Handle With Care (Special Delivery Book 3)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “I’ll send Grammy C. in if I need reinforcement.”

  “Oooo…You play dirty,” Tess joked, a yawn quickly following.

  “When I have to,” Brooke agreed. She could sense Tess’s will to fight slipping. “Please, Tess. I feel bad enough that I couldn’t be here today.”

  Tess smiled and kissed Brooke tenderly. “You have nothing to feel bad about. And, you do play dirty,” she chuckled. “You know that’s the way to win this argument.”

  “Well? Did it work?”

  Tess shook her head affectionately. “I’m going,” Tess acquiesced. She stretched up and placed a soft kiss on Brooke’s lips. “Beware, if I get my second wind, you might be in for another long night on call,” she teased. Tess winked and headed for the stairs. “Don’t take too long, Doctor Banner.”

  Brooke swallowed hard. Jesus, how does she do that? She watched Tess climb the stairs, shook her head slightly, and headed off to complete her tasks. Brooke walked into the kitchen with the pizza boxes in hand to find her mother finishing the dishes. “Thanks.”

  Rebecca Campbell turned and smiled at her daughter. “Made her go up, huh?”

  “It wasn’t easy.”

  “I’ll bet not. She just wants it all done,” Rebecca said. “You know, she suspects that you are up to something.”

  “You think she knows?” Brooke began to panic slightly.

  “That you have planned a wedding without her knowledge? No,” Rebecca laughed. “I think that’s the furthest thing from her mind.”

  “Then what…”

  “She’s probably imagining you are going to have some expensive gaming equipment or a whole new gym delivered or something,” Rebecca guessed. “Brooke?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I make a suggestion?”

  “I don’t know. It depends on the suggestion,” Brooke replied.

  “Tell her.”

  “About the wedding?”

  “No, about the new gym! Of course, about the wedding!”

  “Why? You think it’s a bad idea? You think she’s…”

  “Bee!”

  “What?” Brooke jumped.

  Rebecca laughed, grabbed Brooke’s arm and led her to the small kitchen table to sit. “Take a breath,” she told Brooke.

  “Is it? A bad idea?”

  “No, Bee. She will love it. Look, I just think maybe she might have some things she would like to do or contribute to.”

  “Shit. I suck.”

  Rebecca smiled. “No, honey. I am as sure as I have ever been that Tess is going to be touched and more than a little surprised.”

  “Not if I tell her now,” disappointment colored Brooke’s voice.

  “Bee,” Rebecca softened her voice. “Tess loves you.”

  “I know. That’s why I wanted to do this. I…”

  “I know that,” Rebecca stopped her daughter’s thoughts. “You are driving yourself crazy. It’s only a day, Bee. Tell her. It will take the pressure off of both of you.”

  “What if she…”

  “Bee?”

  “Yeah?”

  “She’s going to love it, I promise.”

  “You think the kids will give it away, don’t you?” Brooke guessed.

  “Maybe not. I think they like having the secret. I think Tess will want a chance to think about her vows, Bee. Maybe to think about what she would like to give to you. That’s what I think.”

  “She’s given me everything, Mom. That’s the point.”

  Rebecca smiled at her daughter. She agreed with Brooke’s sentiment. She’d never seen Brooke as happy as she was with Tess. Brooke’s feelings were written all over her face every time Tess walked into a room, every time someone mentioned Tess’s name. And, Brooke was the same way with Dani and Davey. What Brooke was unable to see that Rebecca could see with clarity was how much Tess needed and loved Brooke. Rebecca had grown extremely close to her future daughter-in-law. She understood completely that Tess wanted to give Brooke everything as well.

  “I know you see it that way….”

  “Because it is that way,” Brooke said. “Mom…I mean…I think about things with Tess that I never thought I could have. I have things with her I never thought I would have.”

  “I know, Bee. You have to know that she feels that way about you too. Marriage isn’t about one person giving to the other, it’s about two people giving themselves to each other. It’s mutual, Bee. Trust me on this one.”

  “How do I tell her?”

  Rebecca laughed. “Sometimes, Bee, I don’t know how you function. What were you going to do? Just hand her a wedding dress on Sunday?” Rebecca asked. Brooke shrugged. Rebecca laughed harder. “So? Hand her the wedding dress tomorrow morning instead.”

