Handle With Care (Special Delivery Book 3)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “Brooke,” Tess attempted to get her fiancé’s attention.

  “You were worried about the kids, so maybe it would have to wait, but you didn’t really want to wait a whole year, so that meant that we would have to pick a different date, and…”

  “Brooke…”

  “I wasn’t really sure why you didn’t want to wait, but I didn’t really want to wait another year either, so then I thought…”

  Tess reached her feet and took Brooke’s face in her hands. “Brooke, I know.”

  Brooke’s rambling stopped abruptly. “Know? You know? What do you mean you know?”

  Tess could no longer hold back and she laughed softly. She reached out and took the garment bag from Brooke’s hand. “Adela’s Bridal?” she raised an amused brow.

  Brooke’s jaw flew open. “I…See, the thing is…I….”

  “Brooke, is this your wedding dress?” Tess asked.

  Without thinking or missing a beat, Brooke answered. “No, it’s yours.”

  Tess’s brow lifted higher. “Mine?”

  “Yeah, the one you saw with Mom,” Brooke explained.

  Tess tugged at her lip to restrain a growing smile. She bought me a wedding dress? Good God, Brooke, what else did you do? “Did you look at this?”

  “What? No! Mom made me promise!”

  Tess nodded and lifted her brow again. “Are you going to get around to telling me why you are bringing my wedding dress into the house?” she asked playfully, knowing that Brooke had already forgotten Tess’s declaration of knowing the secret.

  Brooke sighed. “Well, it’s kind of like this….See, I figured that you already had so much on your plate, and you had pretty much told me what you wanted….Well, except for the flowers, I had to guess at that one. I think I did okay, though, I mean, Mom helped…And, I did ask your mom if she knew if there was something you might want…”

  “You asked my mother about our wedding?” Tess was stunned.

  “Well, yeah. She knows you even if she is kind of crazy sometimes,” Brooke said. Tess started laughing. “Why is that funny?”

  Tess shook her head. “Brooke? When is this event supposed to take place, assuming you expect me to be there?”

  “Sunday at one.”

  Tess pursed her lips, struggling against the broad smile that was about to sweep over her face. She wasn’t quite ready to let Brooke off the hook. “This Sunday? As in the day after tomorrow?” she asked. Brooke nodded and winced slightly. “I see,” Tess said. “Where is this supposed to take place?” she asked.

  “The back yard.”

  “Uh-huh,” Tess replied. She sighed dramatically. “Well, what is it that I need to do?”

  “What do you mean?” Brooke asked nervously. “I asked Grace to perform the ceremony. She’ll be here early so that she can talk to both of us beforehand. And, I got Dani a really cute dress, navy blue just like you said you wanted. And, I even managed to get Davey a tux, which I didn’t think I would because I wasn’t going to tell them because I figured then they would have to tell you, but then Davey was acting out so much, so I did…And, Rach took him to…”

  “Brooke!” Tess said a bit forcefully.

  “What? I don’t think I forgot anything, Tess. I don’t think so,” Brooke started combing through her thoughts and began running down the list. “Grace—that’s all set. I got what we need to get the license on Monday—I think. Mom’s getting Dad. Gary’s getting your parents. I got those rings we saw online. I got the flowers. I think they are what you like. I hired a caterer. I got a cake. I got the kids set—I think, I did…I…”

  “I need shoes,” Tess deadpanned.

  “What?”

  “Shoes, Brooke. I need shoes,” Tess repeated. Brooke was dumbfounded. Tess finally burst out laughing. She laid the garment bag on the couch and wrapped her arms around Brooke’s neck. “You are seriously insane, Doctor,” Tess said. “It’s that nuclear Gatorade, I think,” she chuckled. “Tell me one thing? Is anything at all for this function green? The cake maybe?” Tess asked seriously.

  “Noooo,” Brooke answered as she tried to gauge what Tess was feeling.

  Before Brooke could ask, Tess had captured her lips in a deep, loving kiss. Slowly, Tess released Brooke and whispered. “I love you, you know?”

  Brooke let out a breath of relief. “I didn’t mean to take over. I just wanted to…”

  Tess placed her fingertips on Brooke’s lips. “I know, love.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  Tess smiled. “Mad?”

