad. The bell dinged as I slipped in and a few heads turned in my direction. I put on my best fake smile and walked to the counter.
Deb smiled at me and asked me what I wanted.
"Um, orange juice would be really nice," I replied pulling the hoodie sleeves over my hands nervously.
She poured me a glass generously and I started to sip at it. I wasn't hungry today. Karen exited from the back and I felt my heart slow. She was going to kill me! She noticed me right off the back and practically ran to my side. I stiffed as she threw her arms around me. Ok, maybe not.
"Brooke, are you ok?" she asked teary eyed as she scanned me for any sign.
"Of course I'm ok," I said perkily.
"You don't have to pretend," she stared into my eyes. It felt as if she could see right through me. And she was right. I didn't have to pretend I was ok.
"I'm horrible," I admitted softly. I let a tear escape as I tucked some of my falling hair behind her my ears. Karen took me in her arms like a mother. I guess I thought of her as one. By now we were both crying, and she told Deb to take over as we walked over and sat in a booth towards the back.
"Brooke," she sighed across from me. "I want you to tell me everything."
So I told her everything. Every event, every moment, every feeling. And it felt good. Maybe I needed to let my emotions out after all. Of course, I never wanted to listen to the therapist. "And my parents are getting a divorce. My mom's going to stay with me, and daddy's moving somewhere in the middle of Europe. And the thing is, I'm happy about. Am I horrible for that?"
"Not at all," she shook her head. "My parents got divorced when I was 12."
"I didn't know that," I stirred the straw in my orange juice. I was learning a lot about the mysterious Karen Roe.
She leaned back and sighed looking out of the window. "I don't tell many people."
I realized then that I had earned her trust. I, Brooke Davis, was trusted. "Oh." I glanced at my watch and realized it was 1:30. "I um, better get back to my mom. Daddy's leaving in an hour and I do believe more yelling is in order."
Her face fell a bit I noticed. She got up and hugged me, this time I hugged back. "You call me if you need anything at all, do you hear me? And as for Lucas...I can't speak for his actions, but I think you should get in touch with him. If he says he loves you, I'm sure he wouldn't lie about that."
"He told me he gave a rat's ass about me," I said pulling back with a tear. "He lied about that."
"Just think about it okay?" she tousled my hair a bit. "And update me on my grandchild."
"I will," I smiled slightly wiping the tear away and leaving. God what a day. Now I had to go home and face my dad once again. Yeah, he was definitely going to yell. I got in my car and started to sing along to Avril Lavigne's song 'My Happy Ending'.
"You were everything, everything that I wanted. We were meant to be, supposed to be but we lost it. All of the memories so close to me just fade away. All this time you were pretending, so much for my happy ending," I got sucked into the song. I immediately decided I liked it as I pulled into my large driveway.
My dad was already loading stuff in his limo when I got out. Diane was standing on the balcony to the master bedroom. She gave a weak smile when I looked up to her. Richard turned to me and stared for quite some time. Finally, he turned away without a word and got in the back seat. He was already leaving? The limo pulled out before I even realized what was happening.
I started to cry as my mother came down and put an arm around me. He didn't even say goodbye! He hated me! He really hated me! "He hates me mom," I sobbed on her shoulder.
"Shh, shh, darling," she told me as she pulled me inside with her. "Your father doesn't hate you. This divorce was our decision. And if he can't accept the fact that you're pregnant, then he'll just have to get over it. We all make mistakes Brooklyn. Even your father and I. I love him, but I'm not in love with him. I have supported all of your decisions thus far, and I will continue supporting you. You're my one and only daughter and nothing can change that."
I couldn't believe my mother was saying these things! I never knew she even cared about me until this morning. Maybe she wasn't the selfish, self- centered bitch I thought she was. "I'm so sorry mom. I screwed up big time."
Diane nodded starting to cry with me. "I love you so much Brooklyn." She kissed the top of my head and we went into the kitchen. "Are you hungry? You might not think so, but your mother can cook like a pro."
I chuckled a little and I watched her start grabbing all kinds of foods. Obviously we were having a feast. "I'm starving," I smiled helping her open various things.
We spent the rest of the day cooking together and talking about everything. I spilled my heart to her, and surprisingly, she was interested in my little dramatic world. That was all it had been for a long time. Drama.
But that was not going to be the case anymore. I was going to make sure, from that day, that I would live my life happy and peacefully.
That was 18 months ago. A year and 6 months ago. I still go by that vow till this very day. I'm now living in my same house, with the same pool, and the same golden retriever outside. I consider my life perfect. Because it is. Diane got married and moved to Mexico. I'm glad she's happy. I heard Nathan and Haley are expecting a baby boy. A home birth, Haley says, in her small house on the outskirts of Orange County. Home birth my ass. As much pain as I was in, I'm sure she'd want a hospital. I haven't seen or heard from Peyton, thankfully. Lucas tries calling all the time, but I don't answer. My 9-month-old daughter, Tess, doesn't need him. She has me. And I have her. What more could anyone ask for?
"Oh Brooke!" Karen's voice was heard clearly. She either had or was crying. I couldn't tell at the moment. "Lucas called me and told me what was going on!" Sobs were heard. Yes, she was definitely crying. "Are you ok? Is the baby ok? Do you need any help? I'm so sorry I'm ranting. And that it's 2:00 in the morning. This is so big Brooke. How can you keep Lucas away? He's the father for crying out loud." A shaky sigh was heard before she continued. "Brooke I really just think you need to think about this. It's the hormones; I've been there. (Pause) Please just when you get this come see me. It would mean a lot to me. Bye."
