"Didn't you tell me that you weren't going to take shifts at the hotel while Lucas and Karen were living there?" Sam asked while munching on her morning breakfast, watching Brooke put on her housekeeping uniform.
"Yeah, I wasn't but Marcia got sick and needed somebody to cover her shift and since she is the one who got me the job, I couldn't say no. I'm just going to steer clear of Lucas and Karen's suite," Brooke replied while putting on her shoes.
"Yeah, but why aren't you just telling him that you're working there? It's not like you're embarrassed by the job. Wait, are you embarrassed?" she asked, wondering if Brooke was seeping back into the easy life before rock-hard poverty and destitution.
"No, there is nothing wrong with what I do. I'm working in the service industry - whether it's bussing tables or folding laundry and making beds, whatever pays the bills, am I right?" she answered while combing through her hair and putting it in a bun.
"Then why not just tell him?" Sam asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Because with Lucas, it always becomes a thing and his irritating hero complex will make him meddle and I do not need him to meddle," she answered. "He'll be like Brooke, this is not what I dreamed for you. I am here to pay for everything you need so that you don't have to work menial jobs or something I don't even know and frankly, I don't care. It's just easier with the lesser he knows. Besides, it's so damn weird going to the hotel as a housekeeper and then as a friend of the guest. The Manager almost it at me for showing up at the hotel and chilling in the lobby when Lucas and I first arrived," she said.
"Oof, I don't envy you right now. Good luck, I guess?" Sam replied. "By the way, it was really bold of you to let Jamie stay the night with them without you."
"Can I be honest? I did not sleep the entire night last night. Not a wink. I was so terrified. I have never spent the night away from him. I really miss him right now. It will save him a tonne of travel as his school is closer and the project was too large to get all the way here and then get it back but I was hoping that Lucas would come with the project and meet up at the school. Never in my mind did I expect that he would keep the project and Jamie," Brooke whined.
"A) You're fooling nobody here. It is evident that you were up the entire night and B) didn't he like offer you to stay the night as well? Both the bedrooms have king-sized beds - you could've bunked with Karen or pulled out the couch," Sam laughed.
"Yeah, but you were here and I would never let you spend the night alone in this neighbourhood or frankly, anywhere ever!" she laughed. "So when Jamie was exhausted and agreed, I figured I had no choice."
"He slept through the night without crying for you?" Sam asked.
"I guess. I didn't receive any call from Lucas and I put him to bed and then left so he had me when he fell asleep. If he just slept through the night, he wouldn't have realised that I wasn't there," Brooke shrugged.
"Are you going to go to the hotel or the school to see him?" Sam continued to enquire.
"We are going to the hotel. I miss him. I need to see him. I'm not okay with not seeing him. So chop chop! We're first going to the hotel and then I'm dropping both of you to school. Sorry, I woke you up earlier than usual. I wasn't sleeping anyway so I had hours to get everything done before waking you and no Jamie to ready," Brooke asked.
"You do know that I am perfectly capable of going to school on my own, right? It's the same route I use when I return home all on my own," Sam joked.
"Yeah, I know, but then when else am I supposed to get my Sammy time?" Brooke asked with a deep grin, making Sam turn red.
"I mean, it is on the way to Jamie's school," Sam shrugged, making Brooke chuckle.
"I love you! Now let's go," she said and flung Sam's coat towards her. They each put them on and began their journey to the city. Brooke was grateful that her jacket covered her housekeeping uniform.
When they arrived, Brooke took Sam through the back entrance that opened to the hotel's commercial kitchen. It was just easier that way as she didn't have to deal with the Manager. She greeted all the kitchen workers a good morning while they worked to beat the breakfast rush. They went past the kitchen and to the service elevator to the sixteenth floor where Lucas' room was. Sam knocked on the door and was happy to see Karen open the door.
"Hello, Sam! It's so good to see you. Brooke, you came right on time!" she said and quickly pulled the two into the room. "Jamie, look who is here!"
"Is it Mommy? Mommy!" Jamie ran to Brooke and flung his little arms around her legs. Brooke was stunned. Jamie's face was red and he had clearly been crying.
"Baby! What happened? What's wrong?" she asked, looking all over, to see if he was hurt in any way. When she saw that he wasn't, she collected him in her arms and hugged him tight. "What's up little man?"
"I woke up and you weren't here!" he cried.
"I asked you if you wanted to stay with Daddy last night, remember? I told you that I had to go back because Sammy was alone at home and you told me that you were very tired and wanted to stay," Brooke reminded him.