  “It would make things easier, “Brooke admitted. “And, she would love to see Gary. I would love to see Dad…”

  Rebecca patted Brooke’s hand. “Tell her. I’ll arrange for a little dinner tomorrow night, okay? With everyone. What do you say?”

  “Like a rehearsal dinner?”

  “If you need to rehearse,” Rebecca laughed again.

  “I do. She’s great with words. You know, she’ll want us to say our own vows. Me? I tried to prepare for that, just in case. Everything I write, I end up tossing it. It sounds like a bad Hallmark commercial.”

  “Just tell her how you feel,” Rebecca laughed. She stood up and headed back to the sink. “I’ll finish this up and let myself out. You go get the kids in bed.”

  “Here’s hoping.”

  “They’re tired too, trust me,” Rebecca said assuredly.

  “You sure?”

  “It’s just a few dishes and pizza boxes.”

  “I meant that I should tell Tess.”

  Rebecca nodded. “I think so, Bee.”

  “If she…”

  “Stop worrying. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Brooke nodded and headed toward the stairs. Stop worrying? How do I do that? What if she tells me I am nuts? Who am I kidding? I am nuts! Why did I think I could pull this off? She’s going to think I am nuts. Because you are, Brooke. Brooke shook off her mental battle and made her way toward Davey and Dani’s rooms. Maybe she’ll be asleep by the time I get them to bed.

  Chapter Three

  “You’re going to tell Mom?” Davey asked. Brooke saw the disappointment in his eyes and sighed. “But, it’s like our secret,” he told her.

  “And, you two have been great,” Brooke said. “Grammy brought up a good point. Mom might like to see Uncle Gary, you know? Before the big day. And, maybe there is something that she wants to do. It’s her wedding too. I guess, I should have thought about that a little more.”

  Dani sensed Brooke’s worry and moved closer to her on Davey’s bed. “It’s okay, Brooke. It’s kind of like Christmas. Sometimes you know what you’re getting, but it’s still cool when you get it.”

  “Yeah,” Davey agreed.

  Brooke forced a smiled. She was beginning to question her entire idea, wondering if it had been selfish. “You still up for standing with me, D.?” she asked. Davey nodded excitedly.

  “What if Mom doesn’t want me to?” Dani’s voice grew small.

  “Huh?” Brooke looked at Dani. “What if your mom doesn’t want you to what?”

  “To stand with her like Davey is with you,” Dani said. “What if she wants someone else?”

  ***

  Tess had been tossing and turning for almost a full hour. Brooke was still not in bed and she could hear the distant sound of Davey’s voice every so often down the hall. How are those two still awake? She yawned and stretched in the bed and reluctantly pulled herself to her feet. Brooke was right, Tess was completely wiped. But, for some reason, she just could not settle down and relax without Brooke tonight. Tess wasn’t sure why that was. She shrugged it off as being the first night in a new place—their place. Nervous energy. Everyone in the family seemed to be plagued by nervous energy, no matter how tired everyone was.

  Tess rubbed
her eyes, yawned again, and made her way toward Davey’s room. Just get them to bed and then you can get some sleep.

  ***

  Brooke was puzzled by Dani’s question. She regarded the young girl thoughtfully for a moment. “Dani,” Brooke began. “Why would you think that?” she asked. Dani shrugged, her eyes cast downward.

  “Hey,” Brooke reached across the short distance and put her hand on Dani’s knee. “Dani?”

  “I don’t know. She doesn’t know. What if she wants Uncle Gary to or…”

  Brooke sighed. “Dani,” she said. “No one is more important to your mom than you and D.—no one, not even me.”

  Dani looked up, hopefulness and skepticism mingling in her expression before casting her eyes downward again. “You asked Davey.”

  Brooke sighed again. “Because I knew your Mom would want you two to be part of things,” Brooke explained. “Since there are two of you, I just flipped a coin,” she said. Dani looked back at Brooke in astonishment.

