Blue Eyes
Jake Dunne sat next to his charge in the uncomfortable hospital waiting room chair. Sounds of babies crying, wheelchairs scraping along the floor, and the overhead announcement system had long since ceased to bother either of them. Families had come and gone, news of their impending arrivals bringing happy tears and hugs all around, until the two of them were the only two left in the room. They were working on Hour 17 and had been up since 3:00 a.m. when he’d gotten the phone call. The one they’d been both anticipating and dreading.
He glanced over and noticed the kid had finally taken his advice and tried to sleep. His long form was folded up in the uncomfortable chair, limbs askew, and his face covered by the baseball hat that he always wore out in public. It really didn’t do too much to protect his identity, but it gave him some comfort knowing that only the few that were truly looking for him would spot him, instead of the mass majority that would if he didn’t have it on. Another doctor ran through the room as an overhead page called him to surgery. How long did it take a baby to arrive?
The television was turned down low so as not to disturb the few in the room, but the current show caught his attention and he moved quickly, flipping the volume switch to a more moderate level. “This is Mary Hart with Entertainment Tonight. We’ve just heard that Justin Timberlake is expecting. The name of the mother and the sex of the child is unknown at this time, but a source close to the Star told ET that the mother was a close friend of the Star and that the two were planning to be married as soon as the child was born. ET has not yet been able to reach Justin’s representative for a comment at this time, but if this story is to be believed, the mother should be due at any moment. Will the long-time bachelor be off the market in a few months time? ET will let you know as soon as we do. Congratulations, Justin.” Shit. He looked once more over at his sleeping charge and turned the television off.
“Jordan? Yeah, I saw it.” He turned the volume down on his phone and stepped outside the room as to not awaken him. “I don’t know who leaked it.”
“Yeah…”
“Okay. When you find who leaked it, I want to talk to them personally.”
“I promise not to break every bone in their body, only because I don’t want to see him on the gossip mags for having a wayward bodyguard.”
“No. I’ll tell him myself. You just do your job and shut this down.” He flipped the phone shut and blanched when he saw Doctor Adams heading down the hall. Walking back into the room, he nudged him awake. He moved their coats and sat down next to him; ready to protect him if anything had gone wrong.
“Mr Dunne, Mr. Timberlake?”
Blue eyes widened, all traces of sleepiness gone. “How is she?”
“Mother and daughter are fine. She took a little bit longer to completely dilate than we thought she would, but after that, the labor went quickly and both are recovering after a long day. Do you want to see them?”
He looked at Jake, then back at the doctor. “Has she named her yet?”
“Hayley Jay Davis.”
“Hayley” He breathed out as it finally hit him. He had a baby. “Can I see her?”
The doctor lifted his eyebrows, not mentioning the singular, but nodded. “She’s in the maternity ward down the hall. Her name’s on the crib. Brooke is in Room 714.” He reached out to shake their hands. “Congratulations.”
He watched the doctor walk away, staring down the hall, paralyzed with indecision. “Jake?”
“Yeah, J?”
“I’m a Dad. A full fledged Dad. She named her after me. ”
“Yup. But, are we going to stand here all night or go see this new little gal that has your genes running through her?”
“Oh… right.” He stumbled a step, indecision still at war within him, but his steps picked up, almost purposeful as he walked to the room where he’d see his little girl. The glass wall stood floor to ceiling. He placed his hand against it and sighed, looking down at the most perfect being in existence. His daughter. “Jake, that little girl is mine.”
Jake looked at his charge and then down the hall. But what about Brooke, J, what about Brooke?
~*~
Light seeped into the room through the crack in the blinds, illuminating only the tiny form wrapped tightly in the bed linens. An older woman sat next to the bed, her head bowed on the bed taking what looked like to be a nap as she held the hand of the patient.
The nurse smiled at the new mother and grandmother, holding a small bundle in her arms. Rest was so important right after birth, but feeding was just as imperative. “Ms. Davis?” She reached down and gently shook the woman on the shoulder. “Feeding time for Miss Hayley Jay.”
Brown eyes opened and smiled sleepily, arms reaching up to take her daughter, but the nurse shook her head. She reached out and pushed a button on the side of the bed, raising the back before handing the baby over to her to feed. “Do you need help with anything or have any questions, before I leave you be?” She checked her vitals, pausing to await her answer.
“No.” The young woman smiled, before gently opening the front of her gown to allow the baby to feed. “I’ve got my mother here with me if anything important should come up.” She glanced down at the sleeping woman and laughed softly to herself. “But, if she continues to sleep this heavy, I’ll ring you.”
The nurse smiled widely. “It’s amazing how a birth wipes out the entire family and not just the mother. This little one’s daddy spent all night awaiting her arrival and all morning, watching her sleep. His friend finally dragged him home about an hour ago.”
“Her daddy?” her brown eyes widened, before glancing down at her mother, down at her baby whose bright blue eyes were watching her in fascination, before looking back at the nurse. “I didn’t….”
“It’s none of my business. Let me know if you need anything. When she’s finished, she’ll need to be burped and when she’s ready to rest, just ring that bell by the bed and I’ll come and get her.” The nurse turned and left; more patients to see to.
“Mom?” she whispered, when she didn’t get a response, she spoke a little louder. “Mom?”
“Hmmm.” the woman blinked slowly, before comprehension dawned on her face and she recognized her surroundings and the events from the night before. “How is she?”
“She’s perfect.” Brooke smiled down at her, before wrinkling her brow in confusion. “Did you call Justin?”
Her mother flushed guiltily. “I thought he should know.”
“But we talked about this.”
“I know, but the man has the right to know that his daughter was being born.”
“He wants nothing to do with her.”
“Then why was he here last night?”
“I don’t know, but he told me when we first found out not to plan for a future with him in it. If I did this, it was just me and Hayley.”
“Honey, that was shock talking.”
“He gave up all his rights at that moment.” She frowned, absently running a hand over her daughter’s head.
“He might say something different now that he’s seen her and held her.”
“I don’t want him in her life.”
“Maybe, you should let him decide on that.”
“Mom…”
“Honey, it took both of you to get to this point. Did you ever think that it might take you both to continue to the next point?”
