Chapter 8

Brooklyn

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Eden pulls me aside right after the birthday cake my mom made has been cut up, and the kids are all sitting down having a slice.

I shove a piece of cake in my mouth, watching her stand with her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer. "That cake is freaking fantastic, Edes!"

"Don't change the subject, Brook." Her eyebrows are pinched together in that angry bird way that happens from time to time.

"Nothing has gotten into me. I just don't like the guy. Period," I say.

"You don't even know him."

"Neither do you. You looked like you were having an argument earlier. Did he upset you?"

"Yes, I do know him! I've been seeing him for a few months now. And none of it is anything for you to worry about. And no, he didn't upset me."

"It is my business because I care about you. And he's around our daughter."

She sighs impatiently. "You don't trust my judgment, is that what you're saying?"

"No, it's him I don't trust, not you."

"I don't know why you're being like this. This isn't you."

I fold my arms across my chest as I watch the kids sitting quietly for five seconds while they eat the cake from both Verne's master production, and my mother's.

"Is it because things are getting serious with Kirk?" she asks.

I tilt my head for a moment and press my thumb and forefinger to the bridge of my nose. She's right about one thing; this isn't the usual me. The usual me is happy-go-lucky. I have a smile and a joke for everyone… everyone except the person who's trying to woo my wife.

"Look, there's something I need to tell you, okay?" I sigh. "And it's nothing to do with Kirk." I try not to snark his name for her sake.

"Sure, shoot." She searches my face for some insight to what my cryptic behavior might be all about.

"Not here."

"What do you mean not here? That sounds serious, Brook. For heaven's sake, just spit it out."

"It's nothing bad, well, I don't think it is. Just trust me, we need to talk in private."

"After the party then?"

"Are you and Kirk going somewhere?"

"Yes, he's staying for the weekend."

Hmm. My frown deepens. Damn. I thought he was just here for the party and then leaving.

The thought of him high-tailing it back to Atlanta is the best one I've had all day, other than my little girl loving her birthday presents, of course. I went all out with the retro bike I found over in the next country and the Harry Potter books.

We went halves in the new saddle, so I can't take all the credit for that. And Eden did give me the main ideas on some of what Blake wanted. We also made a contribution to Stoney Creek Paws rescue shelter as per her wishes instead of buying her a million presents and set up the wishing well for her.

"Fine. But we'll have to make time to catch up over the weekend."

"Brook, you're not in some kind of trouble, are you?" Her eyes and frown convey her worry.

I press my lips together trying not to burst out laughing — not that I'm finding any of this funny. It's just funny she's come up with that, like I've had a run-in with the law or something. "Trouble?"

She shrugs. "I don't know what to think."

"I'm not in any kind of trouble, okay? Rest assured everything is fine, hold off on calling the sheriff."

She gives me a skeptical look, placing a hand on the curve of her hip. "Can you try and make an effort to be cordial to Kirk, please?"

"Hey, no promises." I hold my palms up and give her my best grin. "But I'll see what I can do."

Like fuck I will.

"Good, because I don't want things ending on a bad note."

"I don't see how me slinging my arm around you — since you were my wife at one point in time — could be a bad thing. If he can't get used to the way we are and the way we co-parent, then that's on him, not me."

"You're not exactly making it easy." She sighs. "You almost tore his hand off with that five-minute handshake."

I try not to laugh. "That's how southern men are supposed to greet each other. I thought he was from Georgia originally, but maybe not. I'm sorry his handshake isn't what I thought it would be."

She gives me another stern look. "We need to have that talk, and fast," she says, exasperated.

"Fine. If we get a chance later." I nod. Though I doubt it if Kirk is going to be in the way.

It's not in my nature to be nervous about anything, but this non-divorce business has had me rattled since I first discovered it. And I've been making pathetic excuses since I found the paperwork. Something sparked within me, and I can't explain it, not when she is clearly into this Kirk dude and still technically hitched to me.

My hopes of her being cool about this small little detail are diminishing by the second.

"I'm going to round the kids up for the farm tour at my place," I say. "We can just walk across the ways."

"Sounds good." Eden gives me a small smile and leans into my side. "I can't believe we have an eleven year old, Brookie."

Brookie.

Fucking hell. I swallow hard. She hasn't fucking called me that in years.

My heart accelerates at an abnormal pace and I'm glad her voice has softened. "I can't believe it either. She's the best thing we ever did." I lean against the staircase banister, watching Blake laugh and joke with her friends. The gold glitter theme has nothing on her outfit; gold shiny jeggings, a sparkly gold glittery top which has a million sequins on it, and her new gold cowboy boots she's been proudly wearing all day. Eden even let her put some glittery eyeshadow on to compliment her outfit.

