When Brooke's dad died, several relationships shifted in the universe at his funeral.
Roann and I became good friends who started going out together, Debbie took on a role in Brooke's life as a step-mom and stayed on as an important person in her life (even through she was not married to Keith), and Brooke and I met Aunt Kim for the first time.
For the last three years, Aunt Kim from Tuscon, AZ has called, Facebook messaged, written letters, sent cards, and countless gifts to Brooke for every holiday. She has made it her mission to fill in the gap and God love her, she hasn't given up on her mission even when Brooke wasn't able to be appropriately responsive.
December 19th will be the 3rd anniversary of her daddy's suicide.
It has been three years since she has been back to her dad and Debbie's condo.
Two special aunts, Aunt Kim and Aunt Debbie (not to be confused with step-mom Debbie), came to town last weekend to see Brooke and celebrated her belated 14th birthday.
Aunt Debbie, from Indiana, who we didn't know very well due to her relationship with her dad, would like a relationship with Brooke, too.
They came to town last weekend with gifts, laughter, love, and endless conversation.
The first stop was our house so Brooke could feel comfortable in her surroundings seeing them for the first time in three years. With (step-mom) Debbie present, the three of them whisked in our home in true fashion of mighty women on a mission of love and protection.
Have you ever been dizzy from so many conversations happening at once? It was perfect.
Brooke was covered in love.
After lunch and dessert in our home, Brooke was ready and wanted to go to the condo for the first time. It became the perfect time for her grand entrance back into her dad's former life surrounded by Debbie, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Kim, and me.
It was the perfect dose of excitement and chaos from her aunts visit that became the buffer as she walked through the condo back to her dad's bedroom.
Everything looked different.
Her dad's bedroom is now taken by Debbie's roommate. Buddy's presence, the new paint job, and an XBOX changed the look and feel of his former bedroom into a much more open and engaging room, much different from her dads.
Brooke begged to stay the night and I was on standby for damage control to pick up the emotional pieces from that first visit throughout this last week.
There was no shrapnel.
Two aunts whisked into town in all their love and glory and became exactly what Brooke needed.