  Brooke chuckled. It was the truth. It seemed the only fair way to come to a decision. She had even had her mother toss the coin. Brooke had agonized for more than a month over this wedding surprise. The only two people she had immediately involved in her plot were her mother and Gary. Rebecca Campbell had helped Brooke covertly find a dress for Tess by taking Tess out for a fun day. In the midst of shopping, Rebecca had coaxed Tess into having some fun and trying on some wedding dresses. Gary had promised to take care of getting his parents to the event and working to ensure that Mary Sinclair greeted the day with supportive enthusiasm.

  Brooke had paid attention to every detail that she could think of. She listened carefully to everything Tess would say when they discussed a future wedding, prodding gently and asking questions. Small, intimate, quaint, romantic—those were all the words that Tess seemed to use repeatedly. There was only one thing that Tess had been specific about, she wanted Dani and Davey to be at the heart of it all. Brooke felt exactly the same way. She looked at Dani’s downtrodden expression, smiled, and lifted Dani’s face to meet her eyes.

  “Dani,” Brooke said, “Please, believe me, your mom will want you with her every bit as much as I do.”

  “You have Davey.”

  Brooke shook her head. “No, we both will have both of you,” she said.

  Brooke closed her eyes for a minute and gathered her thoughts. She had tried to balance small, romantic, surprise, intimate, and traditional in her plans. Right now, she wished that she had included Tess. Brooke had thought that she had covered all the bases. Parenting was still new to her a year later. She suddenly realized that there could be no choice between the twins. She loved them equally. Tess loved them equally. Brooke loved Tess. This was a family about to commit to that reality. She had thought that her plans had addressed that reality. She silently scolded herself for not realizing how Dani might feel.

  “I’m sorry guys,” Brooke said to the twins.

  “Why are you sorry?” Davey wondered.

  Brooke opened her eyes. She was struggling to suppress her emotion. She shook her head. “I didn’t think enough,” she said. “How about you both just stand with us?”

  “But, don’t we get to give you the rings?” Davey asked.

  Brooke nodded and chuckled slightly. “Of course, you do. But, how about if you both walk with Mom?”

  “What about Grandpa?” Dani asked. “He’s supposed to do that.”

  Brooke nodded. “I think he will understand. Then Davey can stand near me and you can stand near Mom.”

  “Then you will be all alone,” Dani said sadly.

  Brooke smiled genuinely. “Not at all,” she said. “I’ll work it out, okay? I promise. Don’t you worry about me.”

  “What if Mom wants Grandpa to walk with her?” Davey asked.

  “I think Mom will be happy with this idea,” Brooke said. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “I hope she likes it all. I just want you all to be happy,” Brooke mumbled.

  Tess stood against the wall outside Davey’s room, tears had begun to fall over her cheek. She planned a wedding?

  “Brooke?” Dani called for Brooke’s attention.

  “Yeah?”

  “Why are you crying?”

  Brooke smiled. “I guess because I just love you guys.”

  Dani and Davey were both confused. “Then why cry?” Davey asked.

  Brooke laughed. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I want you to be as happy as I am.” Dani reached over and hugged Brooke.

  Brooke accepted the hug gratefully. She was beginning to lose control of her emotions and she did not want the twins to feel the need to comfort her. Her tears were not born of sadness. Brooke was simply overwhelmed by the power of the reality that had suddenly hit her. All of the wedding planning coupled with the move had allowed her to push her emotions back. She pulled back from Dani’s embrace and smiled.

  “I promise, we will make it all work, okay? I will talk to Mom in the morning.”

  “Does that mean we can see Uncle Gary tomorrow?” Davey asked.

  Brooke smiled. “Yes, and Grandma and Grandpa.”

  “What about Grammy?” Dani asked, concern coloring her voice.

  “Grammy too, and you will get to meet my dad in person.”

  “Cool!” Davey said excitedly.

  Tess shook her head outside the room and closed her eyes. Good Lord, Brooke, when did you find time to arrange all of this? She heard the bed squeak slightly and Brooke’s direction for the twins to turn in for the night. She swiftly pivoted to make her way back to the bedroom that she and Brooke shared. Do I tell her that I know? Tess giggled as she made her way into the bedroom. She climbed into the bed and waited for Brooke’s entrance.

  “Okay, you guys need to get some rest,” Brooke instructed the twins. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “And, we can tell Mom?” Dani asked.

