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Chapter 5 Sisters-in-law
Brenda looked around as she entered the trendy new cafe on Doheny.
She smiled when she spotted the blonde.
Kelly gave her a subtle wave as she approached. They hugged warmly. Brenda took off her jacket and draped it gently over the back of the chair while smiling at her sistern-in-law.
„Hi Kel." Brenda took her place and looked around. „This place is cute." She commented.
Kelly exhaled. „Yes…isn´t it. I saw it last week and wanted to check it out with you." She grabbed the menucard and handed one to Brenda. „The Cobb-Salad is supposed to be a dream."
Brenda nodded as she opened her menucard too.
„How´s the jetlag?" Kelly asked concerned.
„Is gone. We slept almost all day yesterday. Luckily Iris still looked after the children."
Kelly nodded understandly. „So shall we have the Cobb salad?"
„Sounds great. Yes, please."
They put the menucards down.
„So, tell me…how was france?" Kelly asked looking excitedly at Brenda.
„It was fabulous. We stayed at this cozy little castle. The people super nice. Every day a guest read a story to all the other guests in the small cafe´.There was also a cafe´au lait. When the owner found out it was our wedding anniversary, we got breakfast for free. That was great. Dylan even thaught me chess. And in the evening we danced. And the theatres…france is so cultural and various."
Kelly smiled. She was happy for Brenda. Yes, she could vaguely remember this place. She was so bored there. Paris had been her horror. Unfortunately, she had never had anything left for culture. She preferred to go shopping. Also, unlike Brenda, Kelly didn´t speak a single word of french.
„And my theater strarts again in a few weeks." Brenda beamed at her sister-in-law. „And what about you and Brandon? How are you?"
„So far everything is great." Then Kelly looked down.
„What´s up?"
Kelly sighed loudly. „Brandon and Erica have been seeing earch other regularly for about two weeks. Professional. And, Erica texted Brandon. I mean, it´s professional. Brandon showed me the messages. But still, I mean, I know Erica. And I know Brandon. He´s charming and sexy and he has that amazing smile." Kelly gushed. „I just don´t want Erica to get worked up about anything."
„You mean did Erica fall in love with Brandon?"
Kelly just shrugged.
Brenda shook her head.
„The kids mentioned that Erica was acting a bit strange around Brandon. But unfortunately that´s all I know."
Kelly nodded. „I know there´s nothing going on. Like I said I don´t want Erica to get bogged down in anything."
Brenda looked sympathetically at Kelly. „Erica isn´t the type for that at all. She would never interfere in a marriage."
„I know that." Kelly drank her soda. „It´s nice to have you back." She smiled at her.
Kelly was really happy that her relationship with Brenda had improved considerably.
Yes, they hadn´t been in touch for years and Yes, it had been some time before brenda and she became close again. And brenda was there when Kelly it her all-time low when she tearfully confessed to her that she was in love with Brandon. In the same breath, Kelly had finally apologized to Brenda for taking Dylan away from her. Brenda had had to wait a long time for this apology. And Brenda finally accepted Kelly´s apology when she married Brandon. When Sammy was born and Kelly and Brandon also moved back to Beverly Hills from Washington their relationship got better too.
Brenda took Kelly´s hand and squeezed it.
The salad was served.
„I´m hungry…let´s eat."
„Yes indeed."
The women picked up their forks and ate.
After that, Kelly had to go back to her school-office.
Brenda walked into her house, kicked off her heels and looked at Dylan. His eyes lifted to meet hers. He put his book on the coffee table and smiled.
„Hey…how was lunch with Kel?"
Brenda beamed. „Very good."
Dylan grinned as his head cocked to one side. „Come here…" he held out his hand.
Brenda grabbed his hand as he pulled her to sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
„Have you spoken to Erica since we got back?"
Dylan looked at her questioningly. „Not yet. How come?"
„Kelly said that Erica seems to be looking for contact with Brandon quite often. She needed his journalistic knowledge for a publication. But she seems tob e with Brandon often. Yesterda she was even at their house in the evening."
„And now Kelly´s jealous?" Dylan played with her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear.
„No. She worried that Erica might misunderstand Brandon´s kindness."
Dylan giggled. „Erica is in love with Brandon."
Brenda sighs again. „Kelly invited me to lunch to welcome me bak and to voice her concerns."
„I´ll talk to Erica." Dylan promised.
„Thank you." Brenda kissed his lips lightly.
Dylan deepend that kiss and Brenda felt Dylan´s hand grip the back of her head.
The front door and Toni and Kyle laughed as they walked inside. They looked at their parents who broke their kiss.
„Ugh…love everywhere." Toni rolled her eyes. „By the way, Erica will be right over. We want to do some biking. She sent me a message on my phone."
That´s when Dylan remembered Brenda´s words about Kelly.
„Excellent. I have something to discuss with her."
The children smiled at their parents. They were looking forward to their Aunt. And when Toni was finally able to continue reading the diary.
„Kyle, is the homework done?" Brenda raised her eyebrows and gave her son a searching look.
„Yeah mom."
„Then we can make a cake right away." Brenda got up from Dylan´s lap.
„All right Mom. I´ll be right there."
„And I´ll talk to Erica."
Brenda smiled at him, leaned in and kissed him hard.
„Mom?"
„I´m coming." Brenda broke away from Dylan and joined her son in the kitchen.
Erica was on time.
„Wow Brenda. It smells delicious here."
