Brooke sighs waiting for her mom to return from shopping. Her sister Sonya wasn't here, she was attending classes at NYU. Bobby, her stepfather was making small talk along with Brooke, to keep her updated on their lives. Brooke nodded along, as much as she liked Bobby, she wanted her mom.
Constance Gray aka, former bubblegum pop singer Coco was initially happy when her and Brooke were reunited, but after the newness wore off, she and Brooke barely spent much time together, causing Brooke to feel abandoned. Again. At least her dad tried. Even with his third marriage, and Brooke as a adult, they talked regularly. Constance almost never did, either she was busy with her new family or touring. She didn't even call to congratulate Brooke on her college grad, or her engagement. Brooke was slightly bitter. If it was Sonya, Constance would move the Earth for her.
She didn't know why she even bothered. Her mom was barely around. After he record label dropped her all those years ago for her "old mom" image, Constance left behind "Coco" and became a bigger star as herself. Her first "adult" album became a hit. She tearfully told Brooke she had to leave Sweet Valley and move to New York. Her and Brooke cried. They were together for only a few months. Constance promised to keep in touch. Phone calls, letters, emails.
At first she did. She called every night. Then every weekend, then it slowly dropped off from there. Even her letters stopped coming. Yeah the Christmas cards were right on schedule, and her birthdays, but other than that, Constance was busy. When her dad called and demanded why she was abandoning her daughter, Constance made up a excuse she was always working.
Brooke tried. She really did. She called as often as she could, but her mom was always on the road. When her album reached platinum, Brooke and her dad knew that was it. Rolling Stone had her on the cover.
"Constance Grey, aka Former Pop Singer Coco, The Exclusive Interview." The cover read.
Brooke kept that magazine, and once again became a minor celebrity. She wished the twins were still around. They were attending SVJH for their eighth grade. She at least had her friends, the Unicorns. She finally accepted their offer. They did enjoy the fame, but when they saw how much it bothered Brooke, they told everyone to back off. Their rivals, the Angels were also a big help. They shielded her from any paparazzi that showed up hoping to interview her.
They finally went away. Even Constance. She took a world tour and never returned to Sweet Valley, not even to visit Brooke while attending the Grammy's in Los Angeles. Her and Brooke had a distant relationship. It was more like a aunt/niece relationship than a mother/daughter one. She knew Bobby better than her mom.
Her and Sonya weren't close. She was just a baby when they met. Brooke came over whenever she had free time, either babysitting or visiting. Then when Constance moved away they lost touch. Brooke visited as often as she could, but as she got older, the visits got less frequent. Her dad wanted her around for her schooling.
At least Brooke made a friend. Amy Sutton's half sister Ashley lived in the same building as her mom. She babysat little Sonya occasionally. She met Peter at Johns Hopkins Medical School while she was living in Maryland. They got married and now both doctors live in London, England.
Sonya was now a sophomore at NYU, she wanted to major in arts like her older sister. But for art, not film. She was totally New York. Brooke and her talked, and Brooke was hoping she would be a bridesmaid. She was also hoping to get closer to her, she didn't want to be estranged like the twins used to be, or Amy and Ashley. When she heard the door open and her mom and sister chattering, she stood up.
Constance seeing Brooke looked surprised. Once again, she forgot Brooke was coming. At least Sonya looked happy, she wasn't alone, her girlfriend came along with her. Seeing Brooke, she immediately holds out her arms.
"Brooke! Oh my god! Mom didn't tell me you were coming!"
Brooke gives her a hug, while giving her mom a tight smile. After she hugs her sister, her mom hugs her. Brooke hugs her back, letting her know how much she missed her.
Constance looks her over. "Oh my god. You changed so much. Stand back and let me look at you."
Brooke smiles at her mom. Her smile fading slightly when Constance asks if she gained some weight.
"Actually, I lost weight. My career as well as my wedding keep me busy. I barely don't have enough time to eat."
"Good for you. In the industry. Looks are important."
Everyone in the room looked uncomfortable, especially poor Ursula, Sonya's girlfriend. Brooke's smile frozen. Her mom never changed. She was still obsessed with her looks. She still looked great. All that dieting and her doctors keep her young looking. Her image was important to her, especially after the whole "Coco" disaster.
Brooke wished she never said a word. She knew the industry. Constance would have faded back into obscurity in a few years and Coco would been a forgotten memory. It was Brooke that informed the press about her mom. Because of that stupid article, Constance's record label dropped her, and she was forced to hire a new agent that told her to record her new album. Now she was living in New York in a expensive penthouse traveling all over the world, selling millions of records. Hell, she had a VH1 episode about her. Brooke rarely seen her.
"So mom. How's things." Brooke asked. She knew Constance, always saying what she thought without thinking.
"Great! My new single is doing great on social media. It already sold millions on Amazon, ITunes and Spotify. On YouTube, it has forty million views."
"Mom. That's great! I'm so happy for you!" Brooke genuinely was. She knew how important her singing career was. Her record albums sales waned these last few years, younger artists were being marketed better, older singers like herself had to go online to stay relevant. Her newest release, "Forgiveness" was a hit. Brooke and her dad were trying to get the rights for the movie soundtrack for their next movie. A remake of "Checkered Houses." She hoped her mom's record label gave them the rights. The movie would go into production next winter.
"Thanks honey. Bobby. Instead of cooking let's go out."
"Constance, since Brooke, and Ursula are here, I was planning to cook my famous spaghetti."
"All right! Mom, we been going out all week. I could use a homemade meal. I keep telling Ursula about dad's cooking."
"Oh all right. Brooke, can you come with me to the bedroom, I need help picking up a outfit for tomorrow's press conference."
Brooke was disappointed. Her last day in New York was Sunday. She had a wedding dress appointment tomorrow, she was hoping her mom would come with her. Sonya agreed to come, she wanted to choose a maid of honor dress. Brooke didn't ask her, but she figured to have her own sister as her MOH. She couldn't think of anyone to ask. It was Saturday the next day. Brooke had a meeting with her dad's investors. Her dad was conferencing from New Zealand. She knew she'll be there all day.
"Mom. I was hoping to have you help me pick a dress for my wedding, as well as for your mother of the bride outfit."
"Mmm. Sorry. I didn't hear what you said. I was listening for my voicemail." Constance says looking at her phone.
"Never mind." Brooke should have known better. Her mom was constantly busy. She helped pick out an outfit and talked about their careers. Her mom looked great though. She cut her hair shorter, had it dyed in a rich red brown colour, and had her eyebrows done. Her cheesy Coco look was long dead. Looking back, both her and her mom agreed she looked ridiculous. A pop star impersonating Dolly Parton. Red cowboy boots, with fringe? She looked like Hannah Montana's mom trying to look like a sixth grader. The fringe jean jacket was overkill.
Later at dinner, both Bobby and Sonya asked about Winston. How they met, the first date, his proposal, her wedding plans. Sadly Constance didn't, she was busy looking at her phone with her husband finally snapping there is guests. Poor Ursula looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Brooke feeling sorry about her, tried to break the tension.
"Did I tell you about the time Winston rented a mariachi band for me to celebrate me moving to Sweet Valley the first time?"
"Your fiance did that? Ursula, why didn't you do that for me when I moved to New York?" Sonya joked.
The awkwardness broken, they ate and enjoyed their meal. After Brooke helped them with the dishes, she wished everyone goodnight. After she returned to the hotel, she called her dad in New Zealand, wanting to hear his voice. Even if he was on set on a huge blockbuster movie, he always went out of his way to talk to his daughter.