She chewed on her bottom lip in thought, and then shook her head. “That night was a mistake. He and I both knew it, but somehow we needed each other. Would I go back and change anything? No. I got Hayley out of the deal. Do I regret it? Yes. I also lost my best friend that night and I don’t see how it can be fixed. We’ve known him since both of us were in diapers, Mom, he doesn’t change his mind. If he was here last night, it was to make sure nothing went wrong and ruined his future. Not for me or Hayley. Justin, the pop star, always comes first, no one else.”
“I think someone has become jaded and bitter where their friend is concerned. Where’s the little girl who idolized her best friend and would do anything for him?”
“She died when she was disappointed one too many times.”
“Brooke…”
“Mom, lets just drop it. Lately, all we do is disagree when it comes to him. Hayley and I don’t need him and he doesn’t want us.”
Linda Davis let her daughter gently caress her daughter’s head as she fed and didn’t say another word about the young man who used to bring her daughter tulips from his yard whenever he had made her mad when he was only 8 years old, or the young man who had sat with her daughter all night long when she’d wrecked her dad’s car and she couldn’t sleep due to nightmares of headlights and trees. All her daughter remembered were the bad times and maybe that’s all she wanted to remember for fear of being hurt again.
~*~
Jake noticed that his hair was standing up straight, curls everywhere. That usually meant that things were not going well. He noticed a hand come up and plow through his hair, while his other hand held a phone to his ear, and smiled. Definitely, not well.
“What are you smiling at?” He snarled at him.
“I’m just happy to know that you’re still so predictable.”
“Jake…” He threatened, before his whomever he was talking to came back on the line. “Yes?”
Jake sat down on the couch, put his feet up on the armrest and closed his eyes. He had a feeling this conversation was going to take a long time.
“What do you mean I gave up all rights? I did no such thing.”
“According to Ms. Davis’ attorney, you gave her verbal acquiescence to let her raise her daughter and that you would relinquish all rights to Baby Davis.” His attorney told him very carefully. “Is this true, Justin?”
“I…” He racked his brain. He didn’t remember this conversation taking place, but then when he’d first found out about her pregnancy, he was in the middle of an international tour. “I don’t remember. The conversation could’ve taken place, but I didn’t sign anything. I want to be able to help raise my daughter, Alan.”
His attorney’s voice softened. “I know, Justin. But, Florida courts are known to rule in favor of the mother nine times out of ten unless you can show that Brooke is an unfit mother. And she doesn’t seem to be. She has valid reasons, Justin. Your lifestyle, your time commitment to your job, living in different residences during the year; it’s not a suitable lifestyle to raise a baby. Have you thought about her compromise at all?”
“Monthly visits? No way. I want more time then 2-3 hours a month. I want my daughter to know me.”
“What about summers?”
“Summers are the worst time for me.” He mumbled, feeling defeat crash around him. “Alan, what are my chances if we take this to court?” He asked softly.
“Honestly… Justin, you’re hardly at home, your daughter would be raised primarily through nannies, she’d be jerked around to three different homes, and would hardly know any stability. I’m not saying that as a baby it would be bad, but when she got older, Justin, what about school? Friends? Her social acclimation? Had you thought about that?
I’m willing to go as far as you want with this, Justin, but I have to be honest… take the deal. When she’s older, she can come visit you in the summer and school breaks, but let her stay with her mother. We’ll get the visits in writing and bi-monthly weekend visits in her city so that the baby is close to her mom… at least till she’s older.” He paused waiting for his employer’s reaction, he hoped he hadn’t gone too far this time. Justin usually appreciated forthrightness.
“Thanks, Alan. I’ll call you back with my decision.” He hung up before Alan could say good-bye and sat down at his desk. He pulled Hayley’s picture out of his wallet and smiled, one finger gently rubbing against her face. His daughter. She was three months old now and already he could see traces of him, from her smile to her bright blue eyes. She had her mother’s dimple and her dark brown hair, but he was in there. It wasn’t just Brooke. Brooke didn’t conceive her on her own and she damn well wasn’t going to raise her on her own.
Looking to see if Jake was awake, a gentle snore emitted from that area of the room, and he smiled. Jake was his lifeline. His bodyguard. H could count on him for everything and the man gave till he was dry. He’d do the same for Hayley if he asked him to.
Making a decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret, he picked up the phone and called her. It was time to speak to her and not through their lawyers. “Brooke?”
“Justin?”
“Don’t hang up. I need to talk to you.”
“The only thing I need to say to you has been conveyed by my lawyer.”
“Brooke!”
“Justin! Leave me alone! Leave me and Hayley alone! You gave up your rights, why are you doing this?”
“Brooke, you told me I was going to be a father in the middle of an international tour after we had a one-night stand and I wasn’t sure if I was going to ever see you again. We were both emotional and distraught the night Hayley was conceived and part of it leaked out when I saw you again. You didn’t give me much chance to be a father, let alone digest the fact that I wanted to be a father when you told me. You told me, waited for the reaction that you wanted, and then left for parts unknown. That wasn’t fair, Brooke.”
“You have a different life, Justin. A life that we can’t be a part of.”
“And who gave you the right to decide that?”
“Justin…”
“Brooke, listen to me.”
“I’m through listening to you and not having you follow through. This is me, Justin. Not one of your bimbos on the road. And this is also the life that you want for your daughter? She’s a brand new toy to you right now, but what happens when you tire of her? Pawn her off to your mother or heaven forbid a nanny?”
“Just listen…”
“No. I’ve heard your thoughts from your lawyer and if you want to play hardball, then we’ll play. I gave you a compromise and if that’s not good enough, then I’ll take her away, Justin. You’ll never see her again.” Her voice hitched as if she was fighting off a sob.
“Brooke,” he broke in hurriedly, “that’s not what I want. I wanted you to know, I was backing off. I want you to have custody.” He could hear the soft sobs through the phone, and tried to hurry and get it out, before he too broke down. “I’ll take the compromise, but under one condition.”
“What?” She whispered.
“I want her to have Jake.”
“Your bodyguard, why?”
“For both of you; when news gets out and it will, Brooke. When news gets out that she’s mine, I want her to have the best. I’ll still pay his salary, but he’ll be there 24-7 for her and you. Also, monthly visits aren’t enough. I want to see her at least bi-monthly. You don’t have to be around if seeing me is too much, but she’s mine too, Brooke. She’s part of me. Don’t take her away from me. Your concerns are valid with my lifestyle, but don’t take her away from me in spite.”
“Justin…”
“Just think about it.”
“Okay.” She sighed into the phone.
“Thanks, Brooke.”
“Goodbye, Justin.”
