Dramatic Reunion
Tori was perched on the counter, taking Shane's usual spot as she watched Blake and Hunter work. Kelly hadn't scolded her for it, having given up long ago on trying to get either of them down. In the end it was the most out of the way, and gave her a perfect view of the entire store. Kelly was guarding the phone as she had for the past week or so, despite the fact that it hadn't rung much today, and she'd never hung up after reading the caller ID. Hunter was lugging boxes back and forth and looking irritated about it as usual. It was no secret that he'd rather be a mechanic, like Dustin. Blake was covering for Dustin while he was on break, helping customers and straightening displays when he had a free moment. Then there was Frank Brooks walking through the door.
She did a double take.
What was Frank doing here? Last Dustin had said anything, he'd been somewhere around Kentucky. She resisted the urge to scowl. She'd always liked Dustin's dad before, but things were finally settling again for Dustin. The last thing he needed was for his father to cause trouble, too.
"You may want to have your phone checked out, Kelly." Frank called with a pleasant smile. "It has this nasty habit of hanging up after the first ring."
"So *that's* who Kelly was screening." Hunter muttered behind her.
Kelly gave him a cool stare. "Maybe because I don't see a need to talk to you, Mr. Brooks."
Frank sighed, the smile fading. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to talk to Dustin."
"Not happening." Kelly retorted. "I'm not letting any of you near him again."
"You haven't even given me a chance."
"Why should I?" she shot back.
"I had nothing to do with Cassandra Kelly, you know that."
"Then why weren't you here earlier?"
"I was in Boston. Laura reached me the day before yesterday and I flew out here as soon as I was able to find the plane. I had no idea what was going on before that."
"Then you should have kept in better contact."
"Kelly, please don't make me take drastic measures. I just need to speak with Dustin."
Kelly just looked at him, unmoved.
He sighed again. "You leave me no choice." He turned and went out the door.
Tori had gone still, horror in her eyes as realization dawned. "He wouldn't..."
She was answered by a blur of red and pink, sobbing, wailing, and generally carrying on. Gwendolyn Radelle was saying *something* but even when she wasn't blubbering into her white linen handkerchief, the words weren't all that clear. She was lovely, with perfectly tanned skin and fine features dusted with smokey make-up. Her dark hair was piled on her head in an intricate series of knots, strands falling around either side of her face. She was dressed in a light pink silk shirt with ruffled sleeves, an ankle length pink and red skirt with a pattern of stripes and hearts, and red heels. A silver chain glimmered around her hips, and a silver necklace with a red stone accented her neck. It was easy to see which parent the Brooks children got their looks from.
Frank followed, taking her arm and patting it gently. She buried her face in his shoulder with another wail. "Kelly, just let us see Dustin."
Kelly was just as startled by the woman as everyone else was, but still she shook her head. "Not happening."
"Mom."
Tori turned to see Dustin in the doorway to the stockroom, Shane looking protective behind him. She slid off the counter, glancing toward Blake and Hunter to make sure they were ready to help her get them out of here at a moment's notice. Hunter was already moving toward the pair, while Blake looked at Gwendolyn skeptically.
Dustin sighed, walking past her. He touched the woman's shoulder gently. "It's okay, Mom. I'm fine. I'm here, okay?"
She looked up and threw herself into his arms with another wail.
He patted her back soothingly as she sobbed something into his sleeve. For the first time since the restaurant incident, Dustin was calm. Her hysterics if anything seemed to reassure him. "I know. I didn't want to spring it on you like that." he soothed.
More muffled words, and an answering smile that finally reached his eyes. "I forgive you." he murmured, as they suddenly hugged tightly. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear and got soft, teary laughter.
"I missed something again." Blake sighed softly to Tori's right.
Dustin pulled away a little, drying Gwendolyn's eyes. He stepped back to get a better look at her and sighed. "Dad, you're not supposed to let her out of the house like this."
