I nod my head. I'm not sure that I believe him, but there's nothing I can do about it. I've made my point, and I'll leave it at that. I have bigger things going on right now. My wedding, telling everyone about the baby, and my shopping trip tomorrow with Taylor. I have a lot going on, too much to be worrying about anything else.
Even the worry about Hank and my brothers has to take a back seat. No matter if I am continually waiting for the other shoe to drop. They won't stay away forever. They've lured me into a false sense of security, they'll wait, and then suddenly show up and ruin everything. I can't let that happen, no matter what.
I leave VJ in the hallway with Tony when he informs me that Draven is now free to talk.
“What can I do for you, Brooke?” Draven doesn't look up from the paperwork on his desk.
I close the door and take a seat in front of his desk. “The thing is,” Just tell him, Brooke. “I'm going to need some time off.”
Now he looks up at me. Draven has a curious look on his face. He must think I'm so ungrateful right now, he gave me a chance in his five-star restaurant, an opportunity to work with a top chef, who has been teaching me so much. Now here I am asking for time off. I've only been here a couple of months!
“It won't be for a few months yet, and I'll work right up until the last moment. If you need any help finding someone to take my place, because it'll be a few months before I can come back, then I can do that.”
“Brooke,” I shut my mouth. I know I was rambling, but I wanted to get it all out there. He didn't give me the chance to tell him why I need time off. “Why don't you tell me why you'll be needing so much time off of work when I'm already allowing you time for your wedding.”
I swallow hard. “I'm pregnant. However,” I sit forward in my seat. For some reason, my heart is pounding, thumping too hard and fast. I have nothing to be scared of, so why do I feel like there is? “I would never leave you in the lurch. I love working here. I've learned so much from everyone, but this baby...”
I lower my head and touch my stomach. I smile to myself. I'm beginning to show, and this time, everyone will be able to see that I'm pregnant. I am so in love with the little boy in my womb, just as much as I am with Gabe, and nothing will ever make me feel guilty for how quickly Hawk and I got pregnant.
“Brooke?” I look at Draven with a smile on my face. I got lost in thought there for a moment. “Congratulations on the baby.”
“Thank you,”
“When's it due?”
“December.” Just over a month before Gabe's first birthday.
“Wow. You didn't waste any time, did you?” I shake my head while laughing. Draven smiles at me, and I see just how handsome he really is. “Now,” He grabs the restaurants diary, flipping to the end of the year. “When do you think you'll need to start your leave?”
“You're not going to fire me?”
Draven narrows his eyes. “Of course, I'm not going to fire you. You're good at what you do. You're a fast learner, and Mario is very impressed with you. I'd be a fool to let our budding chef go.”
I can feel the shocked smile on my face. Budding chef? Oh my God! I am so happy right now; this is what I've been working towards. I know I'm good at baking, but becoming a chef is what I want. I know it'll take a while to get to where I want to be, but knowing I'm on the right path is the best feeling in the world!
“So,” Draven taps his pen against the diary page. “When do I pencil in your leave?”
* * *
These are amazing, Maria.”
“You really think so?” The hope in Maria's voice makes me smile.
I was on my way home to change before collecting Gabe from Tammy when Maria called. She asked if I could stop by her place. Hawk is out on a run for the club, and Tammy said she could keep Gabe for a while longer, so I had time to see Maria. She sounded excited about something when she called, and I couldn't say no to her.
When I arrived at Maria's house, I'd only shut the car door, and Maria was out the front door, grabbing my hand, and dragging me inside the house to her kitchen. I sat at her table, and Maria pushed a bunch of papers towards me. I looked down to see the most beautiful jewelry designs I'd ever seen — rings, earrings, necklaces, chokers, hairpins, and even broaches.
I think what mesmerized me the most is that they're all Christmas themed. Christmas tree earrings, ornament bracelets, and necklaces. Maria has also designed a snowflake set, and I am in love with them. I've never seen anything like them. Each diamond is the color of blue ice, stunning, and something I would cherish.
“Maria, these are exquisite.”
She claps her hands excitedly. “I'm so glad you said that! I have something else to show you.” Maria opens a large black folder, pulls out an A3 size sheet of paper, and slides it over to me.
What I'm seeing is my dream come true: the most beautiful dress and accessories I've ever seen. I am in awe right now. The drawing of the bride in her dress is out of this world. I have a feeling I know what this is and my heart is in my throat.
I stare at the mermaid style dress of what I'm assuming is Ivory. The vision of diamonds encrusted over the sweetheart bust, the way the train flows down the woman's back, and the veil over her face, takes my breath away. Even the posy of peonies in her hands is stunning.
Then there are the blue diamond pins in the model drawings blonde hair, and a chunky diamond bracelet on her wrist. My eyes are drawn to the teardrop necklace hanging just shy of the cleavage. I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's me in the drawing, wearing everything I ever envisioned for my wedding day. Maria used me as a model for her work. I am honored.
“Avery designed the dress, and I designed the jewelry. We've worked nonstop over the past few weeks to get this perfect. What do you think? Be honest with me. If you don't like it, please just say so.”
I can't take my eyes off it. “This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”
Maria and Avery want to start their own design business together. What they actually want is to start up an online store where they'll sell what they make from home. That way, they won't have to leave their children to go out to work. Avery is a little too attached to her little boys and hates leaving them. Not that that's a bad thing. I love Gabe more than anything, but I like the freedom to work.
If this design is anything to go by, Maria and Avery's designs will be a huge hit. I'm excited for them to say the least.
“Do you really think so?” I nod at Maria and smile. “Good because this is your wedding outfit and accessories.”
“What?!” My eyes bug out of my head. I had a feeling, but I didn't dare hope it could be true.
“This is mine and Avery's wedding gift to you.”
“Oh my God, no.” This is too much! I can't accept something like this from my friends. It's beautiful, but it's so extravagant.
Maria tak
es my hands in hers. “Yes,” She's nodding her head, but I'm shaking mine. “I know you haven't been able to find your perfect dress, and that's because it didn't exist in reality. When you sat with Avery and me and explained about your dream wedding dress, this,” She taps the design. “Is what you described. We saw it in our minds, and we had to make it happen for you.”
I can't stop the tears falling from my eyes. I'm so overwhelmed by this. I bite my lower lip and look at Maria.
“Oh, Brooke. We didn't mean to step on your toes with this. We just thought...”
I lean over and wrap my arms around her neck, pulling her to me. “Thank you so much. You will never know how much this means to me.”
Maria pulls away from me and takes my hands in hers again. “Brooke, you are the best friend I ever had. From the moment I met you, you have been there for me. You showed me that I was better than the judgmental bitches who claimed to be my friends.”
We both laugh. Maria really did have some stuck up friends. Women who believed Jett was below them, and that Maria should have married “her own kind.”
Their words and thoughts about Jett really hurt Maria. They didn't care that she loved him, only what it looked like to their inner circle that Maria married him. I gave those women a piece of my mind, and to this day, I hope they choked on it!
“You were so honest and pure of heart, Brooke. You make friends with everyone so easily. Look how close you are with Alison already. She was so shy when she first came to us. Kong was worried she'd never come out of her shell, but you helped her with ease.” That's because Alison is on my level and very easy to get along with. “I love you like a sister, Brooke, and I wanted to do this for you. Both Avery and I did because you deserve it. Besides, you have to accept; we already made everything.”