Shine Your Love on Me (25 page)

“Might not hurt you to see a dirty film. Get
your blood pumpin’,” John responded, wiggling his eyebrows.

“What about
White Christmas
?” Mary
asked.

“It isn’t Christmas, yet. Just Thanksgiving,”
Dave said.

“Don’t be so literal. I vote for Robin Hood.
I love Errol Flynn.” This from Carmen.

“Want to talk sexy? Flynn was screwing
everything in skirts,” Harry said.

Brooke chuckled and turned back to her task
of supervising the cooking and serving. When she was done, and the
seniors had begun to line up, she slipped on her coat and went out
for some air. The day was overcast—gray clouds hung frozen in the
sky. The wind gusted, creating a chill. She turned up her
collar.

Brooke wasn’t sure about taking this job. But
Pres had encouraged her to sign on then make it her own. And she
was pleased to find Miriam to be a good listener. Most of Brooke’s
plans were accepted without a hitch. Miriam respected Brooke’s
previous success.

Pres was now staying at Brooke’s place until
he had to return to California. She was uncertain how it would be
to have a bi-coastal marriage. She chewed a nail. He was due to
return to the West Coast in a couple of days.

Cold air swirling around her convinced Brooke
to head back into the warmth. She stood behind the counter,
watching the seniors load food onto their plates. They chatted,
commenting on each item. There was lively discussion and
disagreement about whether there were potatoes or pears in the
gelatin salad.
Who puts potatoes in a gelatin salad?

Peace flowed through Brooke. She was meant to
do this. Her thoughts turned to her parents. She knew they would
approve. She sensed their presence when she was cooking, as if her
mother was looking over her shoulder, helping her. Then, it hit
her. Her father’s favorite film.

She called Pres. He found the movie buried in
her room and promised to bring it.

Returning to the cafeteria, Brooke clapped
her hands. “Announcement! I’ve selected the movie for tonight. In
honor of my late father, we’ll see
Parenthood.
It was his
favorite film. And there’s something for everyone, including some
discussion about sex,” she said, looking directly at Harry, who
blushed. His friends laughed.

“Great choice!” someone proclaimed.

“Good idea,” a woman chimed in.

“It’s about time someone made a decision!”
John said.

Brooke leaned against a column, watching the
seniors eat and talk. The smiles on their faces told her the recipe
for her mom’s turkey noodle casserole was a hit. She put the center
out of her mind for a moment to focus on planning her wedding.
She’d called the Dinner Club to get help with ideas and menu
planning.
Will I have to invite all the seniors? Maybe only
about a dozen. A June wedding is so traditional. But it’s wonderful
in New York in June. Flowers? What color for the bridesmaids
dresses?

Mrs. Preston Carpenter.
A chill shot
through her when she thought of her married name. Then, warmth
entered her heart, as she knew her parents would’ve liked Pres.
He’s the kind of guy they would have picked for me.
A tug on
her hand drew her out of her reverie.

“Where are the pugs?” Mary asked.

“I’ll bring them next time. But they can’t
come into the dining room or kitchen. Can you help me keep them in
line?”

“Of course. They listen to me. Dogs like me.
Maybe more than some people do,” she said, smiling.

“Thank you. I’ll let you know when we’ll be
here, and you can meet us at the front door.”

“I’ll be there. You can count on it.”

Brooke was about to continue the conversation
when a round of applause, a standing ovation, grabbed her
attention. She turned to see what all the fuss was.

Coming through the automatic doors was a
wheelchair. There sat Nan, pushed by Pres. Brooke choked up. Her
eyes watered. Once inside, Pres took a walker from the back of the
chair and assembled it.

Ruth grasped each side of the aluminum device
and pulled herself up out of the chair. She made her way slowly,
but steadily toward the food line. Her friends gathered around her,
hugging her and talking. She made eye contact with Brooke.

“I’m proud of you, Nan. What do you
want?”

“I’ll take everything. I’m starved,
especially for your cooking.”

Brooke filled a plate and placed it on a
tray. “Is that Mary Lou’s casserole, Brooke?” the older woman
asked.

“Sure is. And her gelatin mold, too. Salad
has your favorite balsamic dressing.”

“Apple pie?”

“No, mom’s pumpkin. And her brownies,
too.”

“Fantastic!” Ruth’s face lit up.

Pres carried the tray while Nan looked for a
seat among her friends. Several women called out to her to join
them, but she spied Harry, patting an empty seat next to him. She
put the walker aside and sat down. He took her hand, then kissed
her. The catcalls from the men in the crowd got a laugh. Pres
delivered her food. Brooke joined him.

“Three cheers for Brooke and Ruth,” came a
cry from the crowd. The warmth of appreciation was second only to
the metallic sound of knives and forks working together. Brooke
grinned as Pres took her hand.

“Well done,” he whispered.

Training her gaze on Brooke, Ruth patted the
empty chair on her left. Her granddaughter slid in next to her. The
older woman offered her a brownie.

“You’ve made so many positive changes here at
the center. It’s amazing what a little TLC can do.” Ruth patted her
on the shoulder.

“Thanks, Nan. It’s a labor of love.”

“I’m so proud, Brooke. Look at you, shining
your love on the world. Fantastic.”

Brooke and Pres decided to put their wedding
off until the fall, after the series’ pilots had aired. There would
be a hiatus of a month or two regarding additional script writing,
while they awaited the thumbs up or down from the network.
Meanwhile, he was spending two weeks in California and two in New
York every month, slaving away on revisions and having input on
casting.

