Handle With Care by J.A. Armstrong

Author:J.A. Armstrong [Armstrong, J.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J.A. Armstrong Books
Published: 2016-02-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“At least, he will be tired by the time we get upstairs,” Rebecca observed to Tess as Davey jumped into the pool again.

“Here’s hoping,” Tess said.

“I wonder how Brooke is doing,” Rebecca snickered.

“She’s nervous.”

“I know.”

“Not just about tomorrow,” Tess told Brooke’s mother. Rebecca looked at Tess curiously. “She’s worried about spending time with Brad.”

Rebecca sighed heavily. “Why didn’t she say something?” she asked. “She is so sensitive when it comes to her father.”

“I know,” Tess said. She was feeling some pangs of guilt for sticking to her guns and insisting on staying at the hotel. Part of Tess thought it might be best for Brooke. It would give her some time to try and connect with her father. At the same time, she understood Brooke’s anxiety well. Tess had to admit that she was relieved that she would not be spending much one on one time with her mother. Tess loved her mother, but the last thing she wanted was anything negative to taint her wedding, and Mary Sinclair had a unique capacity for pushing all of Tess’s buttons.

“Maybe it’s good that they have some time,” Rebecca offered.

“I know. I thought of that too. But, I also feel horrible. I mean, I get to avoid that stress this weekend and she gets thrown right into it. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“Tess? Did Brad say something to upset Brooke?” Rebecca wondered.

“I don’t actually know,” Tess admitted. “When she came home in January from her visit, she was…Well, quiet—for days, actually. When I finally asked her what was wrong…”

“Yes?” Rebecca prodded.

Tess looked at Rebecca. “She thinks he has issues with her.”

“She’s always thought that,” Rebecca said. “He was not tremendously supportive of her career decisions.”

“I’ve heard. That isn’t what was bothering her,” Tess said. Rebecca was puzzled. “She thinks he has issues with her sexuality,” Tess explained. Rebecca groaned. “Oh, that’s not good,” Tess said.

Rebecca shook her head and kept her eyes focused on Davey’s antics in the pool. “The truth is, Tess, I don’t know what he thinks about that. I suspect she’s right, but he has never said that to me. Frankly, he’s probably afraid to.”

“Why?”

Rebecca let out an uneasy breath. “Brad and I are very different people,” she said. “That didn’t stop us from falling in love,” she mused. “I still love him,” she admitted. “I suspect I always will, but I don’t understand him. Funny how that happens sometimes.”

“You think he disapproves of this? I mean of us getting married?”

“Not really,” Rebecca answered. “I think he just doesn’t understand. I think he just always envisioned his little girl becoming a big name surgeon and marrying some handsome, rugged lawyer or doctor, to be honest,” she said. “And, I think he was able to hold the delusion for many years because Brooke never really talked about her personal life. He knew, of course, but Brooke never had any lasting girlfriends, and she has never shared much about her personal interests with her father. That much I do know.”

“Why not?” Tess asked.

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