Chapter 133: Beaulieu Parlor
Saturday, January 7th, Afternoon
After brunch, Izzy and Brooke retired to a nearby parlor. Walking into it, Izzy smiled because her husband often commented on the number of parlor rooms in Beaulieu. It was a personal joke between them that she kept to herself.
Mom and daughter took seats on the couches facing each other. A tasteful coffee table was between them. Izzy noted this was one of the formal parlors, not a family one, as it was immaculate, and all the magazines, strategically spread out were Davis Enterprise products.
"So, Izzy any word on Keith's return?" Brooke asked.
"I get asked that question, or one like it every time I do something in District," Izzy said.
"What's your answer, Congress Woman?" Brooke asked, with a cheeky tone in her voice.
Izzy smiled, knowing her mom was teasing her, "I tell the people asking about their parent, that as a loyal wife, I know as much as you do, and, I'm very much in the dark," she said.
"It sucks," Brooke said.
"Oh, yes it does," Izzy agreed.
"Coffee? Tea?" Brooke asked.
"Coffee would be nice," Izzy said.
Brooke reached over and pressed a call button. She then turned back to her daughter. "Have you thought of anything to do with the kinder, once Lucas arrives?" Brooke asked.
Izzy shook her head, "No," she said, "Honestly, my days are so planned out, I'm kind of enjoying not having anything planned."
Brooke nodded, and checked her watch, "Sassy, should be up and streaming soon, they like to watch her stream," she said.
"I thought, Sawyer didn't like being called Sassy anymore," Izzy said.
Brooke sighed, "She doesn't, but I keep forgetting," she said.
"My kids like watching their aunt playing video games?" Izzy asked.
"Like? They love it, and even play with her sometimes," Brooke said.
"Hmm," Izzy said, "That Tank game?"
"Sometimes," Brooke replied, "But not always."
Izzy nodded, she knew that Nomi and Ellie would sometimes play that game with Keith. She started to well up thinking of her kids and their dad, and how everyone was separated. Before the emotions got too far, a staff member of Beaulieu walked into the parlor.
"Yes Ma'am," The Staff Member asked.
"My Grandkids should be back with their granddad soon, could we have a coffee and snack service set up, here, please?" Brooke asked.
"Yes Ma'am," The Staff Member said, "Would you care for anything specific, Ma'am?"
"Maybe some of those cookies Nomi likes," Brooke said.
"Very well Ma'am, I'll see if we have the cookies Miss Nomi likes," The Staff Member said, and left.
Izzy looked at Brooke and shook her head.
"What?" Brooke asked.
"Why didn't we have a staff when I was in high school?" Izzy asked.
"We did," Brooke said.
"Really Mom, we did?" Izzy asked.
"Yes, we did," Brooke said.
"Who were they?" Izzy asked, challenging.
"Well it started with Chase, Izzy, and Trin, and we added Fallon later," Brooke said.
"Not funny, Mom," Izzy said.
"Very true, though," Brooke said.
Izzy shook her head as the door opened. The first person through the door was a short bundle of energy. He ran across the room and right to Izzy.
Ellis climbed up into Izzy's lap and hugged her. As Ellis clung hard to his mom, Izzy wrapped her arms around him. Even though he was six, and was starting to get too heavy for Izzy's lap, she let him sit there. He rested his head against her heart and just listened. It's been a tough time for him, with her being in DC and Keith being away.
Izzy leaned down and kissed the top of Ellis' head. She looked up to see Brooke sitting across from her beaming. Izzy smiled and looked back down at her son.
Brooke turned to look at the still-open door. Standing there was Izzy's ten-year-old daughter, Nomi. She just stood there and watch her brother cuddle with their Mom. Brooke studied her blue-eyed brunette granddaughter, for some quirk in genetics Izzy's children got blue eyes, where Chase's got hazel, and Trin's son was brown.
Nomi finally walked into the room and took a seat next to her mom. The ten-year-old leaned against her mom. Izzy took one hand off of Ellis and wrapped it around Nomi.
Brooke took in her daughter with her younger children. Of all the daughters Brooke had she never thought of any of them becoming moms in their own right. Izzy seemed to have taken to that role, she had always been dutiful to all three of her children.
A group of staff members came into the parlor. They were carrying the refreshments Brooke requested. She watched with a casual but detailed eye, as they set-up. After a few moments, her mind wandered to the missing person of the party. The one that had the grandkids at the park.
"Nomi?" Brooke asked.
"Yes, Grammy Brooke?" Nomi asked back.
"Where's Grandpa Lucas?" Brooke asked.
"Oh, yeah, Grandpa Lucas had to use the bathroom," Nomi said, "I was supposed to tell Y'all that."
"It's okay, Nomi," Brooke said.
"Grammy Brooke had snacks put out for us let's get some," Izzy said.
Ellis just nodded.
"Okay," Nomi said.
Brooke watched as Izzy and her two kids went over to the credenza where the refreshments were laid out. She studied them and marveled at the attentiveness Izzy showed her children. She was so into studying her daughter that she didn't see Lucas come into the room, and take a seat in a chair nearby.
After a moment Brooke adjusts her line-of-sight and saw Lucas sitting there. Brooke jumped with a start, not expecting to see Lucas sitting there. After a minute she caught her breath.
"Lucas, you startled me," Brooke said.
"Sorry," Lucas replied.
Brooke looked him over. He didn't look so good. She shook her head.
"Did you overdo it today?" Brooke asked.
"Probably," Lucas said.
Brooke sighed, "The Doctor told you to be careful because you insisted on delaying things," she said.
Lucas nodded, "I know," he said, and shook his head, "But I couldn't deny them, they're too cute."
"That's the curse of the Davis genes," Brooke said.
Lucas just smirked at her. Izzy came over carrying a cup and followed by Nomi and Ellis. Both Brooke and Lucas looked up at Izzy.
"Mom, Uncle Lucas, I'm going to watch Sawyer's stream with Nomi and Ellis," Izzy said.
"Okay Dear," Brooke said.
"Go ahead," Lucas said.
"What room do we do this in?" Izzy asked.
Brooke laughed and gestured to Nomi and Ellis, "They know," she said.
"Follow me, Momma," Nomi said.
"Okay, so this is on Twitter?" Izzy asked as they started to leave the room.
"No, on Twitch," Nomi said, as they left the room.
Brooke laughed, "It's so cute watching them together," she said.
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, Izzy's a good mom," he said.
"You should know," Brooke said.
"I should?" Lucas asked.
Brooke nodded, "Yes, you should," she said.
"How?" Lucas asked.
"You were raised by a great mom and married one," Brooke said.
Lucas nodded and stood up.
"Where are you off to?" Brooke asked.
"I'm going to lay down," Lucas said.
"Okay, I'll check on you in a half-hour," Brooke said.
Lucas nodded and left the room. This left Brooke alone with the refreshments.