Room for Just a Little Bit More (13 page)

That’s what I was excited for, to spend the rest of my life with Brody. Our wedding was just a party to celebrate that first day, in my eyes. I didn’t care if the cake tipped over or if my dress ripped, as long as I was Mrs. Brody Murphy at the end of it all.

“Mama?” Piper’s little voice pulled me off my wedding soapbox and back to reality.

“I’m awake, baby. Come on in.” I sat up in bed and glanced at the clock on my nightstand.

7:45

Piper’s crazy bed head shot out in ten different directions as she slowly made her way across my bedroom. I pulled the covers back as she climbed up next to me, tucking us back in tight. I hooked my right arm around her and laid my head on hers. “What’s going on?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Nervous? How come?”

“What if I don’t do good today?” Her voice trailed off.

“What do you mean?” I shifted to the side so that I could look her in the eye.

She shrugged. “Lucy told me yesterday that I walk too fast and throw too many flowers. I tried telling her it was just practice and I’d do better during the real wedding, but I’m scared. What if I mess up again?”

“Oh, honey.” I hooked my arms around her and pulled her into my lap. “First of all, there’s no rule as to how many flowers you can drop at once, nor is there a rule about walking slow. You just do whatever feels right for you, and Lucy will have to deal with it. I know you’re gonna do an amazing job, and I can’t wait to walk down the aisle and see you.”

Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned into me. “Okay.”

We didn’t say anything else. We just sat snuggled up in my bed, rocking back and forth as she thought about conserving her flowers and walking slow. All I could think about was how lucky I was to be her mom.

If you would’ve told me a year ago that I’d be getting my hair done for my wedding while sitting in Brody’s mom’s kitchen, I would’ve told you you were crazy. Yet there I sat on a wooden kitchen chair with my stylist, Sammie, putting huge, heavy curlers in my hair.

“Are you nervous?” Alexa asked.

I shrugged. “Not really. I’m just ready to see him and get this started.”

Lauren and my mom sat in two other chairs with two of Sammie’s assistants standing behind them.

“You have the most beautiful hair.” One of them gawked at Lauren’s long blonde layers.

“Ugh,” groaned Alexa, dropping her cereal bowl into the sink. “Would you believe she wakes up like that? It’s disgusting.”

“She does.” I laughed. “Luckiest girl in the world.”

“Honey, I’m gonna take your dress up to Brody’s room, okay?” JoAnn appeared in the doorway carrying my wedding dress bag.

“Sure, thanks.” I smiled.

“Wait, Brody built this house for his parents, right?” Alexa rubbed her chin, staring off into space as she tried to remember.

“Yep.”

“Then why does he have a bedroom here?”

“It’s not like a childhood bedroom. You’ll see when we go up there. It’s actually pretty cool.”

An hour or so later, we all looked absolutely stunning from the neck up. From the neck down, we all had on baggy button-down plaid shirts. Lucy’s and Piper’s went all the way to their ankles, which they thought was hilarious.

“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Dress time.”

We all walked slowly upstairs, careful not to lose a bobby pin or uncurl a curl. I opened the door to Brody’s room and everyone filed inside.

“Holy crap.” Alexa spun slowly with her mouth open. “It’s like a Brody shrine.”

She was right. The room did have a big bed and a large couch in it, in case Brody ever wanted to spend the night, but it was so much more than that. A large dark walnut shelf sat prominently in the middle of the largest wall, and it was overflowing with Brody’s hockey memorabilia, both from the Wild and from college. His college goalie helmet sat on the top shelf with a tiny spotlight on it. Dozens of glossy action shots and newspaper articles were framed and stuck in between hockey pucks and sets of gloves, each with their own significