Brooke was torn over whether or not she should go back home. She knew that not going to the shower would upset Peyton, especially because they hadn't seen or even really spoken since Brooke's move. She missed Peyton and knew that Peyton missed her too. They had survived so much: two dead mothers, three absentee parents, Lucas, and Derek. Not being there to celebrate one of the most important events in Peyton's life wouldn't be fair. On the other hand though, Brooke knew that she had four daughters to think about. She couldn't leave them with Brianna, it wasn't fair. Brianna was probably going to the shower too, and then there would be nobody to watch the girls.
Despite the lack of babysitters, Brooke desperately wanted to be there with Peyton and Haley. She picked up the phone and dialed Haley's number for the first time in months.
After about four rings Brooke heard the voice of a young boy.
"Hello" said the small voice on the other end of the line.
Brooke smiled at Jaime, Nathan and Haley's son. He was seven five years old already.
"Hi James babe, it's Brooke. Can I talk to your mommy please?"
"Hi Aunt Brooke" the little boy chirped. "Hold on, I think Mommy is with Kylie."
Brooke heard the little boy place the phone down and run away. She couldn't believe how old Jaime was or that Nathan and Haley's second child Kylie was already two. Time had flown by.
"Brooke?!" She heard Haley say excitedly. "It's so good to hear from you! It's been forever."
"I know, I've been busy" Brooke replied.
"So, did you get the invitation? I think its going to be a lot of fun. She's due in August, so I figure it'll be like last time when most of us aren't mothers." Haley laughed. Brooke couldn't help but feel guilty. She hadn't told any of her old friends about the girls. Haley's children were their cousins and she was taking that from the kids.
"Yeah, I just don't know if I can come. You know, adult responsibilities." Brooke told Haley hoping that Haley wouldn't ask any questions.
"What, work? Brooke, one weekend. It'll be like old times."
Brooke hoped she could have a weekend that was like old times. She was strapped for cash all the time and was always feeding, cleaning or changing diapers. She had gone back to work at the firm she's started at. It was demanding and Brooke felt bad leaving the girls. She took them to the company daycare to save money and keep them close, but she still wished that she could do more for them.
"Maybe, but I really do have a lot that I can't just shove onto other people."
"What, a layout or two, Brooke it's Peyton's first kid. This is huge, you have no idea what it's like to be a mom. No time to yourself, we have to do this for her."
Brooke knew then that she could no longer keep her secret. She wouldn't be able to walk away from those friends she'd had her whole life. She made the decision to tell.
"I'll try my best, but why don't you come down one weekend before then so we can see each other and shop for baby gifts and stuff. It'll be fun Hales, you know you want to."
"Ugh, fine Brooke, I
guess I can leave the kids with Nathan for a weekend."
"Haley,
there is only two of them, he can definitely do it alone." Brooke
said speaking from experience. After all, she was doing it alone with
four.
Two weeks later Haley drove the two hours from her house to Brooke's. She pulled up and rang the bell. She was so excited for the girls weekend, no kids, just friends. Brooke had been so excited that Haley was coming to visit, but was completely unprepared when Haley showed up. Brooke was trying her best to clean up baby Emily after a very messy food fight. The other babies were already cleaned up and in their own respective cribs. They were seven months old and getting so big. They no longer slept beside Brooke, but in their own room next door. Brooke was wiping Emily's hands when she heard the door bell. She picked up Emily and answered the door.
"Brooke!!!" She heard Haley scream as she opened the door. When Haley saw the baby though, her excitement quickly fell. "and a baby?" Haley said when she saw Emily.
"Hi Hales. It is so great to see you I've missed you so much!" Brooke said excitedly, hoping Haley would snap out of her confused daze.
"Me too Brooke, who is this?" Hale asked stroking Emily's arm.
"This is Emily Danielle."
"Thanks Brooke. No really, is she yours?"
"Yeah, she is. I'm
sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't know how to. I didn't
know what you guys would think. I just left and kept the pregnancy a
secret."
"Brooke, I had my first kid when I first started
college and the second by the time I graduated. I don't think I am
allowed to judge. And plus, you probably needed help. I mean, you've
been doing this all alone. Unless, the father is here?"
"Nope, he doesn't even know. I, um, never told him. He and I had a one night thing. I just let him go and took care of myself and my family. But, you will be happy to know that Brianna has actually been a big help. She was great during the pregnancy. I stayed with her for like the last two months, she was incredible."
"Why didn't you stay here? Was it a bad pregnancy?"
"Um, I was on bed
rest for like 10 weeks. It was long and boring. It was worth it
though. A healthy baby is all that you really want."
"Yeah.
So, is Emily going to hang out with us, or is she going to take a nap
so we can chat?"
"She's totally napping. I was just cleaning
her up from a nasty food fight when you got here. She was supposed to
be down already. I'll just go put her down."
"Okay, mind if I come with you?" Haley asked.
Brooke shuddered knowing that Haley would find out sooner or later. "Sure" she replied, unsure if she was ready to face the truth.