„Baked especially for you." She gave her sister-in-law a loving smile.
Erica took off her jacket. Then Dylan came to her too.
„Hi sis." The siblings hugged.
„How was the trip? Have you ever gotten out of bed?"
„Well, we also had a big shower, a comfortable floor and the dining table…"
„Stop. I can already picture it very well." She blushed.
She knew her brother and sister-in-law. Sometimes she envied their sex life.
„Erica, can I talk to you for a minute? In private?" Dylan clutched his neck.
Erica looked from Dylan to Brenda in surprise.
„OK?"
Brenda left the two alone.
Dylan poured them coffee, sat down at the kitchen island with Erica and took her hand.
„I´m not good at this stuff like that so I´m asking you this directly…Erica, are you in love with Brandon?"
It was as if Dylan had pushed a button.
Suddenly Erica burst into tears. She covered her delicate face with her hands.
„I didn´t want it at all. I never epected it." She laid her face on her arms and cried bitterly.
Dylan got up and pulled her into his arms. He tried to comfort her. Erica raised her head, wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
„How did it start?" Dylan gingerly began to ask.
„I had made a discovery in the lab and wanted to published it. So I asked Brandon for help. It was all harmless. But then he was so nice to me, complimented me on how great my work was and that he thinks it´s great that I´ve done my doctorate. He always smiled at me and sometimes hugged me. Then it happened."
She cried again and buried her face in Dylan´s shoulder again.
„I´ve told you so many time that I´m proud of you. You are the first McKay, and a woman at that, to have a PhD."
„I know. But when Brandon said that to me, it was so…so…different." Erica ran out of words.
She didn´t see Dylan raise his eyebrow.
„I would never put myself between Brandon and Kelly. Kelly loves him and he loves Kelly. They have children and they´re happy. I would never interfere."
„We know that, Erica."
„Did Kelly send you?" Erica wiped the tears from her pretty face.
„Kelly was more worried about you. She didn´t want you to be unhappy."
„It´s too late. I am unhappy." She took a sip of hot coffee. „I´ll tell Kelly not to worry. I´m not bothering Brandon anymore. We´re done anyway. I can submit my report to the environment agency tomorrow."
„I´m already looking forwar to your discovery." Dylan put his arm around her shoulders.
„I never wanted to make Kelly jealous. She has to believe me."
„She knows that. For this way she was worried about only you."
Brenda joined them in the kitchen at that moment. She had overhead them in the hallway.
„Does Brandon know?" Brenda looked sympahtetically at Erica.
„No. I don´t believe."
„Maybe it would be better to talk to both of you?"
„But how would Brandon react? I would be so ashamed. I could never look him in the eyes again."
„Erica, you´ll always get better with honesty."
„You´re rigth Brenda."
Brenda hugged Erica as well.
„And now let´s eat cake."
„I would love to."
Dylan called the children and together they ll sat around the kitchen island and ate delicious homemade cake. They enjoyed riding bikes together on the beach afterwards.
When they got to the beach, Brenda offered Erica to stay with them. So she wasn´t alone. Erica accepted it gratefully.
And while Brenda was taking care of Erica in the evening, making her tea, Dylan called Brandon and Kelly and clarified the situation.
Kelly was beyond relieved. Brandon, on the other hand, was more amazed. He hadn´t expected that.
„Please tell erica that I love her very much and that I´m not mad at her." Brandon Dylans asked.
Then Dylan heard Kelly mumbling something in the background. He corrected himself.
„Kelly wants me to tell you the same thing."
„Good. I´ll let Erica know. Thanks B."
„Good night D." Brandon hung up. A grin spread across his face.
Kelly looked at him with a smile and shook his head.
„You obviously enjoy the fact that you still have opportunities with other women."
„Honey, it´s Erica."
„And isn´t Erica a woman?"
„Yes." Brandon slowly walked towards her. „She´s actually very attractive."
Kelly cocked her head.
„And I have to admit, I´m very much in love."
„Oh?" Kelly put one hand on her hip.
„Yes. She´s smart, funny, intelligent…" Brandon stood right in front of Kelly and wrapped his arms gently around her waist.."has an adorable smile and the most beautiful lips I´ve ever kissed." Without further words, Brandon cupped Kelly´s lips.
Kelly´s knees went weak again. As always under Brandon´s touch. Even after o many years. They still felt butterflies in their stomaches.
She just wrapped her hands around Brandons neck and surrendered to his kiss.
„And you were really jealous of Erica?" Brandon mumbled against Kelly´s lips.
„No."
„Liar."
Kelly just giggled and kissed him again.
„There will never be another woman."
„I know that."
They kissed again. More intense this time.
„Probably the poorest will cry all night. I can understand her. I know how unhappy it is to be in love with someone."
„Erica will get over it. She´s a strong woman." Brandon looked at his wife. „What do you think if I take you out to dinner tonight and then have a delicious dessert afterwards?"
„That sounds great." Kelly beamed. „I´ll call Jackie."
They looked into each others eyes.
„I love you Kel."
„I love you Brandon."
Poor Erica. She was in love with Brandon. Well…no wonder. Brandons charme is amazing. And his smile…
How you find the conversation between our favorite ladies? I made Kelly regretted Dylan a lot. And I led her been very unhappy over the years of lost Brandon. It seems she checked that.
I intentionally had Brenda narrate the flashback of Dylan and Brenda´s trip to Paris together to emphasize the differences between Brenda and Kelly.
Review please…