Chapter 12
Dillon and Brook Lynn were talking in the den.
"Ugh," Brook said. "I hate wearing dresses."
"I hate wearing my hair like this," Dillon told her.
"Yeah, but it's only your hair. Look at me!"
"ONLY my hair?" Dillon asked. "Do you know how much of my money goes towards hair products? My mom can't be bothered with those expenses."
Brook laughed. "She does have a point."
"My mom can be bothered with paying for film school either."
"Okay, you win."
The two stared at each other.
"So, um, do I look ridiculous or what?" Brook asked.
"No, of course not."
"I feel like I'm going to prom. God! I hate wearing dresses."
"Did your mom say you had to wear one?"
Brook nodded. "She picked it out ahead of time and everything."
"Oh," Dillon said.
"So have you ever witnessed a Quartermaine gathering?"
"More than I wish I had."
"That bad, huh?"
"At least you are not going to be bored," Dillon told her.
Lois entered.
"Hi you two! Oh Brookie, you look wonderful in that dress!"
"I hate it," she groaned.
"Well, you look incredible," Lois said. "And, my Dillon, aren't you handsome?"
"Oh Ma, please be quiet."
Lois laughed. "Are you two ready to leave? The limousines are waiting outside."
"We're ready," Brook said.
"Good! Let's go. Dillon, you'll be riding with me, Brookie, Ned, and well, and…" Lois trailed off.
"And?" Brook asked.
"Oh no," said Dillon. "Not my mother. Are you serious?"
Lois nodded. "Your mother and Luke will be with us. Mr. Q., Alan, Monica, Emily, and Skye are all traveling together."
"No room for Granny?" Brook asked, pretending that she had no intentions of talking to Tracy later.
"Now, Brookie, you know I am not particularly fond of your grandmother. All right. I can't stand the woman sometimes. No offense, Dillon."
"None taken. I understand completely."
Lois smiled slightly. "Anyhoo! She is still your grandmother, and she is going to travel with us. Metro Court is not far away, so we should all be able to control ourselves."
Tracy barged in.
"Why do you all insist on keeping me waiting? Are we leaving or not?"
Luke came up behind her. "Ready?" he asked as he held his arm out. "Damnit, Luke Spencer! Must you always sneak up on me like that?""Yes," he said.
Tracy mumbled, "That was a rhetorical question."
"A what?"
"Never mind. Never mind. And yes, I am ready."
"We're all ready," Lois said.
Chapter 13
Edward, Alan, Monica, Emily, and Skye were all sitting in the limousine. No one was saying anything.
"Well!" Skye said, breaking the silence. "It turned out to be quite a nice day after all, didn't it?"
"Yes," said Emily. "I think the sunshine after the rain was what we all needed"
"Your grandmother loved the sunshine," Edward said.
Everyone became silent.
"So! It was really nice of Lois to organize this today," Skye broke the silence.
"I think so too," Emily said.
"I'm sure your grandmother would agree," Edward said.
"All right," replied Skye. "Is it just me or is this a little awkward?"
"It's not just you, sweetheart," Alan told her.
"I told you all we weren't a family," Monica said. "We just live in the same house."
"Well, I didn't live there for awhile," Skye said.
"You do now," Monica retorted.
"And even if you didn't live with us, you would be welcomed any time," Alan added.
"Says who? It's my house," Monica replied.
Emily answered, "Yes, Dad, we know you gave it to her."
Everyone chuckled.
"Mom?" Emily asked. "I know you and Skye aren't on good terms, but can you set your differences aside for today?"
"Of course."
Monica and Skye looked at each other.
Monica swallowed. "I apologize."
Skye nodded as a gesture of acceptance.
Alan was staring out the window.
"Dad, are you okay?" Emily asked.
Alan didn't answer.
"Dad?" Emily asked.
Alan turned around. He had tears in her eyes.
"I was just thinking about your grandmother," he said.
Chapter 14
Meanwhile, Tracy, Luke, Ned, Lois, Brook, and Dillon were riding in the other limousine. They were also very quiet.
"So Ned…Why exactly did your ex-wife set this up again? To irritate me?"
Lois spoke sarcastically, "Yes, Tracy. I went through all this trouble just to irritate you." She paused. "You know not everything is about you."
Tracy smiled. "You ought to tell little Emily that."
Dillon asked, "How did Emily become a part of this conversation?"
"Mother will take any chance she can to degrade Emily. Makes her feel better about herself."
"All right, that is enough," Brook Lynn announced. "Leave her alone."
Everyone looked at her strangely.
"You're defending my mom?" Dillon asked.
"Why aren't you?" Luke asked.
Tracy looked at Luke admirably.
"She's your husband," Dillon retorted.
"Dillon," Tracy said in a motherly tone. "You better watch that mouth of yours."
"What I wanted to say," interrupted Brook Lynn, "is I just don't think today is a good day to be hard on anyone."
"I agree, baby," Lois told her. "Perhaps we can all try to be civil to one another."
"No guarantees," Ned said.
"Yeah," laughed Tracy. To Lois, she said, "Especially since it was your brilliant idea to gather us in the first place."
"Mom! Come on! What did Brook and Lois say?"
"Why should I listen to them? Why should I listen to any of you?"
"Because we're your family, Granny," Brook gritted through her teeth.
"Since when do YOU care about the family? My precious Dillon knows more about the Quartermaine ways than you."
Ned and Dillon looked at each other.
"At least my son has the decency to show up for family meetings."
"Leave my Brookie alone."
"Ugh! Can you please stop calling her that? It is SO irksome."
"I am going to have to agree with Granny on that on, Ma."
"What, baby? I thought you liked that."
"Well, I don't."
"Well, why didn't you tell me?"
"Look, Ma, it doesn't matter anymore. Can we please just try to get along?"
"Is she kidding?" Luke asked Tracy. "You people couldn't get along if your lives depended on it."
Tracy glared at Luke. "We make do just fine. I don't need an outsider making ruthless comments about my family. "
"I am not an outside. I'm your husband."
Tracy sighed. "Not by choice."
"You have to admit…being married to me isn't all that bad."
"Ooh!" Lois interrupted by clapping her hands. "I have an idea."
"Oh great," Tracy said. "Is it as good as your last one?"
Lois ignored her.
"What do you have in mind?" Ned asked Lois.
"We'll see how long anyone of us can go without saying something uncalled for."
"Ha!" Tracy said. "What's in it for me?"
"Well, nothing, actually. How does a pat on the back sound?"
"I'd rather go to Kelly's," Tracy said.
"My respect," Dillon said out of the blue. "All the time."
"What?"
"If you do can be a decent human being tonight, Mom, you'll have my respect. I will respect you as my mother 365 days a year. Isn't that what you wanted?" he added rudely.
Tracy didn't understand where Dillon's suddenly hurtful comments were coming from. She responded, "Don't be ridiculous, darling. I already have your respect, and I most certainly didn't have to earn it. I am your mother. You will respect me regardless."
"Are you sure about that?" Ned asked.
"Oh no. Not you too," Tracy tossed her hands in the air. "No. The answer is no. I am not going to twiddle my thumbs the entire lunch, so I can have something I already have."
"Are you sure?" Ned asked again.
Tracy whispered, "You and Dillon both respect me. You're not very good at showing it, but you do, and I am…I am not…This is absurd…I…"
Tracy couldn't finish.
Luke shook his head in disappointment towards Ned and Dillon. "Tracy, you okay?"
Tracy bit her lip. "Just leave me alone."
PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 15 AND 16:
At Metro Court, the Quartermaines encounter Jax.
Once at the table, Tracy excuses herself, not realizing that she is being followed.