"Yeah, but… when I woke up, you weren't here!" Jamie repeated and burst out crying again. Brooke's heart melted and she held him and rocked him gently in her arms.
"I'm here now and there is nothing to be afraid of. Your dad was here and so was your Grandma, right? And you could have asked Dad to call me. He would've," Brooke answered, kissing his chubby cheeks to comfort him.
"Why didn't you call me?" she whispered to Lucas.
"I mean, the night went so well and then when I woke him up to get ready, he was inconsolable! I panicked. I was just trying to get him to calm down. I didn't know what to do!" he answered, still panicking.
Jamie calmed down eventually. She asked Lucas whether he had Jamie ready for school and whether Jamie was only in his pyjamas because Lucas did not have his school uniform which Brooke was carrying, but Lucas said no since Jamie had not stopped crying ever since he woke up.
"Oh God, we need to hurry! Jimmy Jam, we need to activate booster mode or we won't reach school on time. Are you ready for it?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"Okay, where are your rocket wings?" he asked and Jamie stretched his arms wide. "Perfect! To the bathroom, we fly!" Brooke picked him up and sprinted towards Lucas' ensuite bathroom.
"Good thing we left early," Sam chuckled and plopped on the couch.
"Do you want any breakfast or anything, Samantha?" Karen asked.
"No thanks. I already ate," she smiled. "Brooke will have him ready in fifteen minutes. Luckily, school isn't too far from here. Got to give it to Brooke. She tricked me into getting ready earlier so we could make it here in time to get the dweeb ready."
"Sam, we're planning to take Jamie to Six Flags this weekend. Would you like to come with us? You could invite a friend too if you wanted," Karen asked.
"Wow, I've never been to an amusement park before," Sam replied.
"It'll be my honour to take you to your first one then," she said and went to hug her.
"Huh? What?" Sam asked, getting a little creeped out since she wasn't expecting it.
"I'm sorry," Karen replied, noticing that she had frightened Sam. "I just think of you as family. You're Brooke's family and I see so much of Brooke in you. I literally see you and I feel like I'm transported back in time to when I was looking after her. She is really like a daughter to me and even though Lucas' name is only namesake on the documents, I feel like you're my family and you are my grandson's sister, which makes you my granddaughter. That is a little strange though because I would be the right age to be your mother, but here we are. Haha! Anyway, what I mean is - you're in our lives forever now. Not just until we sort out the adoption stuff. Lucas and I are always going to be tied to Brooke and so we are always going to be tied to you too and we want to be. I just want you to know that I want to have a real relationship with you just like I am building one with Jamie. Not a fake, temporary one that we are building for the court." Karen said.
Sam stared into Karen's deep brown eyes and saw nothing but genuineness reflecting back at her. She hadn't felt that strong a family bond with anybody except Brooke. Not even Lucas had made her feel the way Karen had. She felt her eyes want to water but she held her tears at bay. Instead, she found herself flinging her arms around the lady who was in fact, the right age to be her mom.
Sam did not say anything to Karen. She didn't want to jinx it. She didn't want to say anything wrong. She didn't want to show vulnerability through her words. The hug covered her face and expressions so Karen was not privy to the emotions she felt. "Thanks, I guess," she said and quickly wiped her face to make her face straight again. "But what did you mean by seeing Brooke in me?"
Karen chuckled, "You're so much like her. Stubborn, headstrong, passionate and compassionate, kind, a heart of solid gold, you hold an infinite capacity to love the people in your life and will do anything for them, you want to show the world that you're tough as nails, but you actually wear your heart on your sleeve, you're both afraid of giving your hearts because of the heartbreak it has already experienced, so you don't trust easily, yet even if the person who broke your heart comes asking for a favour, you wouldn't think twice before doing everything you can for them. I could go on," Karen listed out.
"Wow, you really know Brooke that well and gathered all that about me in four days?" Sam asked, snivelling.
"I know Brooke much better than that and like I said, you really have Brooke's EQ and Lucas' IQ. I'd ask them to do a paternity test for you if you weren't only six years older than them!" Karen joked.
"Okay, Jamie is ready! Sam, please can you grab his project? I have a banana for you, Jamie, but you're going to have to eat it on the way, okay?" Brooke announced as she hurried back to the living room of the suite with Jamie in tow. Sam quickly got up from the couch and picked up Jamie's project from the table and the three of them hurried out of the suite without a wave or goodbye.
"Gosh, I would have died if Brooke hadn't shown up when she did," Lucas sighed helplessly.