The click in his ear sounded final, but he knew she’d take it. He couldn’t explain how he knew, but deep down he knew.
~*~
“Hayley, danger” Brooke’s eyes widened as her daughter’s hand stretched up toward the ironing board. “Danger.” Watching her daughter grow up was probably the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. The past few years had flown and Hayley was fast approaching her third birthday. The older she got, the more she began to look like Justin. She had Brooke’s color of hair, but the curls belonged to her daddy, as did the bright blue eyes. Sometimes, she felt like he was looking back at her from her daughter’s face. They both could turn those eyes into lethal weapons if they wanted.
Her daughter’s hand hesitated and she held her breath, knowing she couldn’t rush over there and protect her as much as she wanted to; the girl needed to learn. Finally, she looked at her mom questioningly before her hand came down, a smile crossing her face as she forgot about the ironing. She giggled and ran to her mom, hugging Brooke’s legs tightly.
Jake watched from the doorway, before glancing down at his watch. Justin was late. Again. He looked over his shoulder at Brooke and sighed. The phone call should be coming soon. As if on cue, his cell phone rang. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew the small phone and flipped it open. “You’re late.”
“I’m still in Cincinnati.”
“Justin….”
“I couldn’t get a flight out.”
“Then you should’ve called earlier.” He looked up to see, Brooke jerk Hayley into her arms and walk from the room.
“I tried, the phone kept ringing.” The internet…
“Then you should’ve tried my cell.”
“I don’t answer to you, Jake.”
“No, but you do answer to that little girl in there, the life of your daughter that you were so adamant to be part of. You can’t keep disappointing her, Justin.”
“I…”
“Justin…”
“It’s hard right now with the tour.” He could hear the pout over the phone and rolled his eyes.
“I know, but that girl doesn’t understand. She looks more like you every day; you need to be a part of this. She’s talking, walking, running, jumping… so many things, J.”
“I’m trying.”
“Then try harder.” He spit the words out through his teeth.
“Can I talk to Brooke?”
“Not right now.” He looked down the hall, seeing the door closed tight.
“Where is she?”
“Not here.” He lied.
“I’ll call back.”
“Justin….”
“I’m trying, Jake.”
~*~
“Jake, why don’t my mom and dad get along?”
Jake looked down at the little pixie that floated along beside him, ice cream all over her face as she tried to devour the chocolate cone. He reached out and ruffled her hair, sighing deeply. He’d taken her to the zoo when Justin had canceled one too many visits and Brooke had been the one answer the phone.
“Some things are meant to be, peanut.”
She looked up, those blue eyes piercing him as she searched his face to see if what he said was truth. He’d told her when she was five and started asking questions about her mom and dad that he’d never lie to her, and he hadn’t yet. He’d been the one to explain the idea of “celebrity”, why all the girls loved her dad, why he wasn’t around as much as he wanted, and he was also the one to explain why her parents weren’t together. Apparently, now he would be the one to explain what had happened ten years ago, when she’d been conceived. “Why not?”
He pulled her over to the bench and sat her down. “Did your folks ever tell you that they used to be best friends?”
“No.”
“They’ve known each other since they were little, littler than you.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah… your mom knew your dad before e he even started singing.”
“That must’ve been cool.”
“Yeah….” He ran a hand through his hair. “They were as close as you and Becca are.”
“What happened?”
“Things changed. He became a big star and left your mom at home. He got to do all of the things that they had always dreamed about doing together, and she stayed home and finished school.”
“But, if she’d talked to him…”
“She did and he was young; he didn’t always listen and it hurt her feelings.”
“Oh.”
“Remember when Becca went to Europe for a few weeks and you were really jealous?”
“Yeah, I didn’t speak to her for a whole week.”
“It was something similar at first, but then… all they did was fight.”
“But, they were friends.”
“Sometimes… too many arguments can change a person.”
“But, if you really love someone…”
“Peanut, there’s a fine line between love and hate.”
“They must’ve loved each other to have me.” She said softly, forgetting about her cone as her feet drifted around the dirt. “Right?”
“Your mom and dad love you very much. Just because they don’t get along, doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Most of the time, they’re arguing about you, wanting only the best.”
“What happened, Jake?”
“They changed, Peanut. They drifted apart. You’ll understand when you get older. They still have you though.”
“I just want them to be happy.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to do my best so that they don’t fight anymore. Maybe…”
“As long as you’re you… they won’t have anything to fight about, except their silly misconceptions.”
“What’s misconceptions?”
“Silly ideas.”
“Oh…”
“Give it time peanut, and don’t let it get to you. Eventually they will figure it out.”
“Can we go look at the zebras?”
Jake wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and urged the ten year old forward. She may not understand all of it, but she understood when to let it go. Whatever was between Brooke and Justin would remain between them as long as he was here. He’d keep the little girl safe and happy, let the two of them kill the other, but the girl would be normal.
~*~
Brooke smoothed down her daughter’s hair, waiting for the frown and her to move her hair back into place.
“Mom, stop.” The teenager’s expression darkened as she pushed her hair off her forehead. “I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“I know.” She tried not to take her into her arms one last time before she boarded the plane. Hayley was going to visit Justin for the summer in Tennessee. She was worried that this trip would be too much for her. Last time she was out there, they had been overtaken by the paparazzi and pictures of her daughter had been splashed all over the internet and the trash magazines. It had terrified her, while her daughter had thrived in it. Her friends at school had thought it was the coolest thing to see her in the papers. While, Brooke had a heart attack every time the phone rang. But, eventually it had blown over and everything had gone back to normal. As normal as it was with Jake going everywhere they went.
Jake had been with them now for fifteen years and it still amazed her how much he had become a part of the family. He went everywhere with them, well with Hayley. He was currently standing off to the side waiting for them to say goodbye before they boarded the plane.
“Don’t forget to call when you get there.”
“I won’t.” The perpetual teenage scowl was back on her face as she pushed her bag up her shoulder. “Mom, we’re going to miss our flight if you keep this up.”
“Don’t give your Dad any lip.”
“Like I would…”
“You give me lip.”
“You’re my Mom… he’s just Dad, you know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“He’s always, like, trying to impress me. Taking me out on the town. Showing me how cool he is. You’re just Mom.”
It was Brooke’s turn to frown. “We talked about you not being out in the public so much.”
“Dad’s a big kid, Mom. He does what he wants.” She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t answer to you.”
