Summer, 2000. I was 18, fresh from high school and fresh from the worst heartbreak I was sure I would ever feel. My parents gave me a trip to France as a graduation gift. But I was in no mood to frolic half way around the country and rub elbows with people I couldn't even understand. So instead of letting the trip go to waste, my Mom and Dad decided to go instead. It was fine with me, a whole summer to myself, it was just the ticket.
"Brooke, come down here honey, your father and I are leaving for the airport," my mother announced.
"Coming, Mother"!
"Now remember Brooke, no loud parties and don't forget to water the plants, there's a credit card on the dining room table for your expenses," my father said.
I waved and smiled as they disappeared from the drive way in the back of a yellow cab. Taking a deep breath and returning back inside the house, I looked around and became very excited. Two whole months of freedom, it was a dream come true for me. I quickly ran to the phone and called all my friends, it was party time. After making all the arrangements I ran up to my room to slip on my ultra short, ultra tight mini skirt I had found at the mall for an incredible bargain. It fit me in all the right places, I was sure to turn some heads tonight.
A couple hours crawled by before the first of the "party crew" began to arrive. One by one it was a fashion show as all my friends piled into the living room.
"Brooke, I can't believe you got rid of your parents for 2 whole months, you lucky bitch"!, squealed Andrea, my closest friend since kindergarten.
"Well I guess breaking up with Brian was a god send after all," I answered, giggling.
"No shit," said Mackenzie, "Maybe I should break up with Todd."
We all laughed, knowing this was the night to forget all about the shit from high school and just cut loose.
Within an hour my entire house was filled to the limits with my friends, their friends, and their friends friends. I didn't mind though, this was my chance to put Brian in the past and focus on the future. I was lost in thoughts of how I would spend my summer, smoking some grass with Andrea when the doorbell rang.
"Brooke, some dude's here looking for you," an anonymous voice yelled to me over the loud music.
"Who the hell is that"? asked Andrea.
"I have no clue," I said, laughing and getting up.
I made my way thru the sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces, the empty beer cans and past the booming stereo.
"Yes"?, I asked.
"Are you Brooke"?
"Yes I am, who the hell are you"? Now I realize that might have sounded a bit bitchy on my part, but I was high and really didn't care how I sounded at that point.
"I'm Aaron, I'm looking for David, he said to ask for you if I couldn't find him," he answered, somewhat timidly.
"Well David's my father and he and my mother are in France for the summer, is there something I can help you with ... Aaron, is it"? I asked.
"Y-your father"? he asked, seemingly shocked.
"Yes, my father, what's going on and who are you"? I snapped.
"Well, like I said, my name is Aaron, and, well, is there somewhere a little quieter we could talk"? he asked.
"Follow me," I said, leading him out the back door to the guest house.
I closed the door behind us, giving us the privacy he seemed to need.
"Now what's going on, Aaron, I do have guests," I said, taking a seat on the couch.
"Well, Brooke, it's obvious that David never mentioned me, so I'll cut right to the chase. I'm his son, from his first marriage."
"What the fuck are you talking about"?!? I said, totally in shock, "My father's only been married once, you must have made a mistake."
"No, no mistake Brooke, David Simms is my father," he said.
I didn't know what to say, I was in such shock. You know the kind of shock where it feels like someone has just punched you in the stomach? That kind of shock multiplied by 100.
"So that makes us brother and sister," he said, smiling, "It's nice to finally meet you."
"No wait, whoa back up one second Aaron, there's no proof that any of this is true, this is a joke, right? Oh I know, Brian sent you here, right"?
"Who's Brian"? he asked.
"Fuck, this cannot be happening, there must be some mistake, Dad would have mentioned if he had another kid running around," I said, feeling as though I was about to puke.
Just then, Aaron reached into his back pocket, removing his wallet.
"Here, maybe this will convince you," he said, handing me a picture.
I couldn't believe it, there was my father standing beside Aaron.
"When was this taken"? I asked.
"About 6 months ago," he answered.
"This is not happening," I said, trying to make sense of it, hoping if I kept repeating "this isn't happening" that would somehow make it go away.
Aaron and I spent a few hours in the guest house talking, trying to piece together this confusing puzzle. Aaron just found out about me very recently as well. Turns out, his mother and my father were only married a year or so, but long enough for him to father a child. They realized they had married too soon before knowing each other and filed for a divorce. My father moved to Florida, where he met my mother and married her, thus conceiving me.
Aaron told me that my father had managed to keep in touch with him throughout his life, sending him money, whatever he needed. He said he came from California, which panned out perfectly. My father had taken a business trip to San Francisco around the time that picture was taken. Feeling sorry for him, I invited him to stay, at least until I could contact my father and find out a few things.
By the time we made it back to the party everyone had gone. Andrea left me a note on the fridge saying she would call me later and "Who was that sexy guy you disappeared with"?
I giggled as I tore it up, not wanting Aaron to see it.
"You can sleep out in the guest house Aaron," I said, handing him an extra blanket.
"Thanks Brooke, I'm sorry about this, If I had known he was out of town, I never would have come."
"It's not your fault Aaron," I said, smiling.
I waited for him to leave before picking up the phone and dialing Daddy's cell number.
"Hello"? he answered.
"Daddy"? "Is that you"?
"Yes princess, it's me, is something wrong"? he asked.
"No, well yes, well no, yes, yes daddy something's wrong," I said.
"What is it princess, speak up, daddy can barely hear you," he said thru the static.
"Daddy, Aaron's here," I answered.