Chapter Twenty Nine

If Tomorrow Never Comes

The last few months of the school year went by slowly for the gang. The tension continued between the Scott family and the girls kept their distance from the Scott twins. Instead, Brooke focused on trying to convince Renée to give her guardianship of her baby sister, but it wasn't working. Renee had too many reasons about why she wouldn't be the perfect guardian and insisted on giving the baby up for adoption.

Brooke realized she had to talk to a higher source and went to talk to Deb. When she arrived at the house, she discovered Deb was the only one home since both of her daughters were out on dates with their boyfriends. Brooke was relieved since she wanted to talk to her alone and didn't want any interruptions.

As they settled down in the living room, Brooke looked around at the different layout. "You know, I don't think I will ever get used to someone else living here," she said as she sat down on the sofa. "I know my parents weren't around, but I still loved this house."

"I know what you mean," Deb replied. She let out a heavy sigh. "To be honest, I don't know why Dan and I bought this house when it was just the four of us." She corrected herself as she thought of her husband in jail. "Well, it's just the three of us now. But Millie is supposed to be graduating next year and Alex is talking about moving to Los Angeles to be closer to Julian. She is very close to him and it was so hard for her to see him get married."

"At least she has a better reason to leave than Nathan and Lucas do," Brooke snapped before realizing it was wrong to say it that way. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm still angry Lucas is moving back to Charlotte."

Deb couldn't blame her. "I know. I am too. I was just getting to know my nephews and now they are taking off. But it's not permanent. They are only going to be there for the summer. It's possible they will be back for their senior year."

"What if they want to stay in Charlotte permanently?" Brooke asked. "Then I will never get a chance to date Lucas." Realizing she had blurted out her deepest darkest secret, she became quiet. She looked at Deb for her reaction and she didn't look surprised. "You knew I wanted more than just a friendship with Lucas?"

Deb tried not to smile. "I believe everyone knows that you and Lucas both want to pursue a relationship, but you can't because your mother and his parents forbid it while you and Lucas are under the same roof. But maybe that rule won't be in effect since you two are now going to be in different households." Brooke was doubtful and Deb believed it was best to change the subject. "You didn't come over here to talk about you and Lucas. What's really on your mind?"

Brooke took a deep breath before she spoke. She told the story about her dad and Renée again and Deb just listened until the very end. Brooke waited for the shocked reaction, but there was none. "You already knew about this, didn't you?" Brooke asked.

"Yes, Karen already came and talked to me about your situation," Deb explained. "She wanted advice about how to handle this. She and Keith really do want help you and take your sister in, but they would have to go through proper channels."

"Like making sure Renée is okay with it?" Brooke asked. Deb nodded. "Good luck with that one. She seems pretty adamant about giving my sister up for adoption. She doesn't even want to consider allowing me to visit my sister. She thinks its best for me to go on with my life and forget about her. How can I do that? How can I forget my baby sister? I'm all she has left since her parents aren't willing to take care of her."

Deb admired Brooke's determination, but she also needed to face reality. "I think you're going to have to let us handle it. Keith and Karen has a better chance in getting her than you. After all, you're still in high school and then there's college. If you would be assigned guardianship of your sister, it would be like you're a teenage mother. You graduate high school next year. And what about your plans for college? Do you really want to put your life on hold right now for your little sister?"

To be honest, she hadn't thought it all the way through in case Keith and Karen were shot down. "No, but I will if I have to. Are you going to help me or not?"

Deb gave her a comforting smile. "Of course I will. I will do everything in my power to make sure your sister will be put in custody of the Scott family."

Brooke gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Deb."

Deb got serious. "Don't thank me yet. We have a long road ahead of us. It's probably best to get started right away. We have only a couple of months or so before Renée's due date and we don't know if she has already started the process to adopt your sister out to another couple."

"I don't think so. I think she is putting it off in hope for Richard to return to her," Brooke told her. "I can't imagine what is going to happen whenever she gets out of denial and she realizes that he isn't coming back."

"Is there a possible chance he is coming back for her or the baby?" Deb asked. Brooke shook her head. She knew he would have returned by now if he had changed his mind. Deb gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm so sorry, Brooke. I know how much you wanted to try and have a relationship with your dad."

"I was never going to have a relationship with him, no matter how hard I try," Brooke replied. "He is never going to accept the fact that I'm his daughter, but its okay. I don't need him." Deb just nodded her head. "What do we have to do first?"

A couple of hours later, Brooke was done visiting and she went shopping for a birthday present for Haley. Her birthday was coming up in a couple of weeks and she had no idea what to get her best friend. Usually, she was pretty good in coming up with gift ideas months in advance, but there had been a lot going on that she hadn't been able to even think about her birthday until now.

As Brooke wandered in and out of the stores, she heard her cell phone buzzing. Checking the id, she frowned when she didn't recognize the number. Yet, she felt in answering it anyway. "Hello?" she said, hoping it wasn't someone trying to scam her in thinking she had won a vacation or something. The person on the other end asked her to confirm that she was Brooke Davis. "Yes, this is she. Who is this?" she said as she began to wonder what this person is going to say next.

Once the person identified himself and the reason why he was calling, she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue on with the conversation especially after he told her the unexpected news. After getting over the shock, Brooke sprang into action. "I'll be right there," she told the person on the other end before hanging up the phone and heading towards the exit and out to the parking lot. Haley's birthday present would have to wait.