"Jamie is three years old, Luke. He is a baby and he has never been away from Brooke in his life. Of course, he would cry when he didn't find her around. If it was me, I would have never left you alone at that age. I remember when you went to sleepaway camp for the first time. You were seven and I was a wreck!" Karen told him. "Also, you spent the entire night crying and the camp counsellors called me. Keith and I drove in the middle of the night to get you back home."
"Wow, I don't remember any of that," Lucas sighed. "But what is wrong with the heating in this suite? Did it turn off all of a sudden?"
"Check the thermostat," Karen asked, feeling the suite turning cold as well.
Lucas checked, but couldn't figure it out."I'll call the front desk and ask him to send someone to check the issue. Also, breakfast?"
"Yes, please," Karen replied, wanting her morning caffeine fix.
"Hey Penelope," Grace said when Brooke clocked into work.
"Hi," she greeted back while stuffing her things in her locker. "So what rooms am I covering today?"
"Can you take 1201 to 1210? Get your service trolley ready. You have the master keycard?" she asked.
"Yes," Brooke replied with relief. She would be on the twelfth floor, far away from Lucas' sixteenth floor. She would go on her break just when Jamie would be done with school so she would quickly sprint to get him and drop him off at Lucas' suite before finishing the rest of her shift.
Brooke got her service trolley ready with fresh towels, toiletries and all her cleaning equipment. Then she rode the back service elevator to the 12th floor and proceeded with her job. Since it was a luxury hotel, cleaning each room did take a while. She had to make the beds, change the towels, replenish the stock of whatever was used, get the garbage out, check for maintenance issues, dust the place, clean the bathrooms and sweep and mop the floors. Brooke didn't hate it though. Cleaning was always comforting. Yeah, the bathrooms could be a bit icky, but it was part of the job and she knew how to suck it up. It was quiet and peaceful. She had a routine in her head and she enjoyed the motions.
Brooke moved from the first room, which was empty to the next. It was after ten, so most guests were already out exploring the city. Room 1202 had a Do Not Disturb sign, so she conveniently got to skip that room.
Brooke knocked on the door of room 1203, "Housekeeping," she announced and waited. She heard footsteps so she didn't use her Master Key to open the door,
"Huh, what? Brooke!" Lucas said when he opened the door and saw who was standing on the other side. Brooke on the other hand had been looking down. It was a no-no for the housekeeping staff to look eye to eye with guests. Hotel housekeepers weren't supposed to be seen or heard. They were to do their job as quietly as they could, preferably while the guests were out, and leave.
Brooke looked up when she heard the familiar voice call out her name and once again, her legs turned to jelly.
"Uh, wh- isn't your room on the sixteenth floor?" Brooke asked him.
"Yeah, but there was some issue with the thermostat, so they moved us to this suite to fix that one. You work here?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, and I have a lot of rooms to finish cleaning so, may I come in?" she asked nudging her trolley. It was just her rotten luck! Of course, he had to change rooms and see her!
Brooke decided to look down and just get to her job. She began to empty the trash and pick up the plates that Lucas and Karen had left after their breakfast.
"Let me help you with those," Lucas said and began to pick up after himself.
"Sir, if I was another housekeeper, one that you didn't know, would you be doing that? No, right? Then if it's alright with you, would you kindly let me do my job?" Brooke asked.
Lucas looked hurt. No, he was hurt. But he raised his hands in surrender and moved away.
"Luke, did you book those tickets to Six Flags already? I asked Sam if she wanted to bring a friend with her," Karen asked, entering the living room of the suite. Brooke had her back to Karen and she continued to look down as she wiped the dry kitchen counter.
"No, not yet," Lucas replied, his eyes never leaving Brooke's.
"Good, I'll ask her later if she has friends coming. Could you send me Sam's cell phone number? She hadn't heard about our plan. You haven't spoken to Brooke yet?" Karen continued to ask.
"No, I haven't spoken to her but I have a feeling she has heard about our plan," Lucas replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice, making Brooke wince. She hated the situation she was stuck in right now.
"Are you going to pick Jamie up from school?" Karen asked. "Also, I've been mulling about taking Brooke to lunch. Just the two of us. All that girl does is spend time around the kids, taking care of them. Somebody needs to take care of her. Do you think she would like that?"
"Honestly, no. I think Brooke is too stubborn to allow anybody to care for her," he replied with a hint of anger.
"What happened? Did the two of you fight or something?" Karen asked with concern.
"Or something. Mom, I'm going to go down for a bit," Lucas replied and left. Brooke winced another time when the door banged behind Lucas.