"She sure is."

I feel Eden glance up at me and she's about to say something else. I see something in her eyes, a sparkle, a glisten — something that wasn't there before. At least, that's what I think I see. But Kirk clears his throat behind us and Eden straightens out.

"Honey, I have to go," he says. "I just got an emergency call. I have to head straight into surgery when I get back to Atlanta."

"Now?" She sounds disappointed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I was really looking forward to spending the weekend."

"Me too."

"I'll say goodbye to Blake. It's been a great day."

"Okay. If you're ready now, I'll walk you out." She links her hand with his, and seeing her touch him makes me see red.

I clench my hand in my pocket and try to act ‘normal' as I'm sure the guy thinks I'm a complete asshole. Not that I care in the slightest what he thinks.

"Until next time," Kirk says, giving me a chin lift. Not brave enough to stick his hand out again.

Can't wait. "Until then." I nod back.

"You have an exceptional daughter," he feels the need to add. "She's a great kid."

I know he's trying to be nice, probably for Eden's sake, if only I could do the same.

But do I really need Kirk telling me how great my daughter is?

Please.

"Thanks," I manage. "Eden and I have taken great pride in raising her right."

"Well, it shows." He attempts a smile, tentative at best, and tugs at Eden's hand.

"I'll be back." Eden smiles up at me, her beautiful long lashes fanning over her eyelids.

I force myself to not yank his hand from hers to break them apart. I smile back instead; it's tight at best. "No problem."

I watch them walk over toward Blake for Kirk to say goodbye. I know I've not made it easy on the guy today. It was awkward. But I can't honestly say he didn't deserve it. I could have gone full throttle if I'd really thought about it.

Eden won't tell me what they were discussing so in depth earlier, but my bet is it wasn't good. She honestly can't tell me she's happy with this guy, she sure as shit isn't acting like it.

So I'll step back, and wait for the fallout. I'll be here for her no matter what.

That much I can guarantee.

"Please can I go to Gran and Gramps' place?" Blake pleads when the party is over and we're packing up after the long day. "Trinity is going over later on with Aunt Georgia, she promised to make hot chocolates."

It's early afternoon and all the kids have left. The farm tour went well, the kids all loved the stables and Mandy was a hit because she's such a character. Even the goats, Eliza and Elsie, didn't mind the show. Blake already made it clear to be gentle with Sawyer; "No donkey rides on this farm," she told her friends.

But some of them did get a little pat while Blake went into her rescue story; all the kids were wide-eyed and teary when hearing that Sawyer wasn't looked after by the previous owner.

"But she's doing great now." I had to interject, because Blake isn't backwards in going forward, just like my little sister. "Isn't that right, Blake?"

"Oh, she is. She found her family." Blake beamed.

I'm so damned proud of her every day, but today especially. It melted my heart watching her with her friends, but — being the thoughtful child she is — she also didn't leave little Trinity out and included her in everything.

"This is my little cousin, Trinity!" she announced to her best friends, Sophie and Montana, and anyone else who would listen, while Trin dragged her cute little rabbit Bunnykins around the barn with them.

"Wow, that's such a cool name," I heard them both saying to little Trin.

Trinity was in her element. Gabe came back to pick her and Skye up not long ago. Blake was also proud to show off the family barn and give both sets of grandparents and family some love. She has a big heart; she's so much like her mama.

It's just me and Eden now, tidying up the barn with my parents just about to leave. They stayed until the end to help clean up. Georgia helped Blake load her presents into the back of my truck, which wasn't overloaded as her friends had all brought little envelopes to the party for the wishing well. Eden and Blake had made a point of placing them in the invites with a message about donating to the rescue instead of buying her a present. We'll take the wishing well money to Macey at Stoney Creek Paws next week.

I turn to look at my daughter bouncing on her toes with excitement. I would've thought she'd be worn out by now, but clearly she isn't.

"Of course you can go to Gran and Gramps', sweetheart. It's your day. You can tell them about your presents and the wishing well if you like."

She smiles. "Thanks Dad. I've had the best day. You too, Mom."

I reach out and give her a big hug. "You're welcome, my best girl. We can count the money you raised for the shelter later."

"Okay, that would be great." She turns to hug her mom as well, and then breaks free to run after my parents who are about to leave.

"Make sure you thank your grandma again for the cake, she went to a lot of effort," Eden reminds her.

"I will, Mom."

"It was a beautiful day," my mom says, as we meet her at the double doors off the side barn where the deck surrounds the entire structure and wraps around.

