New York City; Spencer's law firm; before Spencer and Brook's small engagement celebration; about 9:30ish
Spencer- "Hey, Spencer, stop slouching!" My Queen, Brook scolds me, boosting my shoulders so that I'm standing upright, "we haven't seen these guys in months, we don't want an incident." She straightens my necktie, "Seriously! You've been acting strange, even for you, since I said yes to your proposal. We're going to be married, you need to open up to me. Did something happen during our break up?"
I have no idea how to answer her. Damn, these new emotions! I never used to feel guilty about anything and now it's eating away at me.
"Okay, before this gathering begins, there's something I need to tell you." I say. "I've been trying to find the best way to tell you but this has been bottling up inside me even before I proposed to you. So before this engagement goes any further, I need to confess here and now."
Brook- Okay, something definitely happened while we were apart. In a way, I'm very proud of him for how far he's come along, I don't think he's ever felt this vulnerable.
I reach up and lightly rub his cheek with the back of my hand. "Spencer, I love you and I'm never leaving your sight ever again," I tell him, "so whatever it is,-"
"I cheated on you!" He cuts me off, I kind of figured he was going to say that. "Or at least I think I did, I'm not entirely sure. This whole relationship thing is still very new to me." I shake my head at that as if to say that it makes no difference.
"Spencer, it's okay," I say softly, "we were broken up. You didn't have any commitment to me. Besides, it was me that broke up with you. I have no right to be upset." Especially, since I had my little tryst with Nathan.
"Well, it was all done in the name of research to be better for you," he says, I lift an eyebrow. Now I'm curious, "but my therapist said you may see this as unfaithful even if we're broken up because I got the impression that this wasn't a breakup in the traditional sense." Okay, now I'm really curious. "So, I was getting help developing and dealing my emotions. Turns out, I'm mildly bipolar and I have high functioning Asperger's syndrome, I'm taking medication for the former. But I really needed help relating to women so I can be more understanding and empathetic to you. I asked a couple of the girls here in the office to help me with that."
"Is that it?" I asks, "Doesn't sound like cheating to me, it looks like you benefitted from their advice."
"Uh," he says sounding cautious and shaking his head, "that's not all. I know you've commented that I'm much better kisser now, remember?" OK I'm feeling a little concerned now. "I don't know any delicate way to say this; they gave me kissing lessons." he then looks me in eyes like he's ashamed, "but it meant nothing to me or to them. At least, I don't think it did for them. But that's it! I didn't do anything else with them, I swear!" I just look straight at him for a moment. Then I kiss him
"I'm not upset, honey. I actually think that's kind of sweet," I say to him but now there's a question gnawing at me. "If that's all you did with them, where did you learn how to make love so much better?" He's a hundred times better than before.
"Oh, that," he says, "they did give me some demonstrations using office supplies." That makes me burst out laughing. "But that's not all," okay, what does that mean? "I began viewing some...adult content...geared toward women." I don't know why but that just make him look so cute and I hug him tightly. I know I should tell him about Nathan but I don't know when a good time will be for that.
Just then, "Hey! Spency! Mazal Tov, Man!" I turn around and there's Donny. I start having mixed feelings about seeing him after not seeing him for awhile but, Spencer turns to me and says,
"Look, I know you were once betrothed to that man but he's still the most obnoxious person I've ever met and, emotional growth or not, I never change my stance on that." Oh, Spencer, don't ever change this part about you. I just smile and kiss him passionately.
Donny- "Wow, it's been so long since I've seen either of you!" I say when I get up to them. They're standing right outside Spencer's office (which used to be Carl's office). I shake Spencer's hand and give Brook a hug. "Wow, what have you guys been up to? There's been so much going on back home that, frankly, I started to forget about you two. Then, I see that report about you and Chad joining Carl's legal team. Congrats on that, too, by the way!"
Since they group texted us with their engagement announcement, Chad did fill in about a couple things about these two. He told me they broke up almost right after Linnie and I got engaged. Also, Spencer is 'human' now? I knew I had to see it to believe it. Then I hear a couple excited high-pitched screams.
Of course, it's Linnie and Gina.
Linnie- We both run up and hug Brook, excitedly. Then I turn to Spencer and a mixture feelings well up inside me. This is the first time I've seen my ex-fiancé since Donny and I got engaged. In fact, it's the first time I've been in this building since Pantsuit Powderkeg.
"Congratulations, babe," I say with a smile. I reach up and hug him tightly
"Hello," Carolynn. wow it's been so long since anyone's called me that. "Congratulations to you, as well." I heard he's changed a little
"Thank you, Spencer." I respond
"But there's something I need to say to you. Privately, please." he says to me. It kind catches me off guard. Donny looks slightly concerned, probably out of old reflex when it comes to me and Spencer.
"It's okay, Donny, I'll be alright." I say. Then Spencer leads me off to the side as I see more people coming in; Kenny, Chad, Chris, Craig even Janine in a wheelchair (with baby Lillian). Janine's new nurse is none other than Donny's sister, Carmen, who's a registered nurse by trade. Also here is Candace and Derrick. Well, also Naldo but he came with us. They don't really know Brook and Spencer so I don't know why they're here. But in any event,
"I just want to say I'm sorry," Spencer says, bringing me back to planet Earth, "I'm sorry for everything I put you through for all those years we were together. I took you for granted and I thought you were just means to an end." Wow, this is a little unexpected, "Although I still don't like Donny, I see that he makes you happy. Also, he was right during his little speech a little while ago. I did love you, I just didn't know it until you were no longer with me." This is the first time Spencer ever made me cry happy tears.
