Bringing Brooklyn Home
Bringing Brooklyn
Home
A Armstrong
Copyright © 2022 by Bumbling Bard Creations
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Epilogue
Find More Stories
One
Life is a strange experience. I started writing because I wanted
to take adventures life didn’t offer to me. As far as I know,
there are no underworlds full of elves, orcs, or other magical
creatures. Although, I still choose to believe they exist in some
time or realm. Magic has always fascinated me. Maybe that’s
because for so long my world felt less than magical. I don’t
mean to imply I led a miserable existence. My family is great.
They’re quirky and I love that about them. My dad could be
difficult. It’s not something we talk about. Ever. It’s one of
those topics that gets mentioned and is promptly pushed aside
or glossed over. My sister and I always searched for an escape
from my dad’s criticism. Janet spent our youth involved in
every activity the school offered. Late night rehearsals and
summer soccer practices kept her busy. Me? I disappeared into
make-believe worlds. I wrote my first story about wizards and
elves in kindergarten. To be fair, it was more of a picture book
—or squiggle book. My mother says when she asked what I
was creating, I told her it was a wizard’s adventure. Breaking
old habits isn’t easy. When life gets stressful for me, I depart
reality for an alternate universe. I wish I could claim the portal
to other realms ended at my laptop screen. That would be a lie.
Writing projects enabled me to disconnect from the world that
plagued my heart and mind with questions. Deadlines
warranted seclusion. It was a policy that worked for most of
my life. That was before I crossed into Brooklyn.
Not Brooklyn the burrow of New York. No. Brooklyn
Brady. The last thing I expected would happen in my life in
my late forties was falling in love. Strike that. The last thing I
expected to happen at age forty-seven was anyone falling in
love with me. Not just anyone. Brooklyn Brady. I’ve never
written a story about love at first sight. Frankly, elves, goblins,
and aliens always seemed more plausible. Even in the sappiest
romance stories, there are few representations of love at first
sight. I think it’s because nearly everyone has experienced the
feeling and found it ends with a broken heart. Unrealistic
expectations are the usual culprit. The world is full of advice
gurus and coaches who like to sell people the idea they can
create a happy ending. They leave out all the fine print. No
one controls the actions of others. The world isn’t a static,
predictable place. Relationships aren’t an exception. One
reason I love writing a story is that I can control its twists,
turns, and destinations. I control everything from the weather
to emotions, sex to death. Off the page, I’m merely a
participant. I govern my actions and feelings. Sometimes, my
propensity to disappear gets me into trouble. Thank God
Brooklyn is patient.
We’re about to celebrate our second anniversary—the day
we shared our first kiss. It was the same day I told Brooklyn I
was in love with her. My feelings haven’t changed. Everything
else is different. Change is often welcome. It thrilled me when
Brooklyn moved into my house. There isn’t anything better
than kissing her goodnight and waking up with her beside me.
Not even sex. And believe me, sex with Brooklyn is amazing.
I love watching her shuffle into the kitchen, hair ruffled from
sleep, a T-shirt two sizes too big falling to her knees, yawning
as she reaches for a coffee mug. It’s one of my favorite sights
on earth. Brooklyn undone is breathtaking. If every change
were as wonderful as living with Brooklyn, life would be
perfect. Life is never perfect.
There’ve been some unexpected upheavals, too.
Brooklyn’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six
months after she moved in with me. It devastated her. Six
months later, when we should have been celebrating our first
anniversary, we buried Brooklyn’s dad. It gutted me to see
Brooklyn’s pain. Her father was kind to me. I also know he
had reservations about Brooklyn living with me. I know Will
Brady loved his daughter. He struggled to embrace Brooklyn’s
sexuality, but he never made her feel unwanted or unloved. He
didn’t think she would get involved with a woman seventeen
years older. I think it’s our difference that gave Brooklyn’s
father the most heartburn. I overheard him once toward the
end of his life asking Brooklyn to consider her future. What
about marriage and having a family? Brooklyn didn’t say a
word. I’m still not sure if that was because she didn’t want to
agitate her father or wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. I
never told her I overheard their conversation.
It seems the subject of Will’s concern is determined to pop
into my life with Brooklyn. Marriage and having a family. I
gave up on the idea of being a mother years ago. Brooklyn
mentions having kids. Her comments are always in passing,
usually when we’re babysitting her niece and nephew. I love
spending time with the kids. I know Brooklyn feels the same
way, and I can tell it makes her think about having a baby.
