Weary

Chapter 1

‘’Happy Anniversary!’’ The crowded room erupts into cheers as the happy couple enters the room. A setting summer sun provides the perfect lighting for the fifth wedding anniversary of the King and Queen of Pittsburgh. Surrounded by 100 of their closest friends and colleagues, Pittsburgh has not seen this amount of star power since the star-studded nuptials a mere five years ago. The couple of the hour looks, as usual, stunning. Mrs. Brooklyn Donahue Crosby is wearing an Ellie Saab creation, a white, silk gown looking effortlessly refined, while her other half sports an impeccable suit. Never has a couple looked more at home in the middle of a crowd. Even from across the room one can see just how much these two adore one another, the small touches don’t go unnoticed. And the two can barely keep their hands off of each other.

It seems as if they’ve found the secret to showbiz marriage, after five years, two children and success after success. Maybe grounding themselves in the Steel City have helped them remain so approachable and yet untouchable to us mere mortals. Regardless, the world should be happy to know that the fairytale is alive and well in Pittsburgh. These two perfect humans at the top of their careers have somehow found a way to make it work, and if that isn’t true love then we don’t know what is.

Brooklyn’s POV July 2022

‘’Enjoy the rest of your evening sweetheart,’’ my mom kisses me on the forehead as she practically pushes me into the waiting SUV. ‘’We’ll take care of the cleanup.’’

I can’t help but smile, ‘’Thanks mom.’’

‘’Of course, happy anniversary you two,’’ and she shuts the door.

I lean back closing my eyes, thinking of everything that I’ve put off for the past three hours to go to this obscene party. It’s enough to bring on another migraine. Blindly, I reach for the familiar store of Advil in the seat pocket. There’s a cough next to me and I pass the container.

When the driver closes the door and begins to drive I send up a silent prayer in thanks, ‘’Straight home, sir, ma’am?”

‘’Yes, please.’’ Sidney answers.

We sit silently, like statues. The silence stretches until the highway, ‘’Nice party.’’

I respond, ‘’It was.’’ Pausing. ‘’The Clooney’s sent us a gift, I forgot to tell you.’’

‘’What was it?’’

‘’Matching carved elephants from the Nepalese basin, apparently that’s where his next big project is.’’

‘’Kind of them.’’

‘’It was.’’

‘’Duper said Carol Anne couldn’t stop talking about the centerpieces.’’

‘’Oh really? I’ll give her the number of the company.’’

‘’You should.’’

I doze off for the rest of the ride. When our chauffer wakes me up when we arrive Sidney is already out of the car. I grab my bag and give my thanks. Walking into our familiar home, I see Sarah on the couch, ‘’Welcome home, Ms Donahue. I hope the party went well, Mr. Crosby is-‘’

‘’Already upstairs,’’ I interject, then have my hand. ‘’How were Charlotte and Michael?”

‘’No worse than usual.’’

‘’Great,’’ I slide off my heels. ‘’You can go for the evening. I’ll see you in the morning.’’

She jumps off the couch, skittish. I realize I’ve been curt, but don’t have the energy to correct myself. Walking upstairs, I nudge an errant toy out of the way. I stop in to check on Michael first, my baby boy is already going to be three soon. He’s sleeping like an angel, I brush one of those patent Crosby hair follicles out of the way before kissing him on his forehead. Charlotte’s nursery, is immaculate, actually graced the cover of a few magazines, but I care most about my bundle of joy in her cradle. Sidney is tucking her in, as I enter the room. He doesn’t look up just leans down to kiss her before leaving the room, ‘’See you in bed.’’

I nod, and observe our baby. They said she looks like me, but all I can see is Sidney with those big pouty lips. I fidget with the blanket and then turn off the light.

Sidney is in the bathroom, so I sit at my vanity removing my jewelry for the evening. Massaging my poor earlobes I start to remove my makeup when Sidney leaves the bathroom dressed in sweatpants and a tshirt. I hear rummaging behind me, as he appears in the mirror. We stare at each other in the mirror for a moment before he produces a small box, ‘’Happy Anniversary.’’

I turn to kiss him, but he’s gone. The box on the vanity. I stare at it, ‘’Thank you.’’

And he extinguishes his bedside lamp. I exhale, happy anniversary indeed.

Notes

Welcome back to Sidney and Brooklyn's crazy ride.

This isn't going to be fluffy (at least I don't plan on that right now) I really want this to be a challenge for me to capture this very real thing that happens to couples and of course magnify it for a couple like Sidney and Brooklyn.

Let me know what you think.