Brooke smiled again.
"You both took me by surprise," She gestured to her home and David had a nervous look and gave a nervous snicker.
"You always know the right thing to say,"
"Right," Brooke said leaving.
...
There were hands who served them food at the dining table and Edward looked hesitant but flapped a napkin over his lap.
Brooke noticed and cupped his hand under the table, she knew and didn't find it insulting that he didn't want to eat.
He huffed and sat back, it was a habit not wanting to dine and not involve anyone at the table in a conversation unless they wanted to talk.
The couple and Brooke were silent.
Edward pretended to dip his nose into his glass. He noticed Yvonne looking into her compact mirror now and touching her face then David talked, he was glad for a question directed at him and he talked.
"The future of Luxe Textiles is guaranteed and hopefully we won't be having any partnerships in the nearest future," He said, after Mode's successive pitfalls during the last few partnerships, he didn't want to fall into the same pit twice.
David seemed tensed and Yvonne groped his shoulder.
"Is anything wrong, babe?" She asked in concern.
"No, no, nah," He grinned crookedly and patted her hand.
Yvonne's eyes narrowed.
Brooke tossed her napkin aside and she sprung up surprising them. "Excuse me," She mumbled and cleared her throat leaving her seat. She didn't want to intrude on their public display of affection and stopped by the corner to catch her breath. She heard their laughs from the table.
It was like her heart was torn in half and she couldn't hold back a sob then returned.
"I'm sorry Brooke, maybe the news broke all over the internet but I just wanted to tell you, officially, that Yvonne and I are engaged," He held her hand they were sporting matching rings.
Her eyes flickered at them. "Oh, that's wonderful news," She said and Yvonne smiled leaning on his shoulder.
...
"Oh Dave, I'm so glad she approved," Yvonne said in the car touching his chest and David beamed then glanced at Edward and Brooke in the garden.
He held her close and David was dragged down facing forward.
"Yeah...I'm glad she took it well," He said and switched gears riding off the avenue.
***
Brooke sobbed in Edward's arms.
"I'm so sorry, Brooke," He murmured and glanced at Mei by the shadowed archway, her hand lowered from the wall and she turned to leave.
She couldn't imagine it, that was what made it hurt more. "Oh Ed, when did David stop caring?"
His chest grew tighter, he didn't know the right words to say, she was in a vulnerable state.
"I'm gonna be here for you just like you've been there for me," He murmured and her eyes flickered and she rested her head on his chest and then watched the Peugeot drive through the avenue and sniffed.
***
Odetta helped Dinah pack the boxes inside.
She smiled at the improvements in Dinah's Tack Shop and the furry drab blue carpet dirtied with age was replaced with a red carpet with bandana prints.
That was all there is. The old machines were still here. She heaved a sigh and pressed her hand over the carpet. "At least the sweeping gets easier," She said and ran her fingers over it, crouching. She admitted the bone setting was worth the wait too.
Her phone vibrated and she held up her message. "Time to turn in early," She grimaced and her eyebrows pushed up.
The linen rolls were still scattered and she hoisted them up. "Aunt Dinah, I'm getting late!" She yelled grabbing her purse and rushed out the doors. She bumped into Jake and he hugged her to him.
She lingered in his arms for a moment and she felt safe and warm, she heaved a sigh and looked into his eyes, she actually had the impulse to kiss him and then she pushed up her glasses waving her hands and gripping her purse.
Her eyes caught the glimmer in his eyes.
"What do you know? You used the front door," She said in entertainment.
"I came to prove a point,"
Jake's eyes scoured her face and lip then the muscles in his jaw clenched letting her step back.
"Why are you here, it's a little too late for a surprise visit? I told you," She ranted and he looked serious.
"I think the scavenging can wait," He smiled at her and she gave him a slight push with her fingers.
"Jake, it's really important, I gotta go," Her eyes rounded at his kiss on her lip and she stumbled back. She licked her lip and brushed a hand on her cheek.
"I gotta go," She drawled and he stepped back raking his hair like a teenager.
"Yeah, I'll see you later," He waved a hand and she blushed and huffed running.
Oh my god, what just happened?_ She thought and caught a bus and plonked down raking her hair and he was waiting at the pavement. Her heart raced staring at him dumbfounded, he gave a hesitant wave and she pushed back avoiding his eyes and she moaned inwardly.
Her hand clenched on her seat and she thought she felt a shift on the ground before the bus started to move. She fanned herself. "Why are my cheeks burning?" She asked and wanted to ask the bus driver to pull over. She wheezed and looked for a breath mint to munch on.
Odetta reached the office and she stumbled at the front doors and felt an arm come around her waist. She gasped "Mister Cummings,"
She flinched when he led her inside and she shuddered when he looked at her and went weak in the knees when his blue eyes flashed on hers and a dimple to appeared on his face when he steadied her and she gaped on when he passed by.
She bypassed her beating heart and checked her watch; 4:49pm. Running after him.
"Mister Cummings," She called after him and the office workers gave way when he walked through and the elevator opened, she paused at the workers emptying from the elevator.
She actually thought he smiled at her,
"Going up?" His deep voice called from inside.
"Oh, yes," She slid in before the doors locked and bumped into him.
Edward muffled when she fell in awkwardly.
She straightened her blouse and held her purse tightly standing beside him. She gawked at his brown coat and the collars were up with a strap down. She gazed at his hard jawline and his hair sticking out.
The elevator ride was taking much longer and she swallowed. "Looking sharp,"
She scolded herself.
Edward glanced at her and he faced the wall. "Yeah,"
Odetta was flighty at his voice, the 'yeah' was more of a deep sigh than a word. She followed cautiously outside the doors and stopped at the broad wall of his back.
"What was your name again?" He turned around and her back hit the wall to give room for him.
He grimaced at her thick spectacles but the way she licked her lip was somewhat endearing.
"Lawrence," She said and she groaned at his hand on the wall beside her head.