Then, as discreetly as she could, she moved to Lucas' new bedroom to clean up. Since they had just been allotted the new suite, the bed was still made, although the two seemed to have taken their showers in the new room. Brooke began to clean and dry the space, trying really hard not to hyperventilate. She put in new toiletries that she had carried in from her trolley and checked the toilet paper rolls. She swept, dusted and mopped his room, before peeping out to see what Karen was up to. She was on a call with Deb, it seemed. Of course, Deb would want to meet Karen. She barely came to the States. Brooke quietly moved to Karen's bedroom and repeated the procedure, fixing the bedding to make it neater and crisper. Unfortunately, it was time to clean and dust the living room. Brooke was stiff, she had seen the hurt all over Lucas' face. He had been watching her, following her every movement when he had been in the room. Karen hadn't seemed to notice her then or now as she was busy on her call. She did her job and was just about to leave when Karen finished her call. Brooke had pushed all her cleaning supplies out and was just stepping out.
"Wait, Miss! Let me tip you," Karen said and walked towards where Brooke was still standing with her head turned. "Here."
Brooke had no choice but to turn around and take her tip money. She pursed her lips as Karen glimpsed at her broken face. She looked at Karen apologetically for a moment as shock and surprise crossed the young grandmother's face. Brooke pocketed the tip and quickly closed the door behind her, her heart thumping way too loudly in her chest, silencing every other sound in the already quiet corridor.
Karen wondered whether to follow Brooke outside, but Brooke's scared and broken face kept worrying her. She sat in her freshly cleaned hotel suite in two minds about whether to help Brooke or not do anything. Lucas' frustrations suddenly began making sense and she saw a new side of Brooke's stubbornness.
Brooke quickly ran to the next room and knocked at the door. Another couple opened the door and she went about her job, feeling safe by the existence of strangers around her. When had she become this person? How had she reached here? Where the family that seemed to know her the most were the people she was the most terrified to be around. When did she find solace in the company of strangers because that meant the lack of confrontation? Brooke was struggling to keep Karen and Lucas at arm's length and she wasn't even sure anymore whether it was a good idea.
After she finished cleaning all her rooms, it was time to get Jamie from school so she went back down to the staff area and put her things. She told Grace that she was going on break and walked to his school.
"Hi, little Monkey! How did your project presentation go?" Brooke asked Jamie after she had swept him into her arms and hugged him tight.
"My teacher loved it! She said it was very well done. It was smart and creative. Got a gold star! Look! Thanks for all the help, Mama!" Jamie replied, showing his mother the shiny sticker on his hand.
"That is awesome buddy! Are you ready to go to your dad's hotel? Mom has to get back to work," she asked.
"Can I hang out with you at the hotel?" Jamie requested.
"Wouldn't you rather be with your dad and grandma? They will be returning to Tree Hill soon and then you're gonna miss them, baby," Brooke gave it to him straight.
"I know but I really miss being with you right now," Jamie said sincerely. "Pleaseee."
"Of course, Jamie. You can come with me. But if I get called up to a room, you have to stay down where I left you or go back to Dad's, okay?" Brooke made the rules clear to him.
"Yes, mama! I know," he said happily.
"Do you want to first go to your dad's to drop your bags and things, say hi and eat something? I'll come to get you after half an hour so you have time. You can get out of your school uniform too. I have a bag full of your things at Daddy's place right now," Brooke suggested.
"Okay," Jamie complied.
The two returned to the hotel swinging their arms.
"Oh, hello Jamie," Grace greeted the little boy. "Learn anything interesting at school today?"
"Did you know that if you mix red and blue, you get purple?" Jamie told her as if it was the most astonishing thing ever.
"Oh is it?" Grace asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Yeah! We saw it during Art time! And if you mix blue and yellow, we make Green!" He said, even more enthusiastically.
"You are one smart cookie, Jamie!" Grace replied.
"Hey, I'll just get him fed and then get back to work, okay?" Brooke informed her Manager. Grace waved her hand to indicate that she did not have a problem. Jamie was a very well-mannered and loveable kid. So everyone at the hotel loved him in the week that Brooke had worked there. That was a blessing for her because her shift time usually cut into his school time as preschool was for a very short time.
Brooke took him to the twelfth floor and gently knocked on the door. She was no longer hiding her housekeeping uniform.
"Hi," she answered with a stutter, still looking down. "Can I get him fed and changed here? Then he wants to come with me for the remainder of my shift."
