Chapter 3
Gathering her things and preparing for landing, Brooke felt a course of excitement and dread race through her. Did she really know what she was doing? Was this really the best course of action for her and the kids? She turned to watch her still sleepy daughter rub her eyes, as she held a tight grasp on her youngest as she bounced, clapped, and flirted with Sonny. She felt in her gut she had made the right decision and for now that was good enough.
The plane landed and Brooke let the other hurried passengers get off first, then she and the children slowly exited. As they were walking down the aisle, Willow squirmed and struggled in her mother’s arms. Brooke stopped.
"Willow, what’s wrong?" she asked concerned.
Willow grunted and held her arms up and towards the gentleman behind them.
"May I?" Sonny asked.
Brooke nodded and handed Willow to Sonny. Willow practically leapt from her mother’s arms and happily laid her head on her new found friend’s shoulder.
"I assume this means you live in Port Charles?" She questioned as they continued off the plane.
"Yes, I do. It’s a great place to live. Is Port Charles your final stop?"
Brooke didn’t answer as she looked around the one story airport.
"Mom, I’ve never seen an airport this small before," Eric commented in disbelief.
Sonny laughed. "It is pretty small, but it’s a great town."
Eric looked at him with the disbelief still evident in his eyes.
"Trust me, it’s true."
Eric gave him a reluctant nod.
The kids ran ahead to baggage claim as Sonny, Brooke, and Willow followed behind at a slower pace.
"You’re shocked, too," Sonny stated.
"I- -I, they said it was small, but this- -"
"Smaller than you imagined."
Brooke nodded.
"Used to big cities?"
She nodded again.
Sonny grinned. "It takes a bit to get used to. I lived between Brooklyn and New York City before I moved here, but I made the adjustment very quickly and this is the best place in the world to live."
Waiting for the carousel to start up, he questioned Brooke some more. "What brings you to our fair city?"
Man, he was nosy, Brooke thought. Cute, but nosy. "Maybe I’m here to visit the sites."
He laughed out loud. The kids turned around to see what was so funny, but seeing nothing they turned back around.
"Isn’t this the town where the man who built a weather machine lived or was from?"
Sonny couldn’t stop laughing.
"I was hoping a plaque was up marking the spot, so the kids and I could take pictures." She smiled.
Sonny wiped the tears from his eyes. Luke was going to love Brooke Logan. "Is someone coming to pick you up?" he asked.
"No, my visit is sort of a surprise," she answered.
"Do you need a ride, then?"
"No, thanks. I rented an SUV," she laughed. "Your car is big enough to accommodate all of us?"
"I could make it happen," he responded with a smile.
Brooke studied him. Yes, she believed he could make a lot of things happen. There was a presence of power or charisma or something she couldn’t put her finger on, but she felt it.
"Do you need a ride? Is there someone waiting for you?" she asked, looking around.
Over his shoulder, Sonny saw Max at the exit. He tilted his head in acknowledgement.
"I was just going to take a cab home."
"No, the least we could do is give you a lift."
"Thank you very much, I accept your offer. Why don’t you go get the truck, and the kids and I will get the luggage?" he suggested to her.
Brooke hesitated. Although Sonny was a good-looking man and seemed nice, he was a stranger.
Sonny recognized the distrust and concern in her eyes and was glad. He wished all mothers were like her.
"You can see us the whole time from the car rental booth," he reassured her.
Brooke judged the distance between the two places. He was right, she could keep them in her view the whole time and if necessary, her track team legs could cover the space in no time flat. Satisfied with her decision, she turned to her eldest son. "Er- -"
"Mom!" Eric Junior groaned.
"I’m sorry, Ric. I’m going to get the SUV, but before I leave, let me properly introduce you to Willow’s new best friend, Sonny Corinthos. Sonny, these are my children- -"
"I’m Ric."
"No, you’re not. You’re ERIC JUNIOR," Thomas shouted.
"Okay, whatever you say, THOMAS," Ric fired back.
"Only Grandma calls me Thomas. My name is Tommy, right Mommy?" he asked pitifully.
"Well if you’re Tommy, than I’m Ric- -"
"Ok, enough boys," Brooke said, used to the argument that began when Eric Junior decided to change his name.
"So as I was saying, I’m Ric. The one in the green dress," Ric said, pointing to the stroller, "is Stephanie."
Stephanie waved and smiled, "Hi!"
"Hi," Sonny smiled back at the adorable little girl.
"Next to her is Phoebe."
"Hi, Phoebe," Sonny said.
A shy Phoebe quickly turned away from Sonny’s gaze after a whispered, "Hello."
"And that’s Bridget," Ric finished.
With a look that was a cross between sad and sullen, Bridget gave a reluctant, "Hi."
"Hi," Sonny said politely.
"And I’m Tommy," Tommy informed Sonny.
"Hi, Tommy," Sonny responded and held out his hand for Tommy to shake.
Tommy beamed at Sonny’s gesture and gladly shook his hand.
With the introductions out of the way, Brooke felt a little better about leaving the kids. "I’ll be right back."
With various grunts and nods from her kids, Brooke walked away.
Sonny and Ric collected the luggage quickly and informed Brooke that they would meet her outside.
Minutes later, Brooke pulled up to the curb outside the small airport. As she inhaled the fresh clean air, she settled the kids in the SUV, while Sonny loaded the trunk.
Placing the last bag in the trunk, Sonny lifted his head when he heard Brooke’s voice.
"I guess you weren’t gone long," she commented as he put his lone bag in the trunk.
"There’s a week worth of clothes in there."
Brooke raised an eyebrow. She did a quick perusal of Sonny’s current wardrobe and although he was casual in his khakis and button down shirt, her years in the fashion business told her his clothes didn’t come from JC Penney’s. "Sure."
"I’m impressed; only four pieces of luggage. I almost died of shock," Sonny grinned.
"What can I say, I’m an economy packer," she smiled.
Sonny chuckled, "So are you ready for the nickel and dime tour?"
"Yes, I am."
As Brooke headed for the driver’s seat, Sonny signaled to Johnny and got in the passenger seat.
