Chapter Eight
I quickly learned that listening behind doors was the only way to get information.
"In some ways he's the perfect man for me," I heard Brooke's voice say one day.
"But..?" said Mom in expectation.
"No, really. He's so charming and sweet, and sexy. And he understands me more than most do. And most of the time he makes me happy, and he's a great father to Kylie," she said.
"Brooke what are you getting at?" asked Mom.
"Sometimes I think I should have married Mouth," she admitted.
"I always thought that," said Mom.
"I knew you did. But we were too young," she said.
"You could have grown! And maybe it's not too late," comforted Mom.
"He asked me too early. I couldn't turn him down and just go back to the way things were. And trust me, it's too late," she said. I could hear tears in her voice.
"What, he doesn't love you anymore?" asked Mom in surprise. Judging by the looks he gave her, I'd agree with Mom: he most definitely still loved her.
"No, at the wedding he declared undying love. Or something. But I'm married, Peyton. I can't leave him," she said. I peered through a crack in the door and saw her glance down at her diamond.
"Actually, if he doesn't make you happy, you can," said Mom.
"I can't, honestly," repeated Brooke.
"What are you talking about?"
"There was a pre-nup," she said slowly.
"What? Well, so what if you don't have money. We'll help you and Kylie out," promised Mom.
"No, it's worse. See I was pregnant before we got married…" she started.
"No you weren't," interrupted Mom.
"Actually I was. I lost it, I just never told anyone. So I went to him, and told him I was pregnant. And he said he'd only marry me if I signed an agreement so he showed it to me and I read it, and…" Brooke was having trouble getting the words out in between her jagged breaths.
"What is it?" asked Mom. I held my breath, suspecting I knew.
"It said that he could divorce me without giving me anything. That the children would go to him," she choked.
"Why the hell did you sign that?" asked Mom in alarm.
"I had to. I was pregnant," she sobbed.
"There's no more to it? Why would he come up with an agreement like that anyway?" wondered Mom aloud.
"Because he loves me, I think."
"Dear God. He made you, didn't he? Did he force you to sign it?" asked Mom in alarm.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"Does he ever hurt you?"
"Barely ever."
"Barely? Recently?" asked Mom. I swallowed a shaky breath and willed myself to gain the courage to glance back into the room. I saw Brooke rolled down the shoulder of her blouse, revealing a bruise on her shoulder. I stifled a gasp.
"You can't stay with someone like that," said Mom. I could see her begin to cry as well.
"I have to. I need Kylie, she's more important than this. And I can't leave her with him. I mean, who could?"
"Do you think he's faithful?"
"Yes, I'm sure of it," said Brooke.
"Why?"
"Because he loves me. I know that's why he made me sign that thing. In some weird, twisted way he's madly in love with me. And in some ways, I am with him," she admitted.
"How?"
"You can't choose who you fall in love with. You know that Peyton," said Brooke.
"I wish we could," said Mom, laughing dryly.
"It would make life easier. Haley told me that Callie found out about you and Luke? Did she find out about Nikki?" asked Brooke.
"No, thankfully. If she knew…" said Mom. I inched the door slight more open, and it creaked on its hinges. Both heads swiveled in my direction.
"Calista Brooklyn Jagielski!" fired out Mom. I hung my head guiltily.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. Brooke came to me, took my hand and led me into the room.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that," said Auntie Brooke.
"I am as well. Who's Nikki?" I asked again.
"I already told you," said Mom.
"That doesn't make sense. If she was just an ex-girlfriend of Daddy, she wouldn't be so important. I mean, you used to date Uncle Nathan but now you're just friends and it doesn't matter anymore," I said defensively.
"That's different," she said.
"How?"
"Nathan and I were together because of the right reasons, and we were never in love," she said.
"So it was just for sex?" I asked.
"Callie!" exclaimed Mom.
"I'm not a baby, Mom. Just tell me-how bad could it possibly be?" I whined.
"It's Daddy's news, not mine. And while we're on the subject of lies, what about your own?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked in annoyance.
"Rhys and Jenny are back together, aren't they?" asked Mom. I sighed.
"Yes, whatever. But I never lied to you about that," I said.
"Fair enough, but I never lied to you about this!" she defended. I rolled my eyes and left the room.
Once in my own room, I walked to the computer on my desk and opened up a browser. Nervously I found an online phone book and typed in her name-Nicole Turner. There was only one in North Carolina. She lived in Charlotte. A drivable distance.
Jenny came up behind me and gasped.
"What are you planning?" she asked.
"Exactly what you think I'm planning. Come on," I ordered.
We left a note on her bed and packed, tiptoeing out of the house without even telling Lauren. Once outside, we sped towards our car and drove down the block.
I screeched to a stop when I saw Sawyer shooting hoops outside of their house. He jogged to the car and leaned into the open window.
"Where are you going?" he asked in confusion.
"Charlotte. You coming?" I asked. He glanced from me to Jenny, his gaze staying on her the longest. He nodded.
"Hell yes. Let's go."