Lucas didn't say anything but just opened the door wider for him to enter.
"Oh Hi, Brooke! Come eat with us," Karen said when she saw the two enter. "Hi, Jamie. How was school?"
Jamie went ahead to explain the colour theories he had learnt again and Brooke just stood awkwardly in the corridor. The other days when Lucas wasn't around, Brooke would just take Jamie to the service kitchen and the chefs would make a meal for him to eat, whatever he liked on the house, discreetly.
"Why are you standing there? You must be tired. Come take a seat," Karen coaxed once Jamie had finished about the colours.
"I'm good. I was just going to get him changed into his regular clothes, get him some food and then pick him up in half an hour," Brooke shrugged.
"Have you eaten?" She asked with a hint of authority in her voice. Brooke found herself shaking her head no.
"Then come, sit. Eat," she said. Brooke timidly walked and took the chair next to Jamie.
"Lucas, do you need a special invite? Come on, sit down," Karen had the mom voice down pat. She filled up their plates with the food she had ordered and would not listen to Brooke's protests to stop. Brooke blew onto Jamie's food and made sure that he was eating while stealing quick and hasty bites from her own plate. It was an awkward lunch, that was for sure. Lucas remained deadly silent. Only Jamie and Karen talked to each other.
"I guess you heard Lucas and I discuss our weekend plans this morning. Once Sam confirms on friends, we'll get everybody's tickets for tonight. Is that okay, Brooke?" Karen asked.
"Yeah. Jamie and Sam will be so happy and Sam has never been able to host an event or anything. She has never had the luxury to extend an invitation. I think she will be ecstatic just to be able to do that," Brooke smiled. She was happy that Jamie and Sam would get to go to an amusement park. Jamie had loved it when his school had taken them there on a field trip.
"Perfect! Since we will be leaving early, do you want to spend the night here? We can pull the couch out and stay here," Karen encouraged.
"I don't know how much Jamie will want to spend another night away. I know Sam will be there, but.." Brooke trailed.
"Huh? Won't you be there too?" Karen asked.
It was Brooke's turn to be confused. "Wait aren't you talking about taking Sam and Jamie to Six Flags on Saturday?"
"Yes, I am," Karen said, still not getting what was the confusion.
"Mom, Brooke thinks that we aren't taking her with us," Lucas said, painting a clear picture.
"What? Why would she think that? Wait… are you thinking that?" Karen asked.
"Yeah. You're taking the kids, right? You and Lucas can handle Jamie and Sam doesn't need a chaperone. She'll be off with Liz," Brooke replied, not seeing why she would be invited.
"Honey, do you think we are just here to see the kids?" Karen asked.
"Yeah?" Brooke answered slowly, not finding anything wrong with that sentence.
"Brooke, we are here to see you too! Isn't it obvious? Why does that come as such a surprise to you? You know that I care about you and you may not be in a relationship with Lucas but you are friends. Don't you care about me and Lucas?"
"Of course I do!" Brooke's mouth uttered the words before she had even a moment to think about them.
"Then why would you think even for a second that Lucas and I don't care about you?" Karen asked, making Brooke blink hard. The words had hit her like a slap. Of course, she cared about Karen. Of course, she worried about Lucas.
"So, now Six Flags? Also, you and I are going out for lunch tomorrow. Just us. Lucas can be with Jamie and Samantha can come over from school. She can even invite her friends to hang out at the hotel, and maybe enjoy the hotel pool. Luke, can you add all their names to the suite as guests so that they don't face any troubles with the management?" Karen asked.
"Karen, I am management and I am already in hot stew with my Manager and I have exceeded my lunch break already. I need to go but I can't make the trip this weekend. I am taking a full day shift here. Sorry!" Brooke said and began rushing out. "Jamie, as promised, I'll come to get you in half an hour, okay love? Bye. Wait, if you do disregard what I said and put my name down, I go by Penelope here." Lucas exhaled deeply as he saw Brooke rush out the door.
While Brooke was walking towards the elevator, she saw that the DND sign hanging on 1202 had been replaced with the Please clean my room sign. So she quickly ran down and got her supplies. The please clean my room sign also meant that the room would be a big mess. The room was empty. So Brooke began her work. Halfway through, she knocked on Lucas' door.
"Hey Jimmy Jam, I'm right next door in 1202 if you wanna come with me," Brooke offered.
"Okay," he said and hurriedly got off the couch where he was doing a practice sheet from school with Lucas.
