Chapter 411: Beaulieu Manor
Friday, February 10th, Afternoon
These were the afternoons when the staff at Beaulieu gave them their final instructions and went over their current projects. Once that was done, she would head up to her office.
In her office, Brooke started to pack up her briefcase. Looking up, Brooke saw Sam Walker standing at the door. After a sigh, Brooke stopped packing her briefcase.
"Yes, Sam," Brooke said.
"The cars have been dispatched to pick up Bobbi and Brett," Sam said.
"Okay; have we heard from Ellie?" Brooke asked.
"No," Sam said.
Brooke nodded, "Have you sent anyone over there to see if she's awake?" she asked.
"I asked Sawyer to check on her," Sam said.
"Damn! Ellie is obsessed," Brooke said.
"She's always been that way, but what would she be obsessed with this time?" Sam asked.
"That damn club in the old church," Brooke said.
Sam nodded, "Absolution; I wonder why she would be obsessed with the club?" she asked.
Brooke shook her head, "I don't know why she gets obsessed, but it's some article she's writing," she said.
"Well, that's Ellie; if I remember, she's always been the tough one of the Scotts," Sam said.
"Yeah, she kind of got that from both her parents," Brooke said.
"Yeah, but I didn't know her parents when they were younger," Sam said.
"Peyton had a lot of stuff to work through. I had shitty parents, and well, Lucas wasn't as nice as he would seem," Brooke said and went back to packing her briefcase.
"What does that mean?" Sam asked.
"Have you read any of Lucas's books?" Brooke asked.
"No, not really," Sam said.
"You're probably one of the few people that live here that's not read any of his books," Brooke said.
"Anyway, not my type of books," Sam said.
"What type of books do you like?" Brooke asked.
"Joe Hill," Sam said shrugged, "From what I understand, I've lived it, so why re-live it?"
"You have a point there," Brooke said.
"Well, is this going to be a typical week?" Sam asked.
"Probably busier," Brooke said and finished packing.
"Isn't it always," Sam said dryly.
"You have your stuff packed?" Brooke asked.
"Yes, I do," Sam said.
"Good, get it, let's see what's taking Ellie so long," Brooke said.
"Not everyone is a Type A like you, Brooke," Sam said.
Brooke made a face, "Mmm, funny thing, Ellie can be," she said, closed her briefcase, and picked it up from her desk.
"Then let's do it," Sam said and left the door.
Brooke left her office and shut off the light. Sam followed Brooke dragging her suitcase, briefcase, and garment bag. They made their way through the various buildings and galleries of the West Range, and about halfway across the North Range, Brooke stopped and looked at Sam.
"Maybe, I should get a golf cart or something to go across the complex," Brooke said.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Sam said.
"Let me help you," Brooke said.
"Help me with what?" Sam asked.
"Your bags," Brooke said.
"You don't have to," Sam said.
"I know, but I want to," Brooke said.
"Okay," Sam said and offered her garment bag.
Brooke smiled and took the garment bag. The two women started to head off again. Soon, they passed into the East Range. They passed down a Gallery to the Main Foyer of the East Range. Ellie was standing there with her bags.
"You're awake," Sam said.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Ellie asked back.
"Well, because you're unreliable," Sam said.
"Right, I've been up, showered, dressed, packed, and here waiting for Y'all," Ellie said.
Brooke smiled and hung Sam's garment bag next to hers and Ellie's in the Foyer. She walked over to Ellie and put her hand on Ellie's shoulder.
"I knew you'd be ready," Brooke said.
"You did?" Sam asked.
"Yeah," Brooke said.
"You were asking about her being ready," Sam said.
"It's called trust but verify," Brooke said.
"Gee, thanks, Aunt Brooke," Ellie said.
"That's how you survive in business," Brooke said.
"Right," Ellie said.
Brooke nodded and looked over to Sam. "So, when is our ride coming?" she asked.
"Mina should be coming around any moment now," Sam said.
"Mina?" Brooke asked.
"Lucas will bring the girls home. Mina brought Nomi and Ellis to the high school," Sam said.
"Okay, I wonder why he did that?" Brooke asked.
"It's my dad being my dad," Ellie said.
"That sounds like him," Brooke said, "Do we know when Izzy gets into town?"
"With what seems to be going on in Europe, probably later tonight," Sam said.
Brooke made a face. "I would've liked to see her before we left," she said.
"Why, Izzy?" Ellie asked.
"Out of my three daughters that live in Tree Hill, I see her the least," Brooke said.
"Yeah, I guess," Ellie said.
The door to the drive opened, and Mina stood there. The driver looked over the three ladies. "Are we ready?" Mina asked.
"Yes, we are," Brooke said.
Mina walked up a few steps and collected a bag in each hand. Slowly, Mina turned around and walked out of the Foyer. Brooke grabbed her briefcase, garment bag and followed. Ellie shrugged, picked up her suitcase, garment bag, and followed Brooke. Sam shook her head, picked up her stuff, and went out to the drive.
At the back of the car, Mina was putting the bags into the trunk. Sam waited with Brooke and Ellie to hand over their bags. Watching, Sam couldn't believe how Mina was able to place all their bags into the trunk. Once finished, Mina herded them to the back seat and held the door for them.
Once Brooke, Ellie, and Sam were situated in the back of the limo, Mina closed the door behind them. Sam watched as Mina went around the car and got behind the wheel.
"Who is getting Bobbi and Brett?" Brooke asked.
"Alene is picking up Bobbi-Lee, and Burton is getting Brett," Mina said.
"Good choices for them," Brooke said.
"We try our best," Mina said.
"So, you know where we're going?" Brooke asked.
"The airport, the private aircraft terminal," Mina said.
"Okay," Brooke said.
"Brooke, you don't have to be so anxious," Sam said.
"I always get this way before a show," Brooke said.
"You've got this, Aunt Brooke," Ellie said.
"Thank you, I know, but I can't help it," Brooke said.
"Are we all set?" Mina asked.
"Yes, we are," Brooke said.
"Buckle up," Mina said, with a laugh, and put the limo into gear.
Off they went, and Sam leaned back into the jump seat. She studied the two other women. Brooke pulled out a small notebook and her smartphone and started working on something. Ellie sat in her seat and looked out the window aimlessly. That was one thing that drove Sam crazy about Ellie. People said that Ellie was always engaged and on point. Sam's experience was that Ellie never seemed to be working.
The sound of the car tires changed as they left the gravel. Sam listened as the sound changed as they left the driver's pavers to the asphalt of the main entrance road. A ninety-degree turn indicated they were on the main road, as did the pick-up in speed. They were off to the airport.