“He does when he has you. You’re going to come straight home, if I see pictures of you again.”
“Mom…”
“I’m serious.”
“Sure.” She looked over at Jake and waved. “We need to go, Mom. The plane’s going to be boarding soon and we still need to go through security.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.” After a quick hug goodbye, she was gone in a whirlwind and Brooke stood there all alone. “Bye.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. At one time, she had loved calling him, now it was only out of necessity. When she was a little girl, she could talk to him for hours, now only a few minutes were needed. Hard to believe that they used to be best friends, but look what years and distance could do to the bond of friendship.
“Yeah?” He always answered the same.
“She’s on her way.”
“Good, I was thinking maybe we’d take a trip to Tahiti or Mexico. Catch some rays and then I need to be in the studio and thought maybe she’d want to come in and maybe record something. I don’t know…” She could hear the excitement pouring through the phone.
“Justin,” she interrupted him. “You know my rules. Not until she’s 18. You don’t even put a microphone in front of her until she’s legal.”
“She’s fifteen, Brooke. Let her do what she wants to do. I was in Europe performing when I was fifteen.”
“And look how well you turned out!” She bit out.
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”
“I shouldn’t have said that.” She ran a hand thorough her hair. “I want her to get an education and go to college. If she wants your life after that…”
“Is my life so horrible?” he asked softly.
“Justin…” she sighed, not wanting to get into this discussion.
“I’m serious, Brooke. I can provide for you and her. All you have to do is ask.”
“It’s not like that. Not anymore.” She said softly, horrified that she could feel the tears start to well. Her life wasn’t rich, but she was comfortable.
“It could be.”
“No.” she said sharply, more sharply than it probably warranted.
“Fine.” He ground out.
“I just wanted to say that she was on her way and you know the rules.”
“I know the rules, Brooke. You’re always reminding me.”
“If things get out of hand, she comes home.”
“They never do.” She could almost see him rolling his eyes.
“Tell that to Jake when she was ten and you took her to Hawaii and you both were mobbed on the beach during Spring Break. I have the pictures to prove it.”
“That was a fluke.”
“I don’t care. Or how about the time when you took her out to dinner in L.A. when she was eight and the paparazzi snapped enough pictures that I could have had a scrap book of that one dinner. Or the time that your car was stolen by rabid fans when she was twelve with all of your things in it when you took her to the VMAs and you were afraid that you wouldn’t be able to get home. Jake was lucky enough to call you a cab, but there was still a moment when you thought you were going to have to move since they had all of your information and they kept prank calling both of your cell phones. I could keep going, Justin.”
“I love her too, Brooke.” He said softly, ignoring the stories.
His voice washed over her and she struggled to stay firm. “I know. I need to go.”
“I’m not a bad guy, Brooke, no matter how much you want to paint me as such.”
“Bye, Justin.”
“Bye.”
~*~
“I’m driving my own car, Dad.”
“If that’s what you want… I could have a limo sitting outside in under five minutes if you’d just let me…”
“No. I’m doing this on my own. I don’t want to be known as your daughter. I want to be me if I’m going to do this.”
Brooke stood off to the side watching her daughter pack her life’s belongings into a duffel bag as she argued with Justin about transportation. She’d promised Hayley that after she graduated if she still wanted to be a singer, she could go off to Los Angeles. or Tennesee or wherever she needed to go to make it, just as long as she graduated. And graduation had taken place the day before. The stubborn glint in her eyes reminded her so much of how he’d been at that age. Stubborn, driven, and on top of the world.
“I can make it easier…”
“No, and that’s final.” Hayley slung the bag up on her shoulder and moved to the doorway, kissing Brooke on the cheek. “I’ll call when I get there.”
Brooke gave her one last hug before watching her daughter walk out the door, ignoring Justin as he stood back letting them say their goodbyes. Wrapping her arms around herself, she shut the front door and headed towards her room, listening as he daughter’s car drove to Los Angeles. He could see himself out and she was going to have herself a good cry.
“Brooke?”
She paused in the doorway, not wanting to talk, but not quite able to let go of the past either. “I’m okay, Justin. Give her another hug for me when you see her.”
“Jake’s already settled into the area, if its any comfort.”
“Not really, but thanks for trying. You can see yourself out.” She waited a beat before moving further down the hallway, entering her room, but before she could close the door, a hand slid in pushing it open again.
“I…”
She looked into those familiar blue eyes and saw the same pain that she was feeling at that moment. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him. “She grew up, Justin. When did that happen?”
He moved her toward the bed and sat down, arms wrapped around her shoulders. “She’ll be fine, Brooke.”
“I don’t know what to do now.”
“Well…”
“No.”
“You’d see her more often.”
“No.”
“Come on, Brooke.”
“No.”
He sighed, not knowing how to convince her, but knowing it was time to finally talk. “I miss you.”
“Ha.” She sniffed, wiping a hand across her wet face.
“I do. These past years, only seeing you because of her. Its been hard.”
“Then why…”
“Because I was young. Iwas full of myself. I was in the spotlight so much that I was beginning to believe my own hype. And what I couldn’t admit, still have a hard time admitting, is that I fell in love with my best friend and screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me. That night…”
“That night I came to you for friendship and comfort after breaking up with Brian and we ended up sleeping together.”
“I know. I don’t… I took advantage of you.”
“No, if we’re admitting things, I feel for you too. I just… it happened and I was hurt when you went all celebrity on me and…it was really hard when you told me that we couldn’t be together because of your fans.”
“I…”
“You told me that nothing serious could ever be between us as long as you were famous and that you were going to e famous for a very long time so to move on.”
“I know.”
“Years of friendship tossed aside because you were full of yourself.”
“I’m well aware of what I did and what I regret.”
“And how about all of the years you wasted before finally starting to get to know Haley?”
“Brooke, Hayley and I have made our peace. And I’m trying to do that with you now.”
She stood up, needing space from him. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. “I forgave you a long time ago, J. We’re just two very different people now.”
“No, we’re not. We’ve changed, but deep down we’re still the same people that at the age of four, met and sat down in a park and played in the sand box until our parents came to take us home and cried and clung to each other, because even then we couldn’t be separated.”
“Justin…”
“I’m not giving up on you, Brooke. I did once before, but not again.” He crossed the room, reaching up to cup her cheek. Looking down at her, he gently kissed her forehead before leaving the room. “You know where I am, Brooke, when you’re ready.”