Although Brooke missed Pres, she was working
hard at the center. Miriam Grand had been pleased with the results
from Brooke’s work. Word had traveled that the food and
entertainment at the center had improved and were now the best to
be had on the West Side.

Ruth’s home had been put on the market. A
buyer was found. Brooke and Nan were waiting for board approval.
Brooke had moved into Pres’s place. Jonathan Carpenter wanted to
buy them an apartment for their wedding. He insisted the East Side
was best, but Pres disagreed. The issue was still being negotiated.
Brooke was confident her lover would hold out for the West Side, to
keep a safe distance from his father while remaining close to
Nan.

Nan was now walking with only a cane for
occasional support. With Pres and Brooke’s help, she had moved into
a one-bedroom in the Hudson Apartments. Her recovery had been
remarkable. She held small dessert parties for her friends from the
senior center. Schlepping out to The Petite Sweet for cream puffs
and Milles Feuilles—Napoleons—gave her some exercise. She and
Brooke often walked with the dogs in good weather.

Jonathan Carpenter insisted the wedding be
held in the garden of his private club, The Viceroy. He even
offered to foot the bill. After seeing the elegant space, Brooke
had agreed. An early October date had been set. Brooke’s Dinner
Club friends would be her bridesmaids.

It was a pleasant summer day when Brooke and
the Dinner Club members gathered to munch on Bess’s Cobb salad and
plan a wedding shower for Brooke. Brooke brought a cool Moscato,
which she poured. Rory set the table on the terrace. Discussion of
how X-rated the gifts could get ended in peals of dirty laughter
among the women. While they waited for Miranda, Rory approached
Brooke with an idea.

“We’ve got a couple of pugs coming into the
rescue in the next week. I was wondering…I know you already have
three, but is there some way we could find a home for a rescue
either at the senior center, or at your grandmother’s
residence?”

“The residence will let them have one small
dog, but not two. So, Pres and I are keeping Freddy and Ginger. Nan
misses her pugs. She could take care of one and maybe bring him or
her to the center when she comes.”

“That’d be perfect. Here, let me show you.”
Rory whipped out her phone and pulled up a picture. “This is
Muffin. She’s seven, but doesn’t have any health issues. She might
be perfect.”

Brooke took a look at the photo of the
diminutive dog, but her cell rang before she could answer Rory. It
was Miranda. “Hey, girl. Where are you? We’re waiting for you.”

“I can’t believe what he did!” Miranda was
crying.

“What’s the matter?” Brooke asked.

“That bastard. He’s the worst. And my sister?
Cressida. What a traitor.” She sobbed.

“Miranda! Miranda! Stop crying, I can’t
understand you. Come over here. I can’t help you over the phone.
Should I come and get you?”

“I can get there on my own,” Miranda said,
her voice shaking.

“What happened?”

“I never thought she’d do something like
that… Now, he’s got what he wants…well, almost. I hate him. And I
hate her more. I’m on my way.” She hung up.

The women had stopped to stare at Brooke.

“I don’t know what’s wrong, but Miranda was
really upset and mad as hell.”

“I can guess,” said Bess. “That rat bastard.
He’ll stop at nothing.”

“He’s a Roberts. They always get what they
want,” Rory said.

“You should know,” Brooke pointed out.

“Hack is different. He and Penn are only
cousins.”

“They say determination is hereditary,” Bess
remarked, as she tossed the salad.

“So is ruthlessness,” Brooke said, sipping
her wine.

There are pug rescues run by volunteers all
across the United States. Anything you can do to help, from making
calls, to fostering, from transporting to helping with fund-raising
would be appreciated. Donations, even small ones, are most welcome.
The money pays for veterinary care for abused or neglected
pugs.

The mission of these rescues is to find
loving forever homes for pugs who have lost theirs. If you want to
help, scroll down for a listing of pug rescue websites by state.
There’s sure to be one near you. Note: website addresses may change
or rescues may fold and new ones be born, this list is up-to-date
as of the date of publication of this book.

LIST OF PUG RESCUES

NATIONAL PUG RESCUE NETWORK

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nationalpugrescuenetwork/

ALABAMA:

http://www.alabamapugrescue.org/

Semper Fi Rescue

http://semperfirescue.com/index.html

ALASKA:

Polar Pug Rescue &
Friends
 

http://polarpug.org/

ARIZONA:

Arizona Pug Adoption Rescue
Network

http://www.arizonapugrescue.com/

ARKANSAS:

MidSouth Pug Rescue

http://www.midsouthpugs.org/

Pug Rescue of North West
Arkansas

http://pugrescuenwa.typepad.com/

Pugs and Kisses Rescue

http://www.pugsandkissesrescue.com/

CALIFORNIA:

Pug Rescue of Sacramento - Bay
to Borders

http://www.pugpros.org/

Pugs N Pals of Southern
California

http://www.pugdogrescue.com/

Pug Savers

http://www.pugsavers.com/

Northern CA, Northern NV

Central Coast Pug Rescue

http://www.centralcoastpugrescue.com/

Pug Rescue of San Diego
County

http://www.pugbutts.com

Pugs N Roses

http://pugsnroses.com/home/

Pug Rescue Nation of Los
Angeles

www.pugnationla.org

COLORADO:

Colorado Pug Rescue

http://copugrescue.org/

CONNECTICUT
:

Pug Rescue of New England

http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

Curly Tail Pug Rescue

http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/