"Wait, finish that and then ask Lucas to drop you off in 1202. I'm gonna be there for a while. The couple seemed to have had a wild time in there," Brooke joked. Lucas made a face when she said that.
She sighed and walked out of the room. Fifteen more minutes in, Lucas rang the doorbell. Brooke opened and smiled, allowing them to enter. Jamie knew better than to sit on a bed his mother had just made, so he sat on the couch. It was Lucas' turn now to stand awkwardly in the room.
"I'll let you two be," he answered in a few moments and began to head out.
"Hey, thanks for getting his homework done. It saves me having to go through it with him after my shift," Brooke smiled at him and said.
"What time do you get done?" He asked.
"Well, part one of the shift is this… getting the rooms cleaned. Now I have to get everything laundered and attend to any requests or calls the guests make. I'm working an eight-hour day today," Brooke replied.
"Why did you choose to go by Penelope here too?" Lucas pressed on to what his real questions were.
"I've told you this. The Manager knows who I am and what I used to do. It was just easier being Penelope," Brooke shrugged. "It's part-time, Lucas. It's really not a big deal."
Lucas hung out with her and Jamie as she gave the room its finishing touches. Then she and Jamie headed to the laundry rooms, leaving Lucas upstairs.
"Jimmy Jam, do you miss Tree Hill a lot and the life you had there?" Brooke suddenly asked him. Jamie looked at her with a confused expression on his face.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean would you rather live in Tree Hill or New York?" Brooke explained. "You had the new house, big room, lots of new toys there."
"Yeah, it was cool but Sammy couldn't come with us and I missed her a lot," Jamie answered sincerely.
"Did you know you have the biggest heart in the whole wide world, James Lucas Scott?" Brooke said, looking at him sincerely and then bending down to kiss his cheek. "I love you so very much."
Brooke and Jamie hung out together as Brooke began running the gigantic machines to wash and dry the old linens. They played a game of I Spy to keep themselves entertained. Brooke loved having the company. She could talk to him all day and never get bored. The kid had a very active imagination and she loved hearing about it. Plus he was sensitive enough to be quiet when Brooke needed to concentrate on her job.
The phone rang a few times and Brooke was asked to run a few errands. Room 703 wanted her to come clear their plates, Room 205 wanted extra pillows, Room 1101 wanted her to pull out the couch and keep it ready for their daughter's arrival and the guests in from 2007 were checking out and their room needed to be made before the next guests would arrive.
Once Brooke got to clock out, she was tired. "Come on, let's get your things from Lucas' suite and head home," she said, grabbing her own things from the locker. She sipped on a coffee she had made for herself as they rode the service elevator up.
They knocked on the familiar door and Sam opened the room.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Brooke asked, she thought Sam had plans with her friends.
"Hey! I figured that you will be leaving from here at five, so I could just head home with you. So, I came over half an hour ago. I was hanging out with Lucas and Karen. Karen was telling me how she is bored of eating out every day and wants to eat a home-cooked meal, preferably one that she could cook for us. Also, she said that she got our names added to the suite as guests so we can use hotel amenities, like the pool and I could invite Liz over too. I don't have a swimsuit though. Could we please get me one?" Sam requested like a child.
"Yeah, of course, we can get you a swimsuit baby. Lucas planned on giving you and Jamie swimming lessons in Tree Hill," Brooke replied.
"Lucas has a pool in his house?" Sam asked. Pools equalled opulence in her books.
"Yeah, it's at the house he most definitely owns and at Nathan and Haley's," Brooke replied.
"Can we move there already? Yeah, I will miss Liz a lot and it will suck to be away from her but Tree Hill sounds like a dream," Sam sighed.
"All in it's time baby girl," Brooke replied. "But what did you mean by Karen wanting to cook a meal?"
"She wants to come to the apartment where we stay and cook," Sam explained.
"Wait, where are they?" Brooke asked.
"Lucas went to the gym and Karen is in her room talking to Lilly," Sam informed her.
"Sam, you know that we can't invite her to the apartment, right? She will freak out over the neighbourhood and the heat stuff. You should've seen her face when I had she saw me cleaning her room. At least now that it's out, I can pick up more shifts. I'm waiting on Andy to get back to me about a few things before I start asking manufacturers to make samples of my designs. I would rather sew them myself, but he wants me to mass produce," Brooke replied.
"I'm pretty sure that she knows it won't be great. You've not even attempted to invite her," Sam stated matter of factly.
"Sam, I'm not going to invite her home. I'm sorry. Now, can we get going?" Brooke asked once Jamie had collected his things.
