"Alright you lot, take your plates and clear out," Mrs. Brodie demanded, looking first at Aimee and then her sons.
"But mum, she's my best friend, I should—," Aimee began to complain, but the look on her mother's face convinced her to withdraw from this particular battlefield. Shooting a look at her old roommate, she mouthed, "Good luck."
Brooklyn's heart raced in her chest as she watched Aimee and her three brothers pick up their plates and head into the family room. The silence was almost too much to bear. Brooklyn couldn't bring herself to look either Mrs. or Mr. Brodie in the eyes. Only moments ago, she'd experienced one of the happiest moments of her life, and now it felt like it was all going to slip away.
The television was turned on and soon the sound of muffled voices could soon be heard from the other room.
"Now, before we start," Mrs. Brodie began, waiting until Brooklyn finally looked up to meet her gaze. "Understand that we love you dear, and no matter what happens here," the matriarch waved her finger in a slow circle as she spoke, "You're one of ours now. Your last name might be Ryan, but for all intents and purposes, you're a Brodie now. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Brooklyn felt a warmth spread through her chest as hope slowly returned, "I think so ma'am, thank you." Seeing Mrs. Brodie's flash of disapproval, she quickly added, "mum," and was rewarded with a warm smile from the older woman.
"See, I told you everything would be fine," Jennifer said, leaning back in her chair, her lips pulling into a self-satisfied smile.
"What you did was certainly not fine," Mrs. Brodie admonished sharply. Her eldest daughter's smile quickly faltered. "You could have handled that in a hundred better ways, but of course you would choose the most bombastic, and never once thought about how it would make pour Brooklyn feel."
Jennifer suddenly looked a lot humbler as she gave Brooklyn a bashful look, "I thought it'd be better to get it out there. You know, like a Band-Aid, just rip it off fast like."
Mrs. Brodie gave a heavy sigh, "Of course you did child," she said with a touch of reproach in her voice,, but then in a much softer tone added, "But you know we love you too, so let's see what we can salvage here." The family's matriarch folded her hands and rested them on the table, "Please tell us how this all started."
In a much more subdued tone, Jennifer related their story. First telling about the dances and then the subsequent dates. She mercifully left out any sexual details, which Brooklyn was grateful for. Knowing her girlfriend, she half thought she would share those, too. Mr. Brodie seemed content to simply listen. He'd never been one to talk a lot, usually choosing to differ to his strong-willed wife, but there was a strength Brooklyn had always felt from him, despite his quiet demeanor. When he did speak, Brooklyn nearly jumped as she didn't expect it.
"You're happy Brooklyn?" he simply asked.
The question caught Brooklyn flat-footed, but she quickly answered, "I am... it's all new, and a bit confusing, but I'm happy. I... I love Jennifer."
At this Mrs. Brodie gave a surprised gasp, her expression remaining wistful and concerned. "We just want you two to both be happy," she said, reaching out and gently tapping the top of Brooklyn's hand.
"But girls, understand that sometimes happiness isn't possible. Sometimes we have to settle for fulfilled, at least for a time," Mr. Brodie added, saying more than Brooklyn could ever remember hearing him say before. "Your mother and I may not understand this, but we support you and love you both."
Neither Jennifer nor Brooklyn spoke for a long moment. Finally, Jennifer broke the silence, "Thank you dad. That means a lot."
"We set up the spare bed in Aimee's room," Mrs. Brodie began, not exactly looking thrilled at the words she was having to speak, "but I suppose you'll be wanting to stay with Jennifer tonight then?"
"Of course she will," Jennifer said, her voice firmly resolute. "She's my girlfriend, and we've been sleeping together for almost two months now."
"I understand that, Jennifer. It's just that we've never allowed your brothers to bring their girlfriends home and sleep in the same room. We've always been old-fashioned that way, the whole no-sex-before-marriage idea."
"I'll stay in Aimee's room if you prefer," Brooklyn said, earning a hostile glare from her girlfriend. "I want to respect your rules."
Mrs. Brodie gave the younger girl a warm smile, "Ah, at least you'll be a good influence on this one," she said, nodding towards her eldest daughter. "But no, it's fine dear."
The conversation continued for almost an hour before Mrs. Brodie suggested they finish their supper. With the hard part of the conversation started, the four ate in relative silence. The chicken was cold, and Brooklyn felt little appetite after the dramatic reveal and question-answer period. When they finished, Mrs. Brodie shewed them out of her kitchen to join the rest of the family.
Brooklyn followed her girlfriend into the family room where the other siblings were watching an old movie she didn't recognize. Aimee sat in her usual place, an old recliner off to the side. Brooklyn looked at her oldest friend as she entered. In all her past visits, she had sat next to Aimee on the recliner, there being just enough room for the two of them to sit comfortably. But as their eyes met, Aimee gestured towards one of the sofas with her eyes. Brooklyn followed her gaze and found that the sofa on the far side of the room was left empty. Jennifer must have seen it too because he pulled Brooklyn's hand towards the last remaining seats.
Brooklyn gave her former roommate an apologetic look, and Aimee returned it. A dull ache filled Brooklyn's heart. It felt like the end of a chapter, she thought as Jennifer sat sideways on the couch and then pulled Brooklyn to sit between her legs. Jennifer then pulled a blanket over them and wrapped her arms around Brooklyn's middle.
"You two look cozy," Jared teased, looking over from his spot on the floor. "But no funny business. We normally wouldn't mind seeing two girls making out, but not when it's our sisters."
"Shut your gob," Scott admonished, throwing a pillow at his younger brother's head. "Just because you can't get a girlfriend."
An impromptu wrestling match suddenly broke out amongst the three brothers. It escalated quickly, and soon legs and arms were flying and swinging. After a few yelps and groans, Mr. Brodie finally barked out an order to end it. It didn't exactly end right away, and an occasional kick or jab was thrown as the boys took their places again in front of the television.
"Brothers are the worst sometimes," Jennifer said, pulling Brooklyn's form closer to her own.
Brooklyn couldn't help but smile. To her, this was what made a house a home, it made the Brodie family special. Feeling a sudden hand move under her shirt, Brooklyn pulled her arm in tight to try to stop Jennifer's fingers.
"Hey," Brooklyn protested quietly, Jennifer's fingers reaching her nipples and giving them both a twist.
"What," Jennifer feigned, "these belong to me, remember?"
"Normally yes, but not in front of the family like this," Brooklyn said, trying to keep her voice a low whisper.
"Oh, no, no, girlfriend," Jennifer taunted. "Whenever I want. Your body is mine to pleasure how I please." Jennifer applied more pressure to the hardening nubs, and then rolled them gently between her thumb and forefingers. "I know all your sensitive spots, babe. I can play your body like a finely tuned instrument, and I plan to do it until I make you mine forever."
Brooklyn shuddered at the words, and especially at Jennifer's soft breath on her neck. Her girlfriend wasn't lying when she said she knew her body. Brooklyn's rational thoughts faded as the pleasure intensified. She then felt one of Jennifer's hands reach down lower, her fingers gently running over Brooklyn's bare mound.