She looked miffed. "It's off the rack!" A slight shudder at the thought as she finally spoke up clearly enough for everyone else to understand.
Dustin raised an eyebrow, pointing to the necklace. "Too dark to be fake."
"Can I help it if I like to look nice?" she asked, sniffling indignantly. "And I did dress casually."
"I think it's cute when your mother tries to look poor." Frank put in, smiling at her with genuine affection.
She blushed.
Dustin rolled his eyes, but he was practically glowing with happiness. "Are you two ever going to stop acting like newlyweds?"
"Can't be newlyweds if you're not married anymore." his mother returned with a beaming smile.
Kelly cleared her throat.
Dustin turned and offered an apologetic smile. "Uh, sorry Kel. Um, this is my mom, Gwendolyn Radelle."
Gwendolyn gave a warm smile and curtsied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kelly."
"Mom, this is Hunter and Blake Bradley." he added, gesturing to the pair.
She gave them another smile. "Charmed."
Hunter had the presence of mind to nod politely, but Blake just looked confused.
Gwendolyn's gaze shifted to her at last, and she squealed in delight. Tori found herself engulfed before she had a chance to blink. "Tori darling, how are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"
"I'm fine, Gwen."
She pulled back with another bright smile. "So who is this new boyfriend of yours Dustin was telling us about?"
Tori's eyes drifted over her shoulder to Dustin, who shrugged apologetically. "Blake." she answered with a patient smile.
That was all it took for her attentions to turn to Blake, who was also swept up in a hug. "Wonderful! I'm so glad our Tori's finally found someone! You're practically family now, so you must call me Gwen." She pulled away again, this time to frown at him. "Of course, if you break her heart I'll see that your entire family is run into the ground."
"Gwen..." Tori sighed in unison with Dustin's groan of "Mom..."
Instantly she was all smiles again, shifting to Hunter. "So you're Blake's older brother, then? Dustin's told me so much about you! This means you're family too, so don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."
Hunter nodded, looking somewhat flustered as she finally released him from her abrupt hug.
Gwendolyn looked around again, settling her gaze on Shane. "And you, young man." she said firmly, looking serious as she marched over to him. It was funny to see her glare at him; she was a good deal shorter than he was. "You had better take good care of my baby."
Shane nodded, looking just as serious as she was. "I promise, ma'am."
The next instant she was beaming again, squishing Shane down into a hug. "This is so wonderful!" she gushed. "I'm so happy my baby's finally got a boyfriend!"
"Dad, make her stop before like, none of my friends want to talk to me anymore." Dustin whined to his father.
Frank laughed, but obediently went to take Gwendolyn's arm again. "Honey, let Shane breathe."
She sighed dramatically, but released him anyway. "I suppose we should have that talk..."
Dustin looked at Kelly. "Extended lunch?" he asked hopefully.
Kelly didn't seem as reassured by Gwendolyn's dramatics as Dustin was. She hesitated before giving in to Dustin's pleading eyes. "Check back in when you're finished." she agreed begrudgingly.
"Wonderful!" Gwendolyn cheered. "I know the most perfect little café!"
"In Blue Bay Harbor, Mom." Dustin warned.
"Oh." She visibly deflated, then considered. "I suppose I can find something."
Frank chuckled, patting her arm. "I'm sure you will. Are you boys ready, or is there anything you need to do first?"
"Boys?" Shane echoed uncertainly.
"Of course, silly!" Gwendolyn informed him with another bright smile. She took his arm in hers. "You're family, remember? This concerns you, too."
Shane hesitated, then smiled at her. "Well, if you're not to set on something really fancy, I know a good place for lunch."
She beamed. "See? You already think like a Brooks." she declared as she dragged him out the door. Frank just followed with an amused smile. Dustin glanced back at Tori, flashed a happy grin, and went after them.
There was a moment of silence. "So that's where Dustin gets it." Hunter muttered at last.
