The Broken Road
Chapter 8
authors note : Once Brooke was able to leave the hospital. After having their daughter she did. Victoria and Ted swept down at her most vunerable and convinced her that signing away her parental rights were for the better. And she did exactly that. Lucas was given full custody of Josephine and Brooke left with her parents out of Tree Hill.
we got matching tattoos. Talk about our future like we had a clue.
In another life
I would make you stay. All this money can't buy me a time machine.
I stared around at the remains of my past. The store front i had talked about running in Tree Hill. So long ago.
I hired people to do what i couldn't. But the painting. Design. Decor. And any personal touches were all me. The designs filled the racks once i was able to ship them over in a matter of days.
The sign outside simply read C/B in black and white letters. Pink. Purple. White. Green. Was everywhere. A mini fridge. Comfortable seating. I wanted this to be an experience for my shoppers.
Once it all said and done. I felt proud of it.
I didn't want to make this a big deal. Have an opening party and all that. I turned my sign to open. And hope for the best.
...
I had been texting with Lucas about when to meet with Josephine.
It turns out she had a busier schedule then i realized.
She had weekend to herself and she wanted to meet for lunch.
Which made me more excited and nervous then i expected.
I've been looking through my closet not liking anything.
I wanted to make the right impression. And was relieved when Peyton came over to help me.
"I'm thinking either of these three." "Pick one and i'll wear it." Brooke said.
"I'm glad you're back Brooke. You've been missed." Peyton replied.
"I doubt it." Brooke replied.
"Either one of these would work. She won't care what you're wearing. It just matters that you show up when you say." Peyton replied.
"What's been going on with you?" Brooke asked.
"Me and Jake eloped back in high school you already know that."
"I adopted jenny as soon as I could. Jake and I have our own daughter she's 10 like Josephine. They were born a few days apart."
"Jane Jagielski." Peyton said. With a warm smile.
"It's a relief to know at least some of us got happy endings." Brooke said.
"Naley are doing well. Skills and Bevin got married 5 years ago. But they had been together since high school. Their son is 10. Skills in the NBA with Nathan. The only two who aren't locked in are Mouth and Rachel."
"Those two are off and on. I don't think even they know where its going." Peyton revealed.
...
"I'll be in the car Jo." Lucas said. From the hallway.
"So where has aunt Brooke been all this time?" Jane Jagielski asked. She had brown hair. Green eyes. And her mom's thin tall figure.
"Running her clothing line around the world. Those letters were great but i just don't know how much i should trust her and let her into my life."
"My dad says she's planning to stick around but who knows if that's true? What if she ends up leaving again because she hates it here?"
"What if i'm not the daughter she dreamed up all these years?" Josephine confessed.
...
"I'll be waiting in the car here. Come out when you're ready to leave." Lucas instructed.
"Thank you daddy." Josephine said.
Lucas engulfed her him into a hug.
He hugged her back. Wanting this to well for her sake. Watching as she went through the diner door.
Brooke felt her hands shaking. She looked at herself in the rear view mirror. Her stomach in knots. The diner right in front of her.