It beeped I rolled my eyes. "He's the father for crying out loud," I mocked. "Father my ass." I was going to see Karen though. She had gone through the same situation almost. Except Dan didn't try to be in Lucas's life. Not that I knew of, of course.
I sighed and threw on some pants and a black hoodie with white words on it that said 'Nirvana'. I had always loved their band. My favorite song was definitely Come As You Are. I entered the bathroom and threw my hair up in a ponytail. I definitely needed to let me hair grow out some. It was spiked in the ponytail, sure sign. But who cared? I didn't. I put on a little bit of makeup and threw on my tennis shoes before slipping out the front door unnoticed.
I was very nervous about seeing Karen. What if she hated me? I couldn't believe Lucas waited this long to tell her! He was the responsible one for crying out loud! Oh god. I sounded like Karen. Bad, very bad. The bell dinged as I slipped in and a few heads turned in my direction. I put on my best fake smile and walked to the counter.
Deb smiled at me and asked me what I wanted.
"Um, orange juice would be really nice," I replied pulling the hoodie sleeves over my hands nervously.
She poured me a glass generously and I started to sip at it. I wasn't hungry today. Karen exited from the back and I felt my heart slow. She was going to kill me! She noticed me right off the back and practically ran to my side. I stiffed as she threw her arms around me. Ok, maybe not.
"Brooke, are you ok?" she asked teary eyed as she scanned me for any sign.
"Of course I'm ok," I said perkily.
"You don't have to pretend," she stared into my eyes. It felt as if she could see right through me. And she was right. I didn't have to pretend I was ok.
"I'm horrible," I admitted softly. I let a tear escape as I tucked some of my falling hair behind her my ears. Karen took me in her arms like a mother. I guess I thought of her as one. By now we were both crying, and she told Deb to take over as we walked over and sat in a booth towards the back.
"Brooke," she sighed across from me. "I want you to tell me everything."
So I told her everything. Every event, every moment, every feeling. And it felt good. Maybe I needed to let my emotions out after all. Of course, I never wanted to listen to the therapist. "And my parents are getting a divorce. My mom's going to stay with me, and daddy's moving somewhere in the middle of Europe. And the thing is, I'm happy about. Am I horrible for that?"
"Not at all," she shook her head. "My parents got divorced when I was 12."
"I didn't know that," I stirred the straw in my orange juice. I was learning a lot about the mysterious Karen Roe.
She leaned back and sighed looking out of the window. "I don't tell many people."
I realized then that I had earned her trust. I, Brooke Davis, was trusted. "Oh." I glanced at my watch and realized it was 1:30. "I um, better get back to my mom. Daddy's leaving in an hour and I do believe more yelling is in order."
Her face fell a bit I noticed. She got up and hugged me, this time I hugged back. "You call me if you need anything at all, do you hear me? And as for Lucas...I can't speak for his actions, but I think you should get in touch with him. If he says he loves you, I'm sure he wouldn't lie about that."
"He told me he gave a rat's ass about me," I said pulling back with a tear. "He lied about that."
"Just think about it okay?" she tousled my hair a bit. "And update me on my grandchild."
"I will," I smiled slightly wiping the tear away and leaving. God what a day. Now I had to go home and face my dad once again. Yeah, he was definitely going to yell. I got in my car and started to sing along to Avril Lavigne's song 'My Happy Ending'.
"You were everything, everything that I wanted. We were meant to be, supposed to be but we lost it. All of the memories so close to me just fade away. All this time you were pretending, so much for my happy ending," I got sucked into the song. I immediately decided I liked it as I pulled into my large driveway.
My dad was already loading stuff in his limo when I got out. Diane was standing on the balcony to the master bedroom. She gave a weak smile when I looked up to her. Richard turned to me and stared for quite some time. Finally, he turned away without a word and got in the back seat. He was already leaving? The limo pulled out before I even realized what was happening.
I started to cry as my mother came down and put an arm around me. He didn't even say goodbye! He hated me! He really hated me! "He hates me mom," I sobbed on her shoulder.
"Shh, shh, darling," she told me as she pulled me inside with her. "Your father doesn't hate you. This divorce was our decision. And if he can't accept the fact that you're pregnant, then he'll just have to get over it. We all make mistakes Brooklyn. Even your father and I. I love him, but I'm not in love with him. I have supported all of your decisions thus far, and I will continue supporting you. You're my one and only daughter and nothing can change that."
I couldn't believe my mother was saying these things! I never knew she even cared about me until this morning. Maybe she wasn't the selfish, self- centered bitch I thought she was. "I'm so sorry mom. I screwed up big time."
Diane nodded starting to cry with me. "I love you so much Brooklyn." She kissed the top of my head and we went into the kitchen. "Are you hungry? You might not think so, but your mother can cook like a pro."
I chuckled a little and I watched her start grabbing all kinds of foods. Obviously we were having a feast. "I'm starving," I smiled helping her open various things.
We spent the rest of the day cooking together and talking about everything. I spilled my heart to her, and surprisingly, she was interested in my little dramatic world. That was all it had been for a long time. Drama.
But that was not going to be the case anymore. I was going to make sure, from that day, that I would live my life happy and peacefully.
That was 18 months ago. A year and 6 months ago. I still go by that vow till this very day. I'm now living in my same house, with the same pool, and the same golden retriever outside. I consider my life perfect. Because it is. Diane got married and moved to Mexico. I'm glad she's happy. I heard Nathan and Haley are expecting a baby boy. A home birth, Haley says, in her small house on the outskirts of Orange County. Home birth my ass. As much pain as I was in, I'm sure she'd want a hospital. I haven't seen or heard from Peyton, thankfully. Lucas tries calling all the time, but I don't answer. My 9-month-old daughter, Tess, doesn't need him. She has me. And I have her. What more could anyone ask for?