Sam sighed but followed Brooke out of the door. They were about to close it behind them when Lucas emerged out of the elevator. "Hey guys," he said. Brooke looked at him and bit her lip. He was covered in sweat. His t-shirt was clinging to him, marking the shape of his abs as the sweat made the fabric stick. His joggers were clinging to his waist just the right way. He had a towel slumped on his shoulders and his phone, AirPods and a bottle of water in his hands. He looked straight out of a magazine as his sweaty hair poked in all directions.
"Hey, we were just heading home," Brooke let him know.
"Why don't ya'll stay for dinner? You just got done with your shift, right? You must be tired. Don't go home to cook," Lucas offered. "Besides, I barely got any Jamie time today."
Brooke was going to decline the offer until he said Jamie time. One thing she really empathised with was the lack of time Lucas got to be with Jamie. She was his primary caregiver, so he would always receive less, especially while Jamie was that young. Plus, with different states, it was even worse. She had spent one night away from him and she was a wreck. She wanted Lucas to have every minute he craved while he was around.
"Okay, we'll stay," Brooke replied, surprising Sam. "You should get all the Jamie time you want." Lucas nodded his head appreciatively.
"I'm just going to grab a quick shower," he said and walked into his room. Brooke followed him with her eyes, liking what she was seeing.
"Hey guys, I'm sorry I was on a call with Lilly," Karen said entering the room. "She is missing me too much. Andy is considering flying here with her."
"Oh, are they? Wow, I haven't seen Lilly since the day she was born. Graduation day was all sorts of crazy," Brooke rolled her eyes. It also being the day she conceived Jamie.
"Yeah, if they fly down, you'll get to see her. Otherwise, I'll fly back from here at the end of the week," Karen sighed.
"I'll really miss you, Karen," Brooke said, giving Karen a weak smile. "You're changing my life for a second time."
Karen pulled Brooke into a hug and smiled. She loved that young girl so much but she also wanted to smack her and get her to accept help. She would have to be patient. "I mean it about lunch tomorrow. You and I. Are you working tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I took a four-hour shift while Jamie is in school," Brooke admitted.
"Okay perfect, so you will be at the hotel. Lucas can have a day with Jamie and you and I can go grab lunch and then take Samantha shopping for swimsuits and maybe a new outfit for Six Flags. She said her friend Liz said yes to joining us," Karen planned the day.
Brooke sighed but she didn't want to kill Karen's joy. So she just smiled and nodded her head, accepting the offer. Sam perked up too. Sam usually shopped on her own. Brooke barely ever had time to take her shopping and Sam never preferred anything too skimpy or revealing that Brooke would have a problem with. Jeans and baggy tees would always be her style. Besides, she barely had cash to burn on clothes and foster care had taught her how to make it work with three pairs and make them last forever. If she was being honest, ever since she came to live with Brooke, she had purchased only 3 new items of clothing. It would be a new experience for her, on the whole, to shop with Brooke.
"So what are we getting to eat?" Lucas asked, running a towel through his wet hair. He wasn't wearing a shirt. He was only in a pair of sweats and water drops were freely dripping everywhere from his blonde mop of hair. Brooke did not like how her body was reacting to watching him that way.
"I'm in no mood for room service. I feel like we've eaten everything on the menu already," Karen sighed.
"Karen, would you like to eat your favourite chilli recipe?" Brooke asked.
"Ooh, I could go for that," Karen smiled, but these fancy suites don't have cooking supplies.
"Why don't you guys give me half an hour? I promise to get you food you will like," Brooke smiled and stepped out of the room.
She went down to the industrial kitchen and batted her eyelids at the chef. "Hey Greg, can I please ask you for a favour? May I please cook a meal here for the guests in Room 1203?"
"Why will you cook? What did they order, I can make it?" he asked, confused.
"It's complicated and way too hard for me to explain. I will owe you one. You can charge them whatever you want," Brooke tried.
"Brooke, this is my kitchen. Do I come and teach you how to clean a bedroom?" he asked. "That is the biggest insult to a chef."
"I know. Okay, the guests in 1203 are here to meet Jamie. It has something to do with who Jamie's dad is and it's all really complicated right now. He is up there with them and he wanted to eat something cooked by me. So, please? For Jamie," she requested.
"Oh! Why didn't you tell me that you wanted to cook for Jamie? Of course, a boy would love nothing more than a meal cooked by his mother. Go ahead, take station 5, Larry can get you the ingredients you need," Greg smiled. Everyone really, truly and absolutely loved that boy!