Yet, she knew she couldn't handle this news alone. She quickly texted Haley, told her what had happened and asked her if she could meet her at the hospital. She texted Karen and did the same thing, knowing they would both continue the chain and tell their friends.

Brooke was surprised she was able to drive to her destination in one piece. All she could think about on the drive over was her baby sister and prayed that she was doing well. It was too soon for the birth, but everything had changed when Renée had gotten into a horrible car accident and was possibly fighting for her life as well. The doctor didn't say much about her condition over the phone. He just told her to come to the hospital as soon as she could.

When she arrived at the building, she quickly found a parking spot before she hurried through the double doors and up to the front desk. The receptionist turned to her. "I'm Brooke Davis. Do you know where I can find Dr. Copeland?" she asked. "He called me and told me that something happened to my stepmother and possibly my baby sister." Even though Renée wasn't officially her stepmother, she knew it was the only way to get information.

"I'll see where he is and let him know you're looking for him. Why don't you have a seat in the waiting room?" the receptionist suggested.

Brooke just nodded as she sat down in one of the hard chairs and waited for Dr. Copeland or her friends. Or whoever would come first. Truthfully, she wanted Haley and Karen to come first. She didn't know if she could handle devastating news on her own. The minutes ticked by slowly and Brooke became more restless. Messages began to appear on her phone and she was comforted to know her friends were praying for her little sister.

Realization began to hit her that her baby sister was here – earlier than expected – but here. Her baby sister which she didn't really feel excited about in the beginning. After all, her father was willing to marry his mistress and raise this baby without even really considering he had another child. Now he didn't even want to acknowledge this child and she had to take care of her sister. However, that would be only if the baby would be able to make it through the next few weeks.

The other question was about Renée. How was she? Why did Dr. Copeland want her to wait until she came to the hospital to tell her Renée's condition? To her, that was a sign that clearly meant something was wrong.

Brooke looked up as she heard her name being called. To her relief, Haley had arrived with Lucas. They both embraced her in a hug as Lucas explained his mother sent him. Brooke didn't care whether Karen made it or not. She was just grateful they were there for her, but she didn't have much to tell them. "The doctor hasn't come and told me what's going on yet. I just know Renée was in a car accident and they had to do an emergency C-section on her to save my sister." Brooke tried to hold back tears as she thought of the situation. "It's way too early for her. What if she doesn't make it? I don't know if I would be able to handle that."

Lucas wrapped his arms around her for comfort. "Everything will be okay," he assured her. "Your sister will be fine."

"She doesn't even have a name yet," Brooke told him. "Richard and Renée never gave her one because they thought the baby was going to be a boy. And when Richard left Renée, she still refused to name her daughter."

"Well, it looks like it is up to you then," a familiar voice said. The three turned to see Deb and Millie, who must have arrived home after Brooke had left her house. There were more hugs as Brooke repeated the information she had given Haley and Lucas. "So there has been no word from this Dr. Copeland?" Brooke shook her head. "I'll see what is taking that doctor so long."

"There is no need. I'm here," Dr. Copeland said as he joined the group. Brooke now recognized the doctor as Renée's regular baby doctor. "Which one of you is Brooke Davis?"

"That would be me," Brooke replied, finding her voice. "Is my little sister okay?"

Dr. Copeland looked around at the worried and concerned faces. "I would rather discuss this with you in private."

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of them," Brooke told him. "They are my family too."

Dr. Copeland agreed. "Okay." He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "I'm sorry to tell you that your stepmother didn't make it. We did everything we could, but I'm afraid her injuries were just too severe." Brooke wasn't sure how to react to her death. She never really liked her, but she was still her sister's mother. "However, we were able to save your sister." Brooke was already aware of that and waited to see what he had to say about her. "She isn't out of the woods yet. Since she is premature, she does have a few problems." Brooke became worried as he rattled off a list of the issues she had. "But she is certainly a fighter."

Brooke felt a little better with his words. "Thank you, Dr. Copeland. Can I go and see her?"

Dr. Copeland nodded. "Of course. I'll take you to the NICU."

When they arrived to the right room, Brooke stood in the doorway for a moment. She had to hold back tears again when she saw how many incubators were in the room and the tiny babies who were fighting for their lives. Dr. Copeland led her to the incubator where her sister was. Brooke tried to remain strong as she saw all of the machines that were attached to the baby, but she felt so helpless.

Brooke managed to find her voice again. "Please tell me the truth. Do you really believe she will be alright?"

Dr. Copeland was quiet for a moment before he answered. "As I said, your little sister has quite a tough road ahead of her, but she seems to responding well to the medicine we've been giving her. I also would recommend you talking to her. I'm sure she would want to know she still had family." Brooke didn't answer as she turned back to her little sister. "I'll give you girls some privacy."

Brooke didn't respond as she watched her little sister sleep. She began to speak in a soft voice. "Hi, I'm Brooke. I'm your big sister. Or should I say half-sister? I tell you about how that all works another time. And I hate to say it, but you don't have a name yet. I guess I'm in charge of that now since your parents abandoned you. Don't worry. Your name won't be anything weird. I promise. It will be nice and normal like my name. I can't say the same thing for my middle name, Penelope. According to my mother, it's an old family name. I don't care what she says: I'm not continuing the tradition. You don't look like a Penelope." Brooke tried to think of the perfect name, but nothing came to her mind right then. "We'll find the right name for you. Right now, just concentrate on getting stronger so you can come home, okay?"