~*~
She reached up and rang the doorbell, chewing on her bottom lip. What was she doing here? When the door opened and she those blue eyes twinkling; the same as her daughter’s, the same blue eyes from her dreams and her childhood, the ones that haunted her, she knew. She was home.
He glanced over and noticed the kid had finally taken his advice and tried to sleep. His long form was folded up in the uncomfortable chair, limbs askew, and his face covered by the baseball hat that he always wore out in public. It really didn’t do too much to protect his identity, but it gave him some comfort knowing that only the few that were truly looking for him would spot him, instead of the mass majority that would if he didn’t have it on. Another doctor ran through the room as an overhead page called him to surgery. How long did it take a baby to arrive?
The television was turned down low so as not to disturb the few in the room, but the current show caught his attention and he moved quickly, flipping the volume switch to a more moderate level. “This is Mary Hart with Entertainment Tonight. We’ve just heard that Justin Timberlake is expecting. The name of the mother and the sex of the child is unknown at this time, but a source close to the Star told ET that the mother was a close friend of the Star and that the two were planning to be married as soon as the child was born. ET has not yet been able to reach Justin’s representative for a comment at this time, but if this story is to be believed, the mother should be due at any moment. Will the long-time bachelor be off the market in a few months time? ET will let you know as soon as we do. Congratulations, Justin.” Shit. He looked once more over at his sleeping charge and turned the television off.
“Jordan? Yeah, I saw it.” He turned the volume down on his phone and stepped outside the room as to not awaken him. “I don’t know who leaked it.”
“Yeah…”
“Okay. When you find who leaked it, I want to talk to them personally.”
“I promise not to break every bone in their body, only because I don’t want to see him on the gossip mags for having a wayward bodyguard.”
“No. I’ll tell him myself. You just do your job and shut this down.” He flipped the phone shut and blanched when he saw Doctor Adams heading down the hall. Walking back into the room, he nudged him awake. He moved their coats and sat down next to him; ready to protect him if anything had gone wrong.
“Mr Dunne, Mr. Timberlake?”
Blue eyes widened, all traces of sleepiness gone. “How is she?”
“Mother and daughter are fine. She took a little bit longer to completely dilate than we thought she would, but after that, the labor went quickly and both are recovering after a long day. Do you want to see them?”
He looked at Jake, then back at the doctor. “Has she named her yet?”
“Hayley Jay Davis.”
“Hayley” He breathed out as it finally hit him. He had a baby. “Can I see her?”
The doctor lifted his eyebrows, not mentioning the singular, but nodded. “She’s in the maternity ward down the hall. Her name’s on the crib. Brooke is in Room 714.” He reached out to shake their hands. “Congratulations.”
He watched the doctor walk away, staring down the hall, paralyzed with indecision. “Jake?”
“Yeah, J?”
“I’m a Dad. A full fledged Dad. She named her after me. ”
“Yup. But, are we going to stand here all night or go see this new little gal that has your genes running through her?”
“Oh… right.” He stumbled a step, indecision still at war within him, but his steps picked up, almost purposeful as he walked to the room where he’d see his little girl. The glass wall stood floor to ceiling. He placed his hand against it and sighed, looking down at the most perfect being in existence. His daughter. “Jake, that little girl is mine.”
Jake looked at his charge and then down the hall. But what about Brooke, J, what about Brooke?
~*~
Light seeped into the room through the crack in the blinds, illuminating only the tiny form wrapped tightly in the bed linens. An older woman sat next to the bed, her head bowed on the bed taking what looked like to be a nap as she held the hand of the patient.
The nurse smiled at the new mother and grandmother, holding a small bundle in her arms. Rest was so important right after birth, but feeding was just as imperative. “Ms. Davis?” She reached down and gently shook the woman on the shoulder. “Feeding time for Miss Hayley Jay.”
Brown eyes opened and smiled sleepily, arms reaching up to take her daughter, but the nurse shook her head. She reached out and pushed a button on the side of the bed, raising the back before handing the baby over to her to feed. “Do you need help with anything or have any questions, before I leave you be?” She checked her vitals, pausing to await her answer.
“No.” The young woman smiled, before gently opening the front of her gown to allow the baby to feed. “I’ve got my mother here with me if anything important should come up.” She glanced down at the sleeping woman and laughed softly to herself. “But, if she continues to sleep this heavy, I’ll ring you.”
The nurse smiled widely. “It’s amazing how a birth wipes out the entire family and not just the mother. This little one’s daddy spent all night awaiting her arrival and all morning, watching her sleep. His friend finally dragged him home about an hour ago.”
“Her daddy?” her brown eyes widened, before glancing down at her mother, down at her baby whose bright blue eyes were watching her in fascination, before looking back at the nurse. “I didn’t….”
“It’s none of my business. Let me know if you need anything. When she’s finished, she’ll need to be burped and when she’s ready to rest, just ring that bell by the bed and I’ll come and get her.” The nurse turned and left; more patients to see to.
“Mom?” she whispered, when she didn’t get a response, she spoke a little louder. “Mom?”
“Hmmm.” the woman blinked slowly, before comprehension dawned on her face and she recognized her surroundings and the events from the night before. “How is she?”
“She’s perfect.” Brooke smiled down at her, before wrinkling her brow in confusion. “Did you call Justin?”
Her mother flushed guiltily. “I thought he should know.”
“But we talked about this.”
“I know, but the man has the right to know that his daughter was being born.”
“He wants nothing to do with her.”
“Then why was he here last night?”
“I don’t know, but he told me when we first found out not to plan for a future with him in it. If I did this, it was just me and Hayley.”
“Honey, that was shock talking.”
“He gave up all his rights at that moment.” She frowned, absently running a hand over her daughter’s head.
“He might say something different now that he’s seen her and held her.”
“I don’t want him in her life.”
“Maybe, you should let him decide on that.”
“Mom…”
“Honey, it took both of you to get to this point. Did you ever think that it might take you both to continue to the next point?”
She chewed on her bottom lip in thought, and then shook her head. “That night was a mistake. He and I both knew it, but somehow we needed each other. Would I go back and change anything? No. I got Hayley out of the deal. Do I regret it? Yes. I also lost my best friend that night and I don’t see how it can be fixed. We’ve known him since both of us were in diapers, Mom, he doesn’t change his mind. If he was here last night, it was to make sure nothing went wrong and ruined his future. Not for me or Hayley. Justin, the pop star, always comes first, no one else.”
