Chapter Nine
Abby
Finished with my last client of the day, I lock up my office and head down to the garage. It's only two, so I figure that I'll swing by the shop and check in on Brooke. I hop in my car and head over to Greenwood's, the old family store started by my grandfather and passed to my father. And now, it belongs to my sister and me.
Because I have my practice, Brooke ends up doing most of the day to day work in the store. But she seems to enjoy it. In fact, most days when I show up, she shoos me out the door. It's a completely different Brooke than the one I'd left when I went to school and live in New York.
Back then, Brooke had been something of a party girl. A wild child. She liked going out, getting drunk, and screwing around with whatever boy tickled her fancy at the time. But when I came home, I came home to a whole new Brooke. One who is responsible, works hard, is pretty straight-laced, buttoned down, and serious about the business of running a business.
Sure, she still likes to go out and have some fun from time to time, but her idea of a good time these days is completely different than it was back in the day. She's happy to go out, have a couple of drinks with a few girlfriends, and call it an early night.
The turnaround in my sister is shocking to me. But I actually kind of like the change. I like seeing her grown up and mature. I like seeing her shed her good time girl skin and be something more. I think it suits her.
I pull into the parking lot behind the shop and punch in the code that unlocks the door. I make my way inside.
I greet Rhonda – one of our three part-time employees – on my way to the back office. I have to admit that Brooke is really on top of things at the store. She's hired our staff and I love them all. They're hard workers, great with the customers, and genuinely nice people. The store is always clean and orderly, well-tended to, the shelves always stocked, nothing in disrepair.
It's a testament to my sister. As much as I love my father, he tended to let things slide and the store didn't always look its best. But under Brooke's surprisingly steady hand, the store looks great and is flourishing.
And though we're both technically co-owners, the store doing so well is all Brooke.
“Hey,” I say as I step into the back office.
Brooke looks up from the computer screen and gives me a wide smile. “Hey there,” she replies. “I didn't expect you in today.”
I drop into the seat across the desk from her. “Light day,” I say. “I only had a couple of clients. Thought I'd come in and help you out.”
She leans back in her seat. “Kind of a quiet day here too,” she says. “I don't know that there's much for you to do, honestly.”
I give her an even look. “Come on, sis,” I say. “You're making me feel bad. You do all the work around here and I just sit back and collect checks.”
“You've got your practice to concentrate on,” she says. “You're doing important work and lots of people need your help. Besides, you do a lot around here.”
I laugh. “Yeah, not really. I'm hardly ever here,” I reply. “Maybe we need to think about changing how the profits are split.”
She waves me off. “You want to do something?”
“I'd love it,” I say.
She slides a clipboard across her desk to me and smiles. “Okay then, go inventory the beer and wine, please,” she says. “I've got to place an order soon.”
“Done,” I say as I pick up the clipboard. “And I expect that you'll have some other tasks for me when I'm done. I'm not above sweeping the aisles, you know.”
Brooke laughs. “Okay, I'll come up with something for you to do then.”
“Excellent,” I say. “I appreciate that. It's about time I start contributing around here.”
I look at my sister and smile, still struck by the difference in her. She looks down at her desk, but not before I can see the color rising in her cheeks. She's not comfortable with me staring at her like I am.
“What?” she finally asks with a nervous giggle.
I shrug. “Nothing. I'm just proud of you, Brooke,” I say. “Can't I be proud of my little sister?”
“There's nothing to be proud of,” she says. “I'm just doing my job.”
“And you're doing it incredibly well, sis,” I say. “Better than me. Hell, better than Dad ever did.”
“That's not true.”
I nod. “It's absolutely true. And he'd be the first person to say it,” I say. “You know that.”
She didn't dispute the statement any further and judging by the look in her eye, she knew it was true. Our father was definitely aware of his shortcomings and was honest enough about them. He would have absolutely no problem praising Brooke for the job she's doing.
“I – I guess I just want to make them proud,” she says softly. “After they passed, I...”
Her voice trails off, but she doesn't need to finish her statement. I know what she's going to say. It's a feeling I know all too well. And ever since my marriage fell apart and I came back to Sheridan Falls, I felt like I'd been living under a cloud of shame and failure. I felt like I'd somehow let them down and that if they were alive, that they'd see me – differently.
Once upon a time, I'd been the Golden Child. I was the one who could do no wrong. I was a good student. Didn't get into trouble. Had a plan for my life and was working hard to achieve it. And somehow now, it felt like the roles had been reversed. Brooke was the responsible one. The hard worker. I had no doubt that if they were alive, they'd be beaming with pride when they looked at her. And it's a thought that makes me happy.
My only fear though, is that if they were alive, they wouldn't look at me that same way anymore. That they'd see me as less than. Or maybe I'm just projecting my own feelings about myself onto them. I have no idea.
All I know is that I'm proud of my sister and whether she's comfortable with it or not, I'm going to make sure she knows that every chance I get. Brooke gives me an awkward smile and I can tell that she wants this praise-fest to end. I decide to let her off the hook – for now.
“So,” I say. “I guess I'll get to the inventory.”