Picking up the Pieces

36

August 20, 2015

Everyone had piled in Stevie's car. She didn't know why she was the one driving but she was. it was Stevie, and Jana in the front and then in the middle of her SUV was Reinie Brielle, and Hallie while Kara Makenna and Sadie were in the back-back. Liz wasn't coming because she was going to be doing Pom camp that weekend which is simply she and the Pom team go down to Mt. Pleasant for a week long training camp where they learn routines and stretches and so on. 

"Mom Aux Cord." Brielle says after a moment. 

"Okay but you and Hallie have to share, I don't think they're going to want to listen to your music for the whole five hours." Stevie sighs as she merges onto the high way, her left hand taking the wheel her right feeding the cord back to the girls. Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball was the first time and all of the girls in the car started singing at the top of their lungs and Stevie started laughing lightly. This group of girls was so special and they had one of the best friend group relationships she's ever seen. At times watching her and Makenna reminded her so much of her and Robin it made her heart flutter. 

After Wrecking Ball came Stevie's song Edge of Seventeen and she groaned. "Do we have to listen to this?" 

"Yes mom, you've gotta sing it with us." Brielle cheers.

"I am driving." Stevie scolds.

"Wait this is your mom?" Sadie asks.

"It is. Edge of Seventeen 1981 you were what thirty-four?" 

"thirty-two actually." Stevie rolls her eyes.

"But you were born..." Brielle starts.

"I know, it came out four months before my 33rd birthday you were a year off kiddo." Stevie sighs but she does give in and she sings along to the radio.

***

Arriving in Detroit, Reinie got out and checked them in and then told Stevie where to park and they made their way up to the rooms. It was the Comfort Inn and while Stevie would've been more comfortable at the MGM Grand where she would normally stay when she does concerts down there, she knew that it was upwards of five hundred dollars a night and she wasn't going to pay for the two rooms herself and she certainly wasn't going to make the other moms in the group pay that much money either. So she let Reinie set everything up. They had gotten two rooms, one for the girls and one for themselves they made sure to get connecting rooms as well. The first night they had settled in and ordered some pizza and then when everyone else went down to the pool Brielle cleared her throat. 

"Mom and I'll catch up, I have to talk to her about something." 

"Sounds good, we'll be in the pool." Jana squeezes her shoulder and leads the girls down to the pool. 

"What's up baby?" Stevie asks tying her beach wrap around her hips.

"Is dad taking this weekend to look at house." 

"No, why?" Stevie shakes her head.

"I was hoping he was." She looks down sheepishly.

"Why, what happened?" Stevie questions.

"Well, when you were on tour Leelee just made it very clear that I knew nothing about them and about dad. We had gotten comfortable with each other but then she said that I just felt...I guess I didn't feel included. They never asked me to go to the beach with them. Will never asked me to go on his exploration drives and I just kinda wish they'd move out of our house so we can get back with our life the way it was and just see them like at the holidays." She shrugs.

"Brielle that's not going to happen. And it's not going to happen because while we were over seas there was one night were there was a mix up with the reservations and we ended up sharing a room. We did a lot of talking and a lot of soul searching and we've decided to get back together. They're staying baby and I'm sorry you feel left out but it's something we have to work on. This is a big adjustment for both parties. He uprooted their lives and he came in and disrupted ours but we need to make the best of it. Okay, so don't worry about it, we're here on a Girls trip so let's celebrate it okay. Hang out with our friends and spend way too much money on school clothes for you hmm?" Stevie asks playing with her hair.

"Okay." She sighs.

"I know it's tough but I love you, you know and your dad does too." Stevie squeezes her hand as they head to the pool. 

***

When they had sprawled back into the hotel rooms, Brielle threw her waves up in a top knot and dressed in a white tank top and pair of army green Hollister wide leg sweatpants and she collapsed in the middle of the bed that was going to be hers, Sadie's and Hallies. Leaving the sisters to share the second bed. 

"What's wrong Bree/" Sadie asks tugging at her bright green Girl Scout teeshirt which she had paired with grey shorts.

"My dad and my siblings are what's wrong." She sighs.

"Oh?" Hallie looks at her.

"They're moving in with us permanently. My parents decided to get back together and they don't like me so now I have to live with them." She sighs.

"Well it's just for a year and then you'll go to college." Makenna shrugs.

"That's the problem, I've applied at Northern and at Central. When I get into one of them. If I get into one of them and I have to move out I can almost guarantee you that Lee is going to steal my bedroom." Brielle sighs.

"Brielle your mom'll never let that happen." Makenna shakes her head.

"My mom might not but my dad might. Mom's doing a new album and will be going out on tour after I leave. It'll just be dad and his two girls left Will's planning on going to UCLA he only applied there. 

"So let her take Will's room. It's your mom's house she should have the final say." Hallie shrugs.

"My parents have a complicated relationship though." She sighs.

"Well just forget about it right now and let's go to bed so we can get up early and shop until we drop tomorrow." Sadie smiles collapsing into bed next to Brielle. 

"Sadie's right. We're here to have fun this weekend." Hallie also crawls in bed next to Brielle.