Tori was perched on the counter, taking Shane's usual spot as she watched Blake and Hunter work. Kelly hadn't scolded her for it, having given up long ago on trying to get either of them down. In the end it was the most out of the way, and gave her a perfect view of the entire store. Kelly was guarding the phone as she had for the past week or so, despite the fact that it hadn't rung much today, and she'd never hung up after reading the caller ID. Hunter was lugging boxes back and forth and looking irritated about it as usual. It was no secret that he'd rather be a mechanic, like Dustin. Blake was covering for Dustin while he was on break, helping customers and straightening displays when he had a free moment. Then there was Frank Brooks walking through the door.
She did a double take.
What was Frank doing here? Last Dustin had said anything, he'd been somewhere around Kentucky. She resisted the urge to scowl. She'd always liked Dustin's dad before, but things were finally settling again for Dustin. The last thing he needed was for his father to cause trouble, too.
"You may want to have your phone checked out, Kelly." Frank called with a pleasant smile. "It has this nasty habit of hanging up after the first ring."
"So *that's* who Kelly was screening." Hunter muttered behind her.
Kelly gave him a cool stare. "Maybe because I don't see a need to talk to you, Mr. Brooks."
Frank sighed, the smile fading. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to talk to Dustin."
"Not happening." Kelly retorted. "I'm not letting any of you near him again."
"You haven't even given me a chance."
"Why should I?" she shot back.
"I had nothing to do with Cassandra Kelly, you know that."
"Then why weren't you here earlier?"
"I was in Boston. Laura reached me the day before yesterday and I flew out here as soon as I was able to find the plane. I had no idea what was going on before that."
"Then you should have kept in better contact."
"Kelly, please don't make me take drastic measures. I just need to speak with Dustin."
Kelly just looked at him, unmoved.
He sighed again. "You leave me no choice." He turned and went out the door.
Tori had gone still, horror in her eyes as realization dawned. "He wouldn't..."
She was answered by a blur of red and pink, sobbing, wailing, and generally carrying on. Gwendolyn Radelle was saying *something* but even when she wasn't blubbering into her white linen handkerchief, the words weren't all that clear. She was lovely, with perfectly tanned skin and fine features dusted with smokey make-up. Her dark hair was piled on her head in an intricate series of knots, strands falling around either side of her face. She was dressed in a light pink silk shirt with ruffled sleeves, an ankle length pink and red skirt with a pattern of stripes and hearts, and red heels. A silver chain glimmered around her hips, and a silver necklace with a red stone accented her neck. It was easy to see which parent the Brooks children got their looks from.
Frank followed, taking her arm and patting it gently. She buried her face in his shoulder with another wail. "Kelly, just let us see Dustin."
Kelly was just as startled by the woman as everyone else was, but still she shook her head. "Not happening."
"Mom."
Tori turned to see Dustin in the doorway to the stockroom, Shane looking protective behind him. She slid off the counter, glancing toward Blake and Hunter to make sure they were ready to help her get them out of here at a moment's notice. Hunter was already moving toward the pair, while Blake looked at Gwendolyn skeptically.
Dustin sighed, walking past her. He touched the woman's shoulder gently. "It's okay, Mom. I'm fine. I'm here, okay?"
She looked up and threw herself into his arms with another wail.
He patted her back soothingly as she sobbed something into his sleeve. For the first time since the restaurant incident, Dustin was calm. Her hysterics if anything seemed to reassure him. "I know. I didn't want to spring it on you like that." he soothed.
More muffled words, and an answering smile that finally reached his eyes. "I forgive you." he murmured, as they suddenly hugged tightly. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear and got soft, teary laughter.
"I missed something again." Blake sighed softly to Tori's right.
Dustin pulled away a little, drying Gwendolyn's eyes. He stepped back to get a better look at her and sighed. "Dad, you're not supposed to let her out of the house like this."