Brooke opened the door to the nursery and Haley commented on the wall color. Then, Brooke opened the door fully revealing four cribs in a large room.
"Brooke, what is going on? I thought you were Emily's mom. Who are these other kids?" Haley asked before peering into the cribs. "Brooke, are they all yours? They all look the same-"
"Identical" Brooke said cutting Haley off. "They look identical"
"Yeah" Haley said in shock.
Brooke laid Emily down and kissed her cheek. "They look identical because they are identical. They are four identical girls, identical quadruplets."
"Oh my God Brooke! Identical quadruplets! What are the chances?"
"Oh, like one in ten million! I guess I was the lucky one, but holy shit!"
"I know Brooke, I know it has got to be so hard." Haley said pulling Brook in for a hug. The two stood in embrace for several minutes before Haley let go of her friend. "So, why don't you give me the tour and introduce me to everybody?"
"Ha, sure Hales. Come on."
Brooke took Haley back out into the hallway. Well, here is the one bathroom in the house. Now, follow me downstairs for a second. The two walked down the steps. That is my front door, and that is my living room. Through that door is the dining room and they other door is the kitchen. It's really messy in there right now, so I'm not going to show it to you. You will be sleeping in here on the pullout. My room is back upstairs, so come on. Brooke opened her door and showed Haley the room where she lived. It was a pale yellow and smaller than the nursery.
"Brooke, do they have the master bedroom?"
"Yeah, I figured that there are four of them and as long as I had space for a queen sized bed then I was fine. Four cribs would never fit in here. So want to go meet the girls? I'm not going to wake them, but I can tell you who is who."
"I'd love to meet them."
The two walked next door into the nursery. Brooke walked over to Alex's crib. "This is Alexandra Grace. She was the first one to be born. She has the sweetest smile and she is so loving toward everybody. This next little one is Emily Danielle. You already met her and she is so smart. She likes to examine different things. Then we have little Katherine Jane or just Kate. She is funny and outgoing. And last we've got Olivia Madison. Olivia is the baby of the group, but she is also the wild one."
"Wow. I'm impressed. So can you really tell them apart or is it just that you've got the cribs labeled?"
"The labeling helps, but I've got it down too. I also do color code them though. Like Alex is pink, Emily is Blue, Kate is Orange and Olivia is green. I used to write names on diapers too so that each kid got the diaper with their name. It was very tough though. So you want coffee or anything?"
"Sure Brooke. Thanks"
The two women walked downstairs and talked for hours. That night Haley and Brooke went out to dinner with the quadruplets and with Brianna. It was good to catch up. Then Haley and Brooke drank in the living room after the kids went to sleep. Brooke told Haley what it was like with quads and Haley told Brooke about work, Nathan and James and Kylie. The two laughed harder than either had in a long time. Before long, it was morning and Haley and Brooke were cooking breakfast.
"So, I know it might be a sore subject, but why don't you contact their dad. It isn't fair for him to miss out on one kid, let alone four. And plus, he could help out monetarily. Kids are really expensive."
"He has a family, a wife and stuff. It isn't fair for one night to ruin his family. I just don't want to do that to him."
"Brooke, it seems like you really care about him. And how many married guys do you know. I mean, you got pregnant what like the last month before graduation? So either it's Nathan or Luke or a random bar guy. I doubt it's Nathan, and I don't remember hearing about random bar guys. And you were one to kiss and tell, that only leaves Lucas. But you wouldn't sleep with Lucas, would you?"
Brooke stood in silence. Haley had figured her out in minutes.
"Brooke, Lucas?"
A tear slid down Brooke's cheek.
"Oh honey." Haley said pulling Brooke in for a hug. "I understand why you can't tell him. I can't believe that he cheated on Peyton though."
"Really? He cheated on me with her. Why would he do the same to her? Maybe he really isn't a good guy."
"Brooke, I think you don't even believe that. You know that if he knew about these girls that he would do anything to help. You could tell him in private, you know without Peyton. He may decide to tell her on his own. Or he'll send you money and you'll never talk about it. It sounds crazy and I know that, but you two probably aren't going to get together and I know you don't want to hurt Peyton or lose her, but it's a reality you have to face: She is married to the father of your children."
"Haley, I can't do
that to either of them. I know that I am struggling and that my girls
won't get to know their father, but I just don't think I can do
that to her. She is about to have his baby, I can't break them up
now."
"Brooke, there will always be a reason not to tell him,
but there will also always be four reasons to tell him. It's
up to you. Come to the shower and bring the girls to my house. Nathan
will watch them while we are at the shower. Peyton deserves to have
you there for her. It was hard enough to stop her from coming this
weekend. I told her that you and I had to buy the baby a gift and she
backed off. I'm guessing that you already got her something,
right?"
"Yeah, I got her a blanket and IOU for a name sign for the baby."
"Very nice. I'm going to head home. Will I see you in two weeks?"
"I guess. Thank you so much Hales. You are too good to me. I don't deserve it."
"I know, but I love you so I do it anyway."
"Love you too Hales, drive safe."
The two hugged and wondered if they would really see each other in two weeks.