“I haven’t, thank goodness.” Brooklyn’s mind started running through the many stories her mom liked to share about “the bad old days”. Brooklyn had always thought her mom laid it on thick because she wanted the girls to understand what a shitty thing their dad had done by taking off when Virginia was a baby and Brooklyn a toddler. But her mom had always seemed fearless, so the girls never saw the struggle. They only heard about it. Now Brooklyn was starting to think that her mother had likely hidden a lot.
“I’m not sure what I would do if something like that happened to me in a business setting,” Lela said. “I’d probably freeze with shock.”
“I did the first time. Frankly, I was humiliated. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. The second time, the guy wasn’t so lucky. After that, I learned to keep my ass to the wall and be on high alert at all times.” The room went quiet as they all seemed to mark everything her mom and countless other women had experienced. “Did you two meet when Brooklyn was onGood DayUSA?” her mother asked, mercifully breaking the silence.
“Yes,” Lela answered. “I got to meet your daughter before the men of the world went crazy for her. Her inbox has exploded and men on the street are asking her out.”
“You’ve always said you wanted to do more dating,” her mom quipped with her trademark just-be-thankful-for-what-you-have tone.
“This isn’t dating. I’m a circus sideshow.”
“If you truly wanted a date, you would’ve used that interview as an excuse to reconnect with Alec.”
Brooklyn was taken aback. “Mom, I thought you didn’t like Alec.”
“First off, I didn’t like theideaof Alec. Remember, you never introduced me to him. And I only said that you were fighting an uphill battle by getting involved with a man who has an all-consuming career when you have the same.”
“I will say one thing. You and Alecareadorable together,” Lela interjected, then took a bite of cookie. “I bet you were cute when you were a couple.”
They’d been more than cute—they’d been like a house on fire. When they had time for each other. “Alec’s a no-go. He doesn’t want to be a dad. He told me as much. We work better as friends.” Honestly, that was all Brooklyn was hoping for from Alec right now. If they could stay friends, it would feel like a victory.
“Friendship is fine, but will it get you a baby? That’s the question.” Her mom drew in a deep breath through her nose, while casting Brooklyn a questioning look. “I should get back to the office. Lela, it was very nice to meet you. Brooklyn, can you call me tonight? I still would like to discuss my situation with you.”
Situation?“I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Brooklyn said. “Lela, do you mind waiting?”
“No problem. Do whatever you need to do,” Lela said.
Brooklyn stepped out into the hall with her mom. “What’s going on? You’re starting to worry me. Are you sick? Are you dying? Please tell me you’re not dying.”
“I’m not dying.” Her mom shook her head as slow as could be, upping the drama of Brooklyn’s question with an equally dramatic answer. “I’m thinking about selling Aurora.”
“I don’t understand how both of those things can be true. I always assumed you’d have to be terminal before you’d considering selling.”
“I thought so, too. But things haven’t played out like I once thought they would.”
“Didn’t you have one of your most profitable years ever last year?”
They made their way to the elevator and Brooklyn pressed the down button.
“We did. But our customer base is shrinking. And newer, hotter brands are stepping into the marketplace.” She gestured with a backward flip of her head toward the conference room where they’d just had lunch. “Like Lela’s company. I’m not sure I have the energy to compete the way I need to.”
Perhaps her mom just needed a pep talk. “Of course you do. You’re the woman who never gives up. You’re a fighter. And there are always going to be bumps in the road. Our subscription numbers dipped eight percent after we shipped that defective bronzer a few years ago.”
“There was a class action suit, Brooklyn. It turned your customers’ faces the color of nacho cheese.”
“Like I said, bumps in the road.”
The elevator dinged and they climbed on board.
“It’s not a bump.” Her mom had taken a shockingly somber tone. “This is about you. And your sister. And Posh Post.”
Brooklyn had to tamp down her natural inclination to get defensive whenever her mother brought up this topic. “What about us?”
“You’re seven years in now. It’s clear that Posh Post has some serious staying power. Which means I can’t hand my company over to you and your sister, which was always my plan.”
Brooklyn had once felt as though her mom was waiting for Posh Post to fail, but perhaps she got it turned around. Maybe her mom was waiting to make sure it succeeded. “You’re absolutely right. Virginia and I can’t take on any more responsibility right now. And there’s no way we’re walking away from Posh Post.”
“I’d like to retire at some point. I need to find a way to move forward.”