Brooklyn has always taken the lead in the direction of our
relationship. That might surprise some people who know us.
She’s young. I don’t mean that as an insult. It’s the truth.
Brooklyn is about to turn thirty-three. She has time to think
about babies. Her career is soaring. There’s every reason to
believe she’ll have exciting job offers soon. She loves to
travel. I never want to hold Brooklyn back from her dreams. It
isn’t up to me to define what that looks like. Ali and Janet tell
me I should be more assertive when it comes to my hopes. No
one believes me when I say I’m happy with Brooklyn. I’ll love
our life no matter what direction it takes. That’s always
satisfied Brooklyn in the past. Like I said, things change. I’m
learning sometimes I need to be the one to change them.
“What do you think is on Jeremy’s mind?” Brooklyn asks me.
She’s grown close to my nephew. She might have a better idea
than me about his reason for visiting.
“Wha
t makes you think I know more than you?” I ask.
“No reason. I haven’t talked to him in a few weeks. I
thought he might have called you,” Brooklyn explains.
“Nope. All silent on the Western Front.”
Brooklyn laughs. Jeremy moved to New Mexico with his
girlfriend last summer.
“Cute,” she says.
“You think I’m cute?” I quip.
“You have your moments. Carter?”
“Yeah?”
“If you want me to go to Sue’s to babysit, she’ll
understand.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because Jeremey is coming to visit. We both know there’s
something on his mind. Two little kids running around all
weekend? Are you sure that’s the right energy for his visit?”
Brooklyn asks.
I’m thrown by her question. I love it when Josie and Chris
stay with us.
“Carter, it’s okay if you’d rather have some space to visit
with Jeremy. I can go to Sue and Doug’s to watch the kids.”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
Stunned. Of course, I’m sure. Josie and Chris are an
important part of our lives.
“Carter? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know why you’d ask me that.”
“Because I love you and you love Jeremey. You don’t get
much time with him these days.”
“I love Josie and Chris, too.”
Brooklyn smiles. “You don’t say?”
“If Jeremy wants to have a heart to heart, I’ll take him out
for a beer.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
I shrug. Of course, I’m sure.
“In that case, I’m going to leave now so I can stop at the
grocery store on the way back.”
“You’re taking the kids to the grocery store? Alone?”
Brooklyn giggles. I realize my expression must be one of
horror. I took Chris and Josie with me to the store once
without Brooklyn. It was not my finest hour. Josie took an
interest in a little girl with a bright pink jacket. I’m sure it took
me less than five minutes to find her. Those five minutes
passed like centuries. It took a fully loaded pizza, a couple of
glasses of whiskey, and Brooklyn naked for me to recover, or
put it out of my mind. I don’t think I’ve ever been as scared in
my life.
“I’ll make sure to keep them close,” Brooklyn says.
“I can go to the store after I pick up Jeremy. Just give me
the list.”
“No. Jeremy’s flight lands at three. You’re bound to hit
traffic. I’ll get the kids, grab some groceries, and have dinner
ready for you when you get back.”
“Um. No. No way. That’s way too much for you to
handle.”
“Do you think I’ll lose the kids or burn your dinner?”
“Neither,” I reply. “You don’t need to do it by yourself. It’s
bad enough you have to handle four kids all weekend.” That
earns me a laugh. “Seriously. You’re right. We’re likely to get
caught in traffic. I have a proposition?”
“Really? At noon?”
“Another day, I would make that proposition.”
Brooklyn smiles at me. “All right. Let’s hear this
proposition.”
“You get the little kids and feed them. I’ll grab the big one
and I’ll make sure he eats. It’ll ease both our worries.”
“Oh?”
“Sure. You won’t need to shop. We have tons of stuff the
kids eat here. I’ll stop and treat Jeremy to a burger and a beer.
If there’s something he wants to tell me while we’re alone, it’ll
give him a chance to do that.”
“You’re quite the problem solver. Are you sure this isn’t
your way of getting beer and avoiding bath time?”
“We have beer, and I love bath time.”
Brooklyn shakes her head and kisses me. “I love you,
Carter.”
“Where did that come from?”
“If you’re asking me that, I clearly haven’t said it enough.”
I pull her close. “That’s not true.”
“I think it is,” Brooklyn says. “We’ve both been so busy.”
“I guess we have,” I agree.
“I know this weekend was supposed to be ours. Time
together. Now, we have the kids.”