  “Well, I started thinking today, and then something Mom said—I mean maybe I should have thought more about what you wanted.”

  “Sounds to me like that is exactly what you did,” Tess observed honestly.

  “You’re not disappointed?”

  Tess shook her head. “No. But, I am glad you told me now. I really do need shoes.”

  Brooke laughed. “That’s your biggest concern? Shoes?”

  “Pretty much, yes.”

  “Tess, I…..”

  Tess stretched up and kissed Brooke’s lips. “Are you sure that you didn’t look in that bag?”

  “I swear.”

  “Good, then come on,” she said. She grabbed the garment bag and took Brooke’s hand. “Take me to bed and tell me all about it in the morning.”

  “You’re really not disappointed?” Brooke asked hopefully.

  Tess stopped and looked at Brooke compassionately. “Disappointed? This must be a Hulk thing,” she said lightly. “Brooke, when are you going to get it through that thick head of yours? You could never disappoint me.”

  “I just wanted to…”

  Tess smiled. “I know, love. Come on,” she said with a wink. “Looks like I have some things to do tomorrow. I need to get some sleep.”

  “What things? Tess, there really isn’t anything… I took care…”

  “Tomorrow, Brooke. And, I told you, I need shoes.”

  Chapter Four

  Tess rolled over and looked at Brooke. Normally, Brooke was up with the sun, if not before. Tess smiled and studied the peaceful expression on Brooke’s face. She leaned in and let her lips linger on Brooke’s temple, brushed the hair out of Brooke’s eyes and sighed. So beautiful. I love you so much, Brooke. Tess struggled to pull herself from the warmth of their bed. She had fallen asleep with Brooke’s arms around her, a feeling of contentment and gratefulness filling her. You never cease to surprise me, love.

  Brooke’s nervous energy had amused Tess a great deal. She expected that today would be no different. Tess couldn’t decide if she thought that Brooke was more excited or anxious about the wedding. Tess had repeatedly assured Brooke that she was touched and that she looked forward to seeing everything that Brooke had planned. She didn’t want to know the details. She wanted the surprise Brooke had taken the time to devise to be just that, a surprise, as much as possible. Brooke had kept trying to explain all of her reasons. Tess shook her head in amusement at the sleeping woman beside her as she recalled how difficult it had been to get Brooke to go to sleep.

  ***

  The Previous Evening

  “I really just wanted to make it special,” Brooke said.

  “Brooke, as long as you are there it will be special,” Tess replied. She closed her eyes and settled her head against Brooke’s breast.

  “Tess?”

  “Hum?”

  “You’d tell me, right? I mean, if I did something wrong?”

  Tess picked her head up. “Wrong? What could you have done wrong?”

  “I don’t know. What if you don’t like the flowers?”

  Tess smiled. “I’m not marrying the flowers.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Tess nodded. “I do.” She leaned in and kissed Brooke gently. “Stop worrying,” she said. “Now, come on and let’s get some sleep. I have some shopping to do tomorrow. And, you have some unpacking to supervise,” Tess said with a smirk before placing her head against Brooke aga
in.

  “Tess?”

  “Hum?”

  “I’m sorry that I didn’t think about the Dani and Davey thing more. I mean, I guess I should have asked you. I hope your dad will understand.”

  Tess kept her eyes closed and smiled. “He’ll understand. And, anyway I love your idea to have them walk with me,” she assured Brooke. She chuckled. “Though, I have no idea where I am walking.”

  “Well, it’s not far, just the length of the yard. I think I have it covered.”

  “I’m sure you do, love,” Tess replied. She inhaled a deep breath and snuggled closer to Brooke as Brooke’s hand caressed her back. Tess had just started to drift away contentedly when Brooke’s voice pulled her back to the present.

  “Tess?”

  “Hum?”

  “You’re not upset that it won’t be official until Monday, are you?”

  “No, love,” Tess promised. “Not at all.”

  “Good. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Brooke,” Tess replied. She kissed Brooke’s chest and let herself begin to drift away again, imagining what Brooke might be wearing on Sunday. Tess felt a smile creep on her lips and sighed.

  “Tess?”

  “Yes, Brooke?”

  “If I missed…”

  Tess laughed lightly. “You’ll be missing me because I will be asleep,” she joked. “Go to sleep.”