  “Give me a chance to talk to her, okay?”

  “Okay,” Dani replied.

  Brooke nodded and made her way to the door. She could feel her nervousness growing with each step she took. How am I going to tell her? Oh, God, this was a mistake. Why did I think I could pull this off without any issues? Brooke walked through the bedroom door and kicked off her shoes. Tess was lying in the bed on her side. Brooke looked at her from a short distance and sighed. Please be happy and not disappointed. She walked the few paces to the side of the bed and bent over to place a kiss on Tess’s head. Just as she was about to, Tess turned and Brooke met a pair of twinkling hazel eyes.

  “You’re awake?” Brooke asked.

  “Mmm,” was the only response that Tess made. She reached up, pulled Brooke closer and kissed Brooke soundly.

  “What was that for?” Brooke asked. “Not that I am complaining.”

  Tess caressed Brooke’s cheek. Brooke closed her eyes and sucked in a nervous breath. “Brooke?” Tess gently prodded. Brooke’s breathing was labored. Tess remained unsure of what to say. She could feel the tension pouring off of Brooke. “Brooke…”

  Brooke opened her eyes. She sighed and closed them again. “I’m sorry.”

  “What on earth are you apologizing for?” Tess asked.

  Brooke shrugged. “Not being here today, thinking I know best, I guess.”

  Tess smiled and coaxed Brooke to look at her. “Thinking you know best?” Tess asked. Brooke let out a small groan. She pulled back and nodded, then held up a finger to instruct Tess to hold on. Tess watched as Brooke pivoted and left the room. What on earth is she up to now? Tess climbed from the bed, slipped on her slippers and made her way down the stairs. She heard the front door open and close and pursed her lips. Oh, boy.

  Brooke opened the back of her SUV, removed a blanket and tossed it into the back seat. She grabbed hold of the large garment bag and let out another sigh. She had promised her mother she would not look at Tess’s dress, and in spite of the overwhelming temptation she had kept that promise. She hoped this would be a good way of explaining what
she was beginning to think was more of a hair-brained scheme than a romantic surprise.

  Tess was just about to place her hand on the handle of the front door when the door opened. Both Brooke and Tess startled slightly as Brooke stepped through the door.

  “Tess!”

  “What?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “What am I doing?” Tess parroted the question back. “What are you doing? And, what is that?” she asked, pointing to the garment bag. She wondered if Brooke realized that the name of a local bridal shop was emblazoned on the front.

  Brooke closed the door. “Come on. Come sit down,” she instructed Tess. “Please? Just sit on the couch and I will explain.” I hope.

  Tess followed Brooke’s direction and sat on the couch. She was finding it increasingly difficult not to burst out into laughter. She had only ever seen Brooke this flustered once before. That had been the night that Brooke had proposed. Admittedly, she was surprised that Brooke had even thought to plan a wedding. The few minutes that Tess had found to ponder that fact before Brooke had appeared in their bedroom had left her both touched and amused. Brooke constantly endeavored to be romantic. Tess wondered at times if Brooke had read one too many romance novels, or how many hours of Lifetime television she had watched over the years. Brooke was incredibly sweet, and sometimes a bit grandiose in her romantic notions. The most endearing part of it all to Tess was the way Brooke would stumble through her well-laid plans. Each time, Tess could see the evidence of how much Brooke loved her, and how unsure Brooke was about her ideas. Brooke desperately wanted to show Tess what she felt in the most unique and thoughtful ways possible, albeit sometimes a bit over the top. That was Brooke. Tess had come to realize that no matter how many times she told Brooke that she didn’t need any dramatic gestures or extravagant gifts, Brooke would always need to give those things. That was just part of who Brooke Campbell was.

  “You have my attention,” Tess promised.

  Brooke took a deep breath. “Okay. Here’s the thing,” she began. She took another deep breath. “So, the thing is…Remember when we were talking? You know, about your brother’s birthday and you got really quiet because we would be moving in here on his birthday weekend, and that sort of meant that if we were going to plan anything, well then that would have to wait?” Brooke asked. Without taking another breath, she continued. “And, I could see that you were really disappointed and you got so focused on everything that we had to do, and all the things with closing on your house, and…”