“I think someone has become jaded and bitter where their friend is concerned. Where’s the little girl who idolized her best friend and would do anything for him?”
“She died when she was disappointed one too many times.”
“Brooke…”
“Mom, lets just drop it. Lately, all we do is disagree when it comes to him. Hayley and I don’t need him and he doesn’t want us.”
Linda Davis let her daughter gently caress her daughter’s head as she fed and didn’t say another word about the young man who used to bring her daughter tulips from his yard whenever he had made her mad when he was only 8 years old, or the young man who had sat with her daughter all night long when she’d wrecked her dad’s car and she couldn’t sleep due to nightmares of headlights and trees. All her daughter remembered were the bad times and maybe that’s all she wanted to remember for fear of being hurt again.
~*~
Jake noticed that his hair was standing up straight, curls everywhere. That usually meant that things were not going well. He noticed a hand come up and plow through his hair, while his other hand held a phone to his ear, and smiled. Definitely, not well.
“What are you smiling at?” He snarled at him.
“I’m just happy to know that you’re still so predictable.”
“Jake…” He threatened, before his whomever he was talking to came back on the line. “Yes?”
Jake sat down on the couch, put his feet up on the armrest and closed his eyes. He had a feeling this conversation was going to take a long time.
“What do you mean I gave up all rights? I did no such thing.”
“According to Ms. Davis’ attorney, you gave her verbal acquiescence to let her raise her daughter and that you would relinquish all rights to Baby Davis.” His attorney told him very carefully. “Is this true, Justin?”
“I…” He racked his brain. He didn’t remember this conversation taking place, but then when he’d first found out about her pregnancy, he was in the middle of an international tour. “I don’t remember. The conversation could’ve taken place, but I didn’t sign anything. I want to be able to help raise my daughter, Alan.”
His attorney’s voice softened. “I know, Justin. But, Florida courts are known to rule in favor of the mother nine times out of ten unless you can show that Brooke is an unfit mother. And she doesn’t seem to be. She has valid reasons, Justin. Your lifestyle, your time commitment to your job, living in different residences during the year; it’s not a suitable lifestyle to raise a baby. Have you thought about her compromise at all?”
“Monthly visits? No way. I want more time then 2-3 hours a month. I want my daughter to know me.”
“What about summers?”
“Summers are the worst time for me.” He mumbled, feeling defeat crash around him. “Alan, what are my chances if we take this to court?” He asked softly.
“Honestly… Justin, you’re hardly at home, your daughter would be raised primarily through nannies, she’d be jerked around to three different homes, and would hardly know any stability. I’m not saying that as a baby it would be bad, but when she got older, Justin, what about school? Friends? Her social acclimation? Had you thought about that?
I’m willing to go as far as you want with this, Justin, but I have to be honest… take the deal. When she’s older, she can come visit you in the summer and school breaks, but let her stay with her mother. We’ll get the visits in writing and bi-monthly weekend visits in her city so that the baby is close to her mom… at least till she’s older.” He paused waiting for his employer’s reaction, he hoped he hadn’t gone too far this time. Justin usually appreciated forthrightness.
“Thanks, Alan. I’ll call you back with my decision.” He hung up before Alan could say good-bye and sat down at his desk. He pulled Hayley’s picture out of his wallet and smiled, one finger gently rubbing against her face. His daughter. She was three months old now and already he could see traces of him, from her smile to her bright blue eyes. She had her mother’s dimple and her dark brown hair, but he was in there. It wasn’t just Brooke. Brooke didn’t conceive her on her own and she damn well wasn’t going to raise her on her own.
Looking to see if Jake was awake, a gentle snore emitted from that area of the room, and he smiled. Jake was his lifeline. His bodyguard. H could count on him for everything and the man gave till he was dry. He’d do the same for Hayley if he asked him to.
Making a decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret, he picked up the phone and called her. It was time to speak to her and not through their lawyers. “Brooke?”
“Justin?”
“Don’t hang up. I need to talk to you.”
“The only thing I need to say to you has been conveyed by my lawyer.”
“Brooke!”
“Justin! Leave me alone! Leave me and Hayley alone! You gave up your rights, why are you doing this?”
“Brooke, you told me I was going to be a father in the middle of an international tour after we had a one-night stand and I wasn’t sure if I was going to ever see you again. We were both emotional and distraught the night Hayley was conceived and part of it leaked out when I saw you again. You didn’t give me much chance to be a father, let alone digest the fact that I wanted to be a father when you told me. You told me, waited for the reaction that you wanted, and then left for parts unknown. That wasn’t fair, Brooke.”
“You have a different life, Justin. A life that we can’t be a part of.”
“And who gave you the right to decide that?”
“Justin…”
“Brooke, listen to me.”
“I’m through listening to you and not having you follow through. This is me, Justin. Not one of your bimbos on the road. And this is also the life that you want for your daughter? She’s a brand new toy to you right now, but what happens when you tire of her? Pawn her off to your mother or heaven forbid a nanny?”
“Just listen…”
“No. I’ve heard your thoughts from your lawyer and if you want to play hardball, then we’ll play. I gave you a compromise and if that’s not good enough, then I’ll take her away, Justin. You’ll never see her again.” Her voice hitched as if she was fighting off a sob.
“Brooke,” he broke in hurriedly, “that’s not what I want. I wanted you to know, I was backing off. I want you to have custody.” He could hear the soft sobs through the phone, and tried to hurry and get it out, before he too broke down. “I’ll take the compromise, but under one condition.”
“What?” She whispered.
“I want her to have Jake.”
“Your bodyguard, why?”
“For both of you; when news gets out and it will, Brooke. When news gets out that she’s mine, I want her to have the best. I’ll still pay his salary, but he’ll be there 24-7 for her and you. Also, monthly visits aren’t enough. I want to see her at least bi-monthly. You don’t have to be around if seeing me is too much, but she’s mine too, Brooke. She’s part of me. Don’t take her away from me. Your concerns are valid with my lifestyle, but don’t take her away from me in spite.”
“Justin…”
“Just think about it.”
“Okay.” She sighed into the phone.
“Thanks, Brooke.”
“Goodbye, Justin.”
The click in his ear sounded final, but he knew she’d take it. He couldn’t explain how he knew, but deep down he knew.