"You are the best," she said and moved to the workstation Greg had allowed her to use. She asked Larry for the supplies and felt herself get transported back in time when she lived with Karen and assisted her at the cafe. Karen had taught her how to make the chilli that Brooke had loved. They made it together and Karen had patiently and lovingly guided Brooke through the process. The night was so fresh in Brooke's mind and how amazing it had felt having something that resembled a mother-daughter moment.
She could mentally hear Karen's voice guiding her and she chopped the tomatoes and opened a can of beans. She found herself smiling as she worked in the kitchen. Once she was done, she put the chilli and rice in large bowls, placed them on a trolley and covered the food with a cloche. She placed five place settings on the trolley and added a freshly toasted loaf of bread.
"Here, I made you a bowl both of you too," Brooke smiled and handed a plate with steaming chilli to Greg and Larry.
He smelt the aroma and instantly smiled. "If you get tired of housekeeping, you can always find a place in my kitchen," he said and took a bite. Moaning at the flavours, he hungrily finished the whole bowl in record time.
"Thank you. You can charge the equivalent to Room 1203, alright? I'll take this up to them," Brooke said and began lugging the cart to the service elevator. Knocking on the door, she announced, "Room Service."
She set the table and asked everyone to come join her. "Here we go, a la Roe Vegetable Chilli and Rice," she announced. Karen couldn't help but smile. They sat, said Grace and dug in.
"Oh my God, Brooke! This is exactly how I make it!" she said, feeling happy and satisfied with the warm meal.
"You taught me how to make it," Brooke reminded her. Karen was so impressed. "If you guys need anything else, let me know and I'll get it for you."
Brooke heard a knock at her door in the middle of the night. She groaned and checked the time on her phone. It was close to 2:00 a.m. Who would come to her apartment at 2:00 a.m.? Getting alert she walked to the door and looked out from the peephole.
"Lucas? What in the world are you doing here?" she asked, letting him in.
However, Lucas had other plans in mind. He quickly closed the door behind her and attached his arms to her body. Grabbing her face, he brought it closed to his and smashed his lips to her, giving her a wet and sloppy kiss. Brooke was so surprised at what was happening, but she didn't say anything, allowing her needy and wanting body to take over. She met his kiss as he pushed her behind, guiding her through the furniture. She felt the back of her knees hit the couch she called a bed and plopped onto it. Lucas got on top of her, still not breaking the kiss. It was so passionate and deep that both were struggling for air but refusing to give in, wanting and needing to just feel each other a little longer. Before Brooke had even blinked, all their clothes were gone, allowing each other a chance to explore the other's body. Lucas' hands quickly moved around to squeeze and play with Brooke's heavy breasts. Brooke was heaving from the arousal she felt as her hands went up and down Lucas' sinewy back. Lucas suddenly pulled her up and moved her to the table. Allowing her torso the lay flat on the wood, he parted her legs and moved his fingers up and down her sex, rubbing the area in circles, making Brooke moan even louder as she shuddered under his expert fingers. She was so wet and ready for him. Lucas smiled and with that, he lined himself behind her and entered into her, filling her up completely in one swift thrust.
Thud! Brooke fell off the couch and landed on the cold floor. What the heck was that? It had been a dream! Brooke groaned as she tried to soothe the spots sore from landing on the floor. She rubbed her eyes and tried to get her bearings. Where did that insane dream come from? Since when did she feel horny and aroused? She thought that sex had been ruined forever for her after what she had had to do with those men. Then suddenly, Brooke felt a shiver. All those weeks away from the strip club had been so good. She had been able to deal with most of it and actually believe that that chapter of her life was over. That she could leave her identity as a stripper behind. Yet, the dream made her realise that no, she couldn't. She would always be tainted. She would always be the one who had a going rate for blowjobs, the seductress, the stripper mistress, the one who broke her rule and performed nude for cash, the one who showed off her boobs like those crazy parents showed pictures of their cute children. Even if she ever felt ready to take the plunge sexually with another, the other person would never be okay being with her. Brooke was officially damaged goods. Especially to Lucas who already knew too much.
Wait, why the heck was she thinking of Lucas that way? Lucas was off-limits. She had graduated high school. Never again was she going to allow herself to be sucked into a love triangle and Lucas was just bad news. He and her never worked and Brooke had made her peace with the fact that they would never be. They weren't the happy ending to the love story. Lucas' book was legitimate evidence of that. She had to stop seeing him sweaty and topless. She did not have the luxury to be 21 and crazy, she knew that. She was okay with that. Where had that dream come from?