  “But, if you…”

  Tess pressed herself against Brooke tightly. “Go to sleep,” she repeated.

  “Okay. I’m sorry. Night.”

  “Night.” Tess closed her eyes and relaxed in Brooke’s embrace. She could feel Brooke shifting next to her nervously. She placed her hand firmly in the middle of Brooke’s stomach and held Brooke still. “Go to sleep.”

  “I just want…”

  “I just want you to go to sleep,” Tess laughed, tightening her hold around Brooke’s middle. “Brooke, I have everything I want. Please, believe me. Don’t make me get out that lasso and tie you down.”

  Brooke snickered. “Well, if you…”

  “Brooke!”

  “I’m sorry. I just…”

  “Need to sleep,” Tess said. “Close your eyes.”

  “You mean close your mouth,” Brooke chuckled.

  “That too,” Tess admitted.

  “Sorry…..Tess?”

  “Brooke!” Tess laughed heartily and then sighed. She sat up and looked at Brooke. The startled expression on Brooke’s face made her laugh harder. Tess leaned in and kissed Brooke lovingly. “Please stop worrying.”

  “I want it to be perfect. I already ruined the surprise.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. Brooke, please listen to me. Okay?” Tess pleaded. Brooke nodded. “I will love whatever it is you have done because you did it for me. And…for us. Please, relax.”

  “I’m sorry. I just never thought that I would ever do any of this. And, I just want to make everything…”

  “I know,” Tess said. She smiled again. “Do you love me?”

  “What? Of course! That’s why…”

  “And, you know that I love you, right?”

  “Yeah…”

  “A wedding, Brooke, lasts for a few minutes. The marriage? Well, in my world that is forever. That is what matters to me. That you want to spend forever with me. So, please stop questioning the how. It’s the why that matters,” Tess said. Brooke grinned. “What?” Tess asked.

  “You know, you are the smartest woman I know,” Brooke replied.

  “Um-hum,” Tess replied skeptically.

  Brooke laughed. “No, really, you are. I don’t know sometimes why you picked me.”

  “I love you.”

  “I know,” Brooke said. “I just can’t believe it sometimes.”

  “Why not?”

  “I guess because I love you too, and I never thought I would have that. I never want you to doubt it.”

  Tess nodded. “You worry too much, love,” she said honestly. “You are stuck with me,” she said. Tess kissed Brooke’s cheek and made her way back into Brooke’s arms.

  “Even when I keep you awake?”

  “Even then.”

  “Even when I eat slimy pepperoni?”

  “Even then.”

  “Even when I…”

  “Brooke!”

  Brooke laughed. “Okay,” she gave up her silliness. “Thanks.”

  “For?”

  “You know.”

  “Goodnight,” Tess said. She yawned and closed her eyes. Exhaustion had moved from creeping up on her to sucking her under in a powerful wave. She heard Brooke’s soft voice just above her, but she could no longer make out the words.

  “Goodnight, Tess,” Brooke whispered. She was positive that sleep would be a long time in coming. She was nervous. She was excited. As Brooke looked down at Tess, she wondered how she had gotten so lucky. “Happily stuck,” she mused. “Happily.”

  ***

  Tess placed one last kiss on Brooke’s head and chuckled when Brooke grumbled in her sleep. She must have been awake most of the night. Tess carefully made her way from the bed, stealing a final glance at Brooke as she slept before making her way out of the room.

  “Mom!” Davey called down the hallway excitedly as he exited his sister’s room.

  “Shhh,” Tess put her finger to her lips as Davey ran toward her with Dani a pace behind. “Brooke’s still sleeping,” she told the pair.

  “Ohhh,” he whispered conspiratorially.

  Tess led the twins to the stairs. She watched as they hopped down the full flight. Where do they get that energy?

  “When’s Brooke getting up?” Dani asked when Tess’s foot finally met the bottom floor.

  “When she does, I suppose. She was up late.”

  “Yeah, but how long do you think that will be?” Davey reframed his sister’s question.

  Tess pursed her lips to hide her amusement and folded her arms across her chest. “Why so worried about Brooke?” she asked. She had to bite the inside of her lip when her question was met with a dramatic shrug from both of her children. “Mm-hum. Care to tell me what you two are up to?”