~*~
“Hayley, danger” Brooke’s eyes widened as her daughter’s hand stretched up toward the ironing board. “Danger.” Watching her daughter grow up was probably the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. The past few years had flown and Hayley was fast approaching her third birthday. The older she got, the more she began to look like Justin. She had Brooke’s color of hair, but the curls belonged to her daddy, as did the bright blue eyes. Sometimes, she felt like he was looking back at her from her daughter’s face. They both could turn those eyes into lethal weapons if they wanted.
Her daughter’s hand hesitated and she held her breath, knowing she couldn’t rush over there and protect her as much as she wanted to; the girl needed to learn. Finally, she looked at her mom questioningly before her hand came down, a smile crossing her face as she forgot about the ironing. She giggled and ran to her mom, hugging Brooke’s legs tightly.
Jake watched from the doorway, before glancing down at his watch. Justin was late. Again. He looked over his shoulder at Brooke and sighed. The phone call should be coming soon. As if on cue, his cell phone rang. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew the small phone and flipped it open. “You’re late.”
“I’m still in Cincinnati.”
“Justin….”
“I couldn’t get a flight out.”
“Then you should’ve called earlier.” He looked up to see, Brooke jerk Hayley into her arms and walk from the room.
“I tried, the phone kept ringing.” The internet…
“Then you should’ve tried my cell.”
“I don’t answer to you, Jake.”
“No, but you do answer to that little girl in there, the life of your daughter that you were so adamant to be part of. You can’t keep disappointing her, Justin.”
“I…”
“Justin…”
“It’s hard right now with the tour.” He could hear the pout over the phone and rolled his eyes.
“I know, but that girl doesn’t understand. She looks more like you every day; you need to be a part of this. She’s talking, walking, running, jumping… so many things, J.”
“I’m trying.”
“Then try harder.” He spit the words out through his teeth.
“Can I talk to Brooke?”
“Not right now.” He looked down the hall, seeing the door closed tight.
“Where is she?”
“Not here.” He lied.
“I’ll call back.”
“Justin….”
“I’m trying, Jake.”
~*~
“Jake, why don’t my mom and dad get along?”
Jake looked down at the little pixie that floated along beside him, ice cream all over her face as she tried to devour the chocolate cone. He reached out and ruffled her hair, sighing deeply. He’d taken her to the zoo when Justin had canceled one too many visits and Brooke had been the one answer the phone.
“Some things are meant to be, peanut.”
She looked up, those blue eyes piercing him as she searched his face to see if what he said was truth. He’d told her when she was five and started asking questions about her mom and dad that he’d never lie to her, and he hadn’t yet. He’d been the one to explain the idea of “celebrity”, why all the girls loved her dad, why he wasn’t around as much as he wanted, and he was also the one to explain why her parents weren’t together. Apparently, now he would be the one to explain what had happened ten years ago, when she’d been conceived. “Why not?”
He pulled her over to the bench and sat her down. “Did your folks ever tell you that they used to be best friends?”
“No.”
“They’ve known each other since they were little, littler than you.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah… your mom knew your dad before e he even started singing.”
“That must’ve been cool.”
“Yeah….” He ran a hand through his hair. “They were as close as you and Becca are.”
“What happened?”
“Things changed. He became a big star and left your mom at home. He got to do all of the things that they had always dreamed about doing together, and she stayed home and finished school.”
“But, if she’d talked to him…”
“She did and he was young; he didn’t always listen and it hurt her feelings.”
“Oh.”
“Remember when Becca went to Europe for a few weeks and you were really jealous?”
“Yeah, I didn’t speak to her for a whole week.”
“It was something similar at first, but then… all they did was fight.”
“But, they were friends.”
“Sometimes… too many arguments can change a person.”
“But, if you really love someone…”
“Peanut, there’s a fine line between love and hate.”
“They must’ve loved each other to have me.” She said softly, forgetting about her cone as her feet drifted around the dirt. “Right?”
“Your mom and dad love you very much. Just because they don’t get along, doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Most of the time, they’re arguing about you, wanting only the best.”
“What happened, Jake?”
“They changed, Peanut. They drifted apart. You’ll understand when you get older. They still have you though.”
“I just want them to be happy.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to do my best so that they don’t fight anymore. Maybe…”
“As long as you’re you… they won’t have anything to fight about, except their silly misconceptions.”
“What’s misconceptions?”
“Silly ideas.”
“Oh…”
“Give it time peanut, and don’t let it get to you. Eventually they will figure it out.”
“Can we go look at the zebras?”
Jake wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and urged the ten year old forward. She may not understand all of it, but she understood when to let it go. Whatever was between Brooke and Justin would remain between them as long as he was here. He’d keep the little girl safe and happy, let the two of them kill the other, but the girl would be normal.
~*~
Brooke smoothed down her daughter’s hair, waiting for the frown and her to move her hair back into place.
“Mom, stop.” The teenager’s expression darkened as she pushed her hair off her forehead. “I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“I know.” She tried not to take her into her arms one last time before she boarded the plane. Hayley was going to visit Justin for the summer in Tennessee. She was worried that this trip would be too much for her. Last time she was out there, they had been overtaken by the paparazzi and pictures of her daughter had been splashed all over the internet and the trash magazines. It had terrified her, while her daughter had thrived in it. Her friends at school had thought it was the coolest thing to see her in the papers. While, Brooke had a heart attack every time the phone rang. But, eventually it had blown over and everything had gone back to normal. As normal as it was with Jake going everywhere they went.
Jake had been with them now for fifteen years and it still amazed her how much he had become a part of the family. He went everywhere with them, well with Hayley. He was currently standing off to the side waiting for them to say goodbye before they boarded the plane.
“Don’t forget to call when you get there.”
“I won’t.” The perpetual teenage scowl was back on her face as she pushed her bag up her shoulder. “Mom, we’re going to miss our flight if you keep this up.”
“Don’t give your Dad any lip.”
“Like I would…”
“You give me lip.”
“You’re my Mom… he’s just Dad, you know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“He’s always, like, trying to impress me. Taking me out on the town. Showing me how cool he is. You’re just Mom.”
It was Brooke’s turn to frown. “We talked about you not being out in the public so much.”
“Dad’s a big kid, Mom. He does what he wants.” She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t answer to you.”
“He does when he has you. You’re going to come straight home, if I see pictures of you again.”
“Mom…”
“I’m serious.”
“Sure.” She looked over at Jake and waved. “We need to go, Mom. The plane’s going to be boarding soon and we still need to go through security.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.” After a quick hug goodbye, she was gone in a whirlwind and Brooke stood there all alone. “Bye.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. At one time, she had loved calling him, now it was only out of necessity. When she was a little girl, she could talk to him for hours, now only a few minutes were needed. Hard to believe that they used to be best friends, but look what years and distance could do to the bond of friendship.
“Yeah?” He always answered the same.
“She’s on her way.”
“Good, I was thinking maybe we’d take a trip to Tahiti or Mexico. Catch some rays and then I need to be in the studio and thought maybe she’d want to come in and maybe record something. I don’t know…” She could hear the excitement pouring through the phone.
“Justin,” she interrupted him. “You know my rules. Not until she’s 18. You don’t even put a microphone in front of her until she’s legal.”
“She’s fifteen, Brooke. Let her do what she wants to do. I was in Europe performing when I was fifteen.”
“And look how well you turned out!” She bit out.
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”
“I shouldn’t have said that.” She ran a hand thorough her hair. “I want her to get an education and go to college. If she wants your life after that…”
“Is my life so horrible?” he asked softly.
“Justin…” she sighed, not wanting to get into this discussion.
“I’m serious, Brooke. I can provide for you and her. All you have to do is ask.”
“It’s not like that. Not anymore.” She said softly, horrified that she could feel the tears start to well. Her life wasn’t rich, but she was comfortable.
“It could be.”
“No.” she said sharply, more sharply than it probably warranted.
“Fine.” He ground out.
“I just wanted to say that she was on her way and you know the rules.”
“I know the rules, Brooke. You’re always reminding me.”
“If things get out of hand, she comes home.”
“They never do.” She could almost see him rolling his eyes.
“Tell that to Jake when she was ten and you took her to Hawaii and you both were mobbed on the beach during Spring Break. I have the pictures to prove it.”
“That was a fluke.”
“I don’t care. Or how about the time when you took her out to dinner in L.A. when she was eight and the paparazzi snapped enough pictures that I could have had a scrap book of that one dinner. Or the time that your car was stolen by rabid fans when she was twelve with all of your things in it when you took her to the VMAs and you were afraid that you wouldn’t be able to get home. Jake was lucky enough to call you a cab, but there was still a moment when you thought you were going to have to move since they had all of your information and they kept prank calling both of your cell phones. I could keep going, Justin.”
“I love her too, Brooke.” He said softly, ignoring the stories.
His voice washed over her and she struggled to stay firm. “I know. I need to go.”
“I’m not a bad guy, Brooke, no matter how much you want to paint me as such.”
“Bye, Justin.”
“Bye.”
~*~
“I’m driving my own car, Dad.”
“If that’s what you want… I could have a limo sitting outside in under five minutes if you’d just let me…”
“No. I’m doing this on my own. I don’t want to be known as your daughter. I want to be me if I’m going to do this.”
Brooke stood off to the side watching her daughter pack her life’s belongings into a duffel bag as she argued with Justin about transportation. She’d promised Hayley that after she graduated if she still wanted to be a singer, she could go off to Los Angeles. or Tennesee or wherever she needed to go to make it, just as long as she graduated. And graduation had taken place the day before. The stubborn glint in her eyes reminded her so much of how he’d been at that age. Stubborn, driven, and on top of the world.
“I can make it easier…”
“No, and that’s final.” Hayley slung the bag up on her shoulder and moved to the doorway, kissing Brooke on the cheek. “I’ll call when I get there.”
Brooke gave her one last hug before watching her daughter walk out the door, ignoring Justin as he stood back letting them say their goodbyes. Wrapping her arms around herself, she shut the front door and headed towards her room, listening as he daughter’s car drove to Los Angeles. He could see himself out and she was going to have herself a good cry.
“Brooke?”
She paused in the doorway, not wanting to talk, but not quite able to let go of the past either. “I’m okay, Justin. Give her another hug for me when you see her.”
“Jake’s already settled into the area, if its any comfort.”
“Not really, but thanks for trying. You can see yourself out.” She waited a beat before moving further down the hallway, entering her room, but before she could close the door, a hand slid in pushing it open again.
“I…”
She looked into those familiar blue eyes and saw the same pain that she was feeling at that moment. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him. “She grew up, Justin. When did that happen?”
He moved her toward the bed and sat down, arms wrapped around her shoulders. “She’ll be fine, Brooke.”
“I don’t know what to do now.”
“Well…”
“No.”
“You’d see her more often.”
“No.”
“Come on, Brooke.”
“No.”
He sighed, not knowing how to convince her, but knowing it was time to finally talk. “I miss you.”
“Ha.” She sniffed, wiping a hand across her wet face.
“I do. These past years, only seeing you because of her. Its been hard.”
“Then why…”
“Because I was young. Iwas full of myself. I was in the spotlight so much that I was beginning to believe my own hype. And what I couldn’t admit, still have a hard time admitting, is that I fell in love with my best friend and screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me. That night…”
“That night I came to you for friendship and comfort after breaking up with Brian and we ended up sleeping together.”
“I know. I don’t… I took advantage of you.”
“No, if we’re admitting things, I feel for you too. I just… it happened and I was hurt when you went all celebrity on me and…it was really hard when you told me that we couldn’t be together because of your fans.”
“I…”
“You told me that nothing serious could ever be between us as long as you were famous and that you were going to e famous for a very long time so to move on.”
“I know.”
“Years of friendship tossed aside because you were full of yourself.”
“I’m well aware of what I did and what I regret.”
“And how about all of the years you wasted before finally starting to get to know Haley?”
“Brooke, Hayley and I have made our peace. And I’m trying to do that with you now.”
She stood up, needing space from him. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. “I forgave you a long time ago, J. We’re just two very different people now.”
“No, we’re not. We’ve changed, but deep down we’re still the same people that at the age of four, met and sat down in a park and played in the sand box until our parents came to take us home and cried and clung to each other, because even then we couldn’t be separated.”
“Justin…”
“I’m not giving up on you, Brooke. I did once before, but not again.” He crossed the room, reaching up to cup her cheek. Looking down at her, he gently kissed her forehead before leaving the room. “You know where I am, Brooke, when you’re ready.”
~*~
She reached up and rang the doorbell, chewing on her bottom lip. What was she doing here? When the door opened and she those blue eyes twinkling; the same as her daughter’s, the same blue eyes from her dreams and her childhood, the ones that haunted her, she knew. She was home.