"You're so forgiven, baby," I say, giving him a tearful embrace and I kiss him on the cheek, "I'm so proud of you. For the trial, for this engagement. Oh, Spencer, Brook really did number on you hasn't she?"
"Yes, she did," Spencer says, "but now that you bring it up, how are you doing with all that? Your father's trial, I mean. How're you feeling with all of it?" This really catches me off guard. No one, not even Donny, has brought that up to me. And Spencer showing empathy is really weird for me.
"Well, to be honest, Spencer," I say, hands fidgeting, "to be honest, I haven't given it much thought."
"I know he hurt you so much," Spencer says, "but you realize that this whole trial is happening because of something he was doing for you. It was completely wrong and illegal but he still did it out of love for you. If nothing else, to give the both of you closure. He asks me and Chad about you all the time. If you want, I can arrange to have you see him in person. You can even bring that mongrel of yours."
I smile at that, he's obviously talking about Donny. It's nice to see that he still has some of the old Spencer in him. This reminds me that I haven't spoken with my mother, Teresa, since Donny and I got engaged, let alone that she's going to be a grandma. We still haven't told anyone else yet, either.
"Yes, Spence," I say, he offers me a handkerchief, "I'd like that. Thanks." Y'know, I'm starting to feel a little jealous and resentful toward Brook that she was able to change him in nine months when I couldn't do it in four years. We walk back over to the group and I see something a little strange. Candace and Brook holding hands. What's this about?
Candace- "I know we don't really know each other, Brook," I say after taking both her hands in mine, "but you were once engaged to Donny, the father of my child, and part of the reason that ended, as you now know, is because of me and my selfishness. I saw how happy you made him and I couldn't handle that. I thought I would be the one to marry him."
"Hey, Candace," Brook says, "it's okay. I cheated on him first. When he was mourning for his mother. But it is nice to finally meet you. Even though he never mentioned you the entire time we were together, but I kept thinking about you since his little speech. To be honest, I'm more resentful of the fact that you had his first child. But, it is what it is. Who'd have thought that me and Donny would be engaged to each other's exes?" I can't tell if that's a dig at me or not but it does bring up a good topic for me.
"Everything happens for a reason," I say to her, and I motion for Derrick to come over, he's been standing in the back this whole time, "this is Derrick, my boyfriend, he's an old friend of Linnie's."
"Oh, I thought I recognized you," says Brook's fiance, Spencer, "You're Carolynn's friend from Portland. You were the one that was always at her celebrations and such of that nature. How are you?" Derrick and Spencer shake hands
"I'm cool, bro," Derrick says, "I always thought you didn't know who I was."
"I guess I knew more than I thought I did." Spencer answers. This Spencer sure is an interesting person. After all this time, I don't think I've heard the story of him and Linnie. Maybe some day.
Derrick- "And you must be Brook, huh?" I turn my attention toward Brook.
"So you're obviously connected to Donny," Brook says to Candy, "and you're a friend of Linnie's." she says to me. "Huh, what is it about those two that brings their old friends and exes together?" We laugh at this.
I walk back to where I was. I really don't know these people. Candy wanted to come all the way to New York to apologize to the bride for something that happened ages ago, which of course, involves Donny. He's a great guy but why are everyone's lives so centered around him? He ain't bad but he's not overly special either. Maybe cuz I'm from the outside looking in or maybe there's still a tinge of jealousy over Linnie. Since I started dating Candy, I haven't really thought about her in that way. I'm completely in love with Candy and Naldo.
I guess people would like to know what my big secret is that made me cry at the hospital. I haven't told Candy yet either. It's extremely personal and only my mother and Linnie know about it. Candy said she understands but I can tell she's dying to know. Maybe, I'll tell her over dinner. Which is actually the reason why I wanted to come to the city. Candy and I never finished our little date from last time and I never took her and Naldo to that burger joint I told them about.
It was actually Candy's idea. She says she's prepared to handle Daryl and his goons this time. I really love that woman.
Craig- People express love in different ways but I think we may be the most unique. Because her affair with that 'kid', Krystal and I are no longer boyfriend and girlfriend. We have a different, a more 'physical' type of arrangement...
Chris- Yes, I'm here, too. I'm actually not here to keep an eye on Candace and her pet monkey (Derrick) and I'm definitely not here to congratulate Spencer. Now that he's representing Carl, he's now aligned with the enemy but that's not my most immediate problem. Donny's sister, Carmen, is here and I need to somehow get some answers from her without blowing my cover. She knows something about what the rogue agents and my group, the Ubberreich, are planning. She knows where Russ is with that Dossier but most importantly, as some of these undercover rogue agents tell me, she could be in possession of something with...Messianic implications.
Carmen- I'm happy to be of help to Chad and Janine and I'm partly doing this as a penance for my son , Noah, having sex with that cradle robber, Krystal, in their bed. Apparently, it happened a lot more than just the time we caught them.
But at this very moment, I'm getting some real uncomfortable vibes from that one guy, that works for Chad. He keeps looking at me. I think I heard people call him Chris.
End of Chapter. Please comment and vote.