  “Us?” Davey feigned innocence. “Nothing, Mom,” he shook his head. Tess was visibly unmoved by his defense.

  “Yeah, it’s Brooke’s secret,” Dani said without thinking.

  “Dani!” Davey scolded his sister. “You’re not s’posed to tell til Brooke talks to Mom!”

  Tess’s smirk broke free. “All right, come on you two, into the kitchen. You can tell me all about this secret wedding you three have been concocting.”

  “You know?” Davey’s eyes grew wide.

  Tess scooted the pair toward the kitchen. “A little. Only a little.”

  “See, Dani! You were s’posed to be quiet!”

  “That’s enough,” Tess warned her son. She saw Dani’s lip quivering and put her arm around her daughter as they entered the kitchen. “Brooke told me last night,” she said. Dani looked up at her mother hopefully. “Honest,” Tess promised, pulling Dani closer for reassurance. She gestured for them both to sit. “How about we surprise Brooke with some pancakes?” she suggested. The twins nodded their approval. “Good. Let me start the coffee. You can fill me in on what you have been up to.”

  “I’m going to stand with Brooke,” Davey said proudly.

  “I heard,” Tess said with a smile. She noted Dani’s downcast gaze. “Did you want to stand with Brooke too?” Tess asked Dani. Dani shook her head. “Dani?”

  Dani shrugged without looking up. Tess sighed and moved to her daughter’s side. Brooke had filled her in on what Tess considered the most important pieces of the plan and of the last few days. Brooke’s greatest concern had been Dani. Tess could clearly see from her daughter’s expression why that was. She took a deep breath and looked across the table at Davey.

  “Davey, do me a favor and go get Brooke up.”

  “Really?” he asked. Tess just smiled and nodded. Davey hopped up excitedly. Tess could see the glea
m in his eye and anticipated his forthcoming sprint. “Gently!” she called after him.

  “Got it!” he promised.

  Tess giggled and then turned her attention to Dani. “Want to tell me what’s bothering you?” she asked. Dani shrugged again. Is that a thing with nine-year-olds or just mine? “Dani, if you don’t want to stand with me, you don’t have to.”

  Dani looked up at Tess, lip quivering again with misty eyes. “I do.”

  “Why so upset?” Tess asked. “Are you upset about the wedding?” Tess wondered. Dani shook her head. Shakes and shrugs—I guess that’s better than screams and stomps. “Dani?”

  “Does Brooke like Davey better?”

  Tess suppressed her smile. “No, sweetheart, she doesn’t.”

  “Then how come she told him first?”

  “Oh, Dani,” Tess scooted her chair closer to her daughter. “I don’t think she meant to. I was pretty upset with your brother the other day when we were packing.”

  “I know, ‘cause he doesn’t listen,” Dani said. “I told him to put his stuff in the box.”

  “I’ll bet you did,” Tess said. “I think she was just talking to him about things and it made sense to her to tell him. That’s all.”

  “But then she asked him.”

  “To stand with her, you mean?” Tess asked. Dani nodded. “Brooke told me that she had Grammy C. flip a quarter to see which one of you she would ask.”

  “Yeah….If you don’t want me to be with you, then I will have to sit with Grandma or something.”

  “Of course, I want you to,” Tess said. “Dani?” Tess had not expected Dani to fall into her arms in tears. “Hey? What is this about?” Dani’s sobs were making it hard for Dani to breathe, much less speak. “Calm down, sweetheart. What’s wrong? Don’t you want to be part of the wedding?” Tess asked. Dani nodded. Tess folded Dani in her arms.

  “Why do we have to always choose?” Dani choked on her words.

  Tess sighed. This was not the first time she had encountered insecurity in one of her children. Tess had always done her best to be even-handed with the twins. Twins and a single mom presented some unique challenges at times. It could be something as simple as who got to sit on Tess’s lap. At times, it would rise to the surface when the kids wanted Tess to go on a ride at a fair. Other times, it would be who sat on Tess’s side of the table in a restaurant. I should have guessed this one. This time, it was not just about Tess. That fact made her heart soar and sink simultaneously. She’d seen far fewer moments like these since Brooke had come into their lives. Two parents did not ensure that things always went smoothly, but it did help with many of the little things. Tess knew it would help with the larger things in life when those arose as well. Two parents. That’s what this is about.