She looked miffed. "It's off the rack!" A slight shudder at the thought as she finally spoke up clearly enough for everyone else to understand.
Dustin raised an eyebrow, pointing to the necklace. "Too dark to be fake."
"Can I help it if I like to look nice?" she asked, sniffling indignantly. "And I did dress casually."
"I think it's cute when your mother tries to look poor." Frank put in, smiling at her with genuine affection.
She blushed.
Dustin rolled his eyes, but he was practically glowing with happiness. "Are you two ever going to stop acting like newlyweds?"
"Can't be newlyweds if you're not married anymore." his mother returned with a beaming smile.
Kelly cleared her throat.
Dustin turned and offered an apologetic smile. "Uh, sorry Kel. Um, this is my mom, Gwendolyn Radelle."
Gwendolyn gave a warm smile and curtsied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kelly."
"Mom, this is Hunter and Blake Bradley." he added, gesturing to the pair.
She gave them another smile. "Charmed."
Hunter had the presence of mind to nod politely, but Blake just looked confused.
Gwendolyn's gaze shifted to her at last, and she squealed in delight. Tori found herself engulfed before she had a chance to blink. "Tori darling, how are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"
"I'm fine, Gwen."
She pulled back with another bright smile. "So who is this new boyfriend of yours Dustin was telling us about?"
Tori's eyes drifted over her shoulder to Dustin, who shrugged apologetically. "Blake." she answered with a patient smile.
That was all it took for her attentions to turn to Blake, who was also swept up in a hug. "Wonderful! I'm so glad our Tori's finally found someone! You're practically family now, so you must call me Gwen." She pulled away again, this time to frown at him. "Of course, if you break her heart I'll see that your entire family is run into the ground."
"Gwen..." Tori sighed in unison with Dustin's groan of "Mom..."
Instantly she was all smiles again, shifting to Hunter. "So you're Blake's older brother, then? Dustin's told me so much about you! This means you're family too, so don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."
Hunter nodded, looking somewhat flustered as she finally released him from her abrupt hug.
Gwendolyn looked around again, settling her gaze on Shane. "And you, young man." she said firmly, looking serious as she marched over to him. It was funny to see her glare at him; she was a good deal shorter than he was. "You had better take good care of my baby."
Shane nodded, looking just as serious as she was. "I promise, ma'am."
The next instant she was beaming again, squishing Shane down into a hug. "This is so wonderful!" she gushed. "I'm so happy my baby's finally got a boyfriend!"
"Dad, make her stop before like, none of my friends want to talk to me anymore." Dustin whined to his father.
Frank laughed, but obediently went to take Gwendolyn's arm again. "Honey, let Shane breathe."
She sighed dramatically, but released him anyway. "I suppose we should have that talk..."
Dustin looked at Kelly. "Extended lunch?" he asked hopefully.
Kelly didn't seem as reassured by Gwendolyn's dramatics as Dustin was. She hesitated before giving in to Dustin's pleading eyes. "Check back in when you're finished." she agreed begrudgingly.
"Wonderful!" Gwendolyn cheered. "I know the most perfect little café!"
"In Blue Bay Harbor, Mom." Dustin warned.
"Oh." She visibly deflated, then considered. "I suppose I can find something."
Frank chuckled, patting her arm. "I'm sure you will. Are you boys ready, or is there anything you need to do first?"
"Boys?" Shane echoed uncertainly.
"Of course, silly!" Gwendolyn informed him with another bright smile. She took his arm in hers. "You're family, remember? This concerns you, too."
Shane hesitated, then smiled at her. "Well, if you're not to set on something really fancy, I know a good place for lunch."
She beamed. "See? You already think like a Brooks." she declared as she dragged him out the door. Frank just followed with an amused smile. Dustin glanced back at Tori, flashed a happy grin, and went after them.
There was a moment of silence. "So that's where Dustin gets it." Hunter muttered at last.