"And the barn held up well," Dad adds with a chuckle. "If all those kids running around are anything to go by."

"It's going to be perfect for the new wedding season," Eden says. "Maybe after my last wedding for Fall next weekend, we can all get together and discuss our collaboration?"

"That would be wonderful," Mom says. "We're so looking forward to you being on board, Eden. We know you have bookings and other events already in the pipeline with your business, so Georgia and I can step in where need be to help with the new bookings."

"That sounds great. I think I can work it around my schedule, especially having Jodie, my assistant," she says.

"You'll make a great addition to the team." Dad winks. "You two may not be married anymore, but you're still a Bassett to us."

Geez, nice going, Dad. But little does he know…

I stare at my dad sharply but he doesn't notice. He's opening his car door, parked right next to the barn, ready for Blake to jump in.

Eden laughs and gives my mom and dad a hug. "Thank you, that's very sweet. And thanks for all your help today, and helping clean up."

She doesn't seem to balk at the Bassett comment. Maybe I've been worrying about nothing. It's hard to tell at this point.

We wave them off and I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Looks like it's just you and me, kid." I grin at her. "Congrats too, on coming on board."

"Thank you. I might be crazy, but I think it might be fun too."

I grin my head off at the thought of having her around more. "Today has been a lot of fun."

"I hope your place isn't too much of a mess," she says.

"It'll be fine. Do you want to come over and I'll make us a coffee, or maybe you'd like a shot of tequila by now?"

Eden laughs. "Oh my God! Remember when we snuck a bottle that time? I hated the taste of it, but I was trying to win the foot race from the creek to your parents' house. The loser had to take a shot from your dad's liquor cabinet."

I laugh at the memory. "We were nowhere near old enough to drink either."

"Oh, it was awful. Then you swiped that bottle of bourbon another time." She laughs.

"Dad thought he was going crazy when he couldn't find it."

"You stashed it in the hay bale for the times we played truth or dare…"

We both laugh as we remember. Then Eden sobers.

The hay bales… our favorite place in the world. We fooled around a lot in there. Not while we were drinking, because neither of us were big on that. We never got really drunk, just a little tipsy and stupid.

We both glance at each other.

"Don't even say it," she chuckles, face palming herself.

"Say what?"

"That night…"

I grin. She's talking about the night we got busy, and later found out she was pregnant. "You brought up the hay bales!"

She flushes. An intoxicating shade of pink rising over her perfect cheeks. I love the fact I still have the ability to make her blush. "We should go, we shouldn't be talking like this."

"There's a lot of history there," I say. "It's okay to remember those times. They sure were fun. We made each other laugh a lot."

"Why did we lose it?" Her words pierce my heart.

I glance at her as I straighten up and we begin to walk back inside. I pull the double doors closed and secure the lock. "I don't know, E. That's the honest truth. Neither of us had really lived outside of each other, I guess. We both worked so hard trying to be successful in our jobs…"

She smiles but it feels sad because it doesn't reach her pretty eyes. I see her swallow and press her lips together.

She's never said anything like this to me in such a long time.

"It's true," she says, snapping out of her nostalgia. But she was back there in her mind, even for just a moment. "But we're doing okay, aren't we?"

"We sure are better than most."

"I'm glad," she whispers.

"Me too."

Then I feel her eyes on me. "You gonna spill now on what you were wanting to talk about earlier?"

There's no escape now, the time has come. "Umm, sure." I palm the back of my head as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the barn. My heart rate kicks up a notch or two. "Are you sure you don't want to go get that drink first?"

She laughs. "Do I need one?"

I shrug. "Maybe."

"Brook, you're starting to worry me again. What the hell is it?"

"Okay…" I sigh. "Before you get mad, I just want you to know that whatever I'm about to say, I didn't do it on purpose, okay?"

She bites her lip, wary, her eyes never leaving mine. That only makes it all the more intimidating.

"Just remember I am a great dad to our daughter and I'd never…"

"Out with it, Brook!"

I laugh without humor. "Okay, well you know how you were asking for the divorce papers?"

"Yeah…" she says slowly, waiting for the clincher. I think it's pretty obvious by now that there's one coming.

"Well, the good news is I found them. The bad news is… I sorta, kinda, only in the littlest sense… I forgot to file them."

She blinks a couple of times taking in my words. I can see her mind ticking over for a second.

"You forgot to what?"

"To file them," I confirm, like we're just discussing the sun going down.

"Brook, what are you saying?" The alarm in her voice rises as she takes in the severity of my claim.

"What I'm saying is, we're still married, E. You're still my wife."