“Brooklyn, it’s never an imposition for Josie and Chris to
stay with us. Stop worrying about that. We’ll make plans for a
getaway.”
“We’ve been saying that for the better part of a year,” she
reminds me.
“I’ll make it happen.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. And by the way, I love you, too.” I kiss her lips
softly.
Brooklyn grumbles. I understand. I just finished reviewing
final edits for my latest book. Brooklyn took today off,
intending to start a long weekend staycation.
“I promise,” I tell her.
“I should get going,” she says. “You know Sue will talk
my ear off. I’ll see you later tonight.”
“You will.”
“Take your time with Jeremy. I’ll take care of the
gremlins.”
I kiss her cheek. “I’m sorry that I won’t be here to help.”
“You can handle breakfast,” she says.
I watch her grab her keys, jacket, and head for the door.
Something tells me it’s going this weekend will be longer than
we planned.
Jeremy can be a man of few words. That’s never been his
demeanor with me. I realize flights and traffic are equal parts
exhausting and annoying, but his silence worries me. He
barely spoke to me on the way home. When I suggested we
stop for dinner and a beer, he asked if I’d mind heading home.
He needed a shower. I called Brooklyn and told her I thought
we should order pizza. He headed straight for the shower and
his room when we got home. Jeremy concentrated on
entertaining Josie and Chris until it was time for Brooklyn to
put them to bed. I finally have him alone in the kitchen. I hope
the beer in my fridge loosens his tongue.
“Jeremy. What gives?” I ask my nephew.
“I think I might need a couple more beers.”
“Whatever is on your mind, it can’t be that bad.”
“It’s not,” he says. “Well, not to me.”
“Okay? Then what’s the issue? Me?”
“Nah.”
“Let me guess,” I say. “Your father.”
“Isn’t it always?”
“Don’t tell me! You decided to buy an RV and be a
nomad!”
He chuckles. “Karen is pregnant.”
Okay. Not what I expected him to say. Jeremy has been
living with Karen for a year. He’s a thirty-year-old man who
owns his own business. I hardly find his news a revelation.
“That’s great. Isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
“Sure?”
“Yes. You know dad will get on my case.”
I sigh. My brother-in-law can be a prick. Most of the time,
his prickly is directed at Jeremy. “That’s his problem.”
“Maybe. He’ll make it Mom’s problem.”
“Your mother can handle your father.”
“She shouldn’t have to ha
ndle his shit, Auntie.”
“No. She shouldn’t. He might surprise you,” I say.
Jeremy casts a doubtful glance my way.
“I said he might. You’ve done great for yourself. You own
a shop. You have a terrific girlfriend. Now, you’re going to be
a dad.”
“Before I’ve hit the altar or buy a house.”
“So what? Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” he says.
“Why are you upset? Is it about your dad?”
“I feel like he’s right.”
“About what?” I ask.
“Being a fuck-up.”
“That’s insane.”
“Is it? Shit. It’s not the way I planned things.”
“I hate to break the news,” I say. “Life fucks with
planning.”
Jeremy finally laughs.
“I’ve found it’s often a good thing,” I tell him. “Sometimes
the curve balls turn out to be the home runs. How does Karen
feel about all of this?”
“Excited.”
“Then why are you so blue?”
“She doesn’t want to get married.”
“Okay.”
“Yet,” he clarifies.
“Okay.”
“She wants to wait until the baby is born.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I ask. I’m trying to understand
what has Jeremy worried.
“No. Not bad. It’s just—I want to do it right, you know?”
“If you love Karen and you want this baby, it seems right
to me.”
“Dad’s going to ask me when we’re getting married.”
“So what? Tell him you’ll get married when you and
Karen decide to get married.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Come again?” I ask.
“You don’t have to worry about getting Brooklyn
pregnant.”
Jeremy’s words land like a gut punch. “I suppose that’s
true.” I don’t know what else to say. No. I can’t get Brooklyn
pregnant. He doesn’t understand what it feels like to hear him
make that point. It hurts. I always wanted a family. Time
slipped by so fast. I’m about to start my 49th trip around the
sun. Babies aren’t something I dream about these days. It’s
hard to accept the fact that I’ll never have a child. I want to
bite back and say, “Easy for me? I’d give anything to be
someone’s mom.” We don’t always get what we want in life.
What’s that song say? We get what we need.
“I wanted kids,” I tell him. “It just didn’t work out that