“You’re right, Brooke,” she sighs. “I didn’t take that job because of you, but it wasn’t to stay and look after you. I couldn’t leave you. Even if Nate was still here I couldn’t leave you; you’re my sister, my family. I stayed because I need you, not because I think you need me. I think you’ll also find that when you take over Argo, Saxon won’t be running off as quickly as you think.”
“Life goes on, Rach, whether you choose to move on and take a chance in the unknown or stay behind, locked in the past, thinking of what could've been. I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I’m lonely here; there’s nothing for me here. I have to move on,” I say, ignoring her last comment.
“I agree, babe, and I’m so proud of you. Just don’t do it because you think you’re holding us all back. Do it because it’s where you want and need to be.”
“I think it is,” I breathe out.
“Then I’ll pick you up in an hour. I’ll bring some breakfast with me,” she says with a smile in her voice.
“Thanks, Rach. See ya soon.”
Finishing my coffee out on the balcony while enjoying the early morning sounds, I think about taking this huge step. I smile to myself; I know how proud this would make Nate. I can see his wide grin and the sparkle in his eyes. “Yeah, babe. You’re right again, as always.” I laugh to myself and shake my head as I make my way to the bathroom to get ready for a full day of shopping.
Before I know it, Rachel and I have eaten the bagels she brought and are walking through the doors of Park Plaza Shopping Centre.
The shopping centre is quiet and still as not many people are here this early. The only noise coming from shop assistants unlocking and setting up, and it soothes me to not feel overwhelmed on my first time back in a while.
As I go to enter the higher end dress shop I feel Rachel’s hand on my arm stopping me. I turn to look at her, and she has her serious face on.
“Before we get caught up in shopping, I just want to tell you how proud I am of you. You’re doing the right thing, and I know this is going to be such a positive step for you.” She gives me a sad smile. Rachel is rarely serious, normally avoiding these sad moments.
“Thanks, Rach. I’ve got a good feeling about this, too.”
“Although I’m pretty pissed off it was Saxon who rode in on his horse and saved the day. Where has he been for the last three months? Wanker.”
There she is. I laugh. “Rach, I think it was just a coincidence he arrived at the right time. I was ready; I just didn’t know it yet. Although, I did have another crying episode in front of him.”
“Come on, no thinking too hard about it. Let’s shop,” she says, pulling my hand and dragging me into the first shop, stopping all thoughts of Saxon and the connection I feel to him.
In no time at all Rach is at the racks, pulling clothes off from all different directions; skirts, pants, dresses, suits, shirts, jackets, and blouses… I barely have a chance to browse before she is dragging me to the changing room, shoving me in and throwing piles of clothes at me.
Hanging them all on the hooks provided, I begin to change. The first outfit I try is a three-quarter slim-fitting grey skirt and sleeveless white blouse. As I go to walk out the changing room and look in the mirror, some high black heels come flying at me. “Try those on too,” Rachel demands.
Slipping on the high heels, I stroll out to the mirror.
“Wow, Brooke, you look fantastic.”
“You don’t think this is a little too much for the office?”
“No way, you look great. Sophisticated.”
“Sophisticated like I own a company or sophisticated like a hooker?” I ask with my hand on my hip.
“A tad melodramatic, aren’t you? Now go back in there and try on one of the dresses.” She laughs as she pushes me back in the changing room.
Rolling my eyes at her, I shut the door and pick up a navy blue fitted shift dress and try it on. I don’t even need to look in the mirror. No way. No way can I wear this to the office. “No way, Rachel. This is not an appropriate office outfit,” I scream out to her through the door.
“What are you talking about? I wear dresses like that all the time. You said you wanted outfits like mine.”
No way. I throw the door open and storm out to the mirror. “I meant similar clothing to yours, but made for women with figures like mine.”
“What are you talking about, Brooke? You look fantastic.”
“This is too much. It’s too tight and too short.”
“Brooke, it looks good. Some burgundy heels will go great with it. After three months of wearing Nate’s track pants you need to feel good about yourself. This is about starting over, moving forward, and change. What’s better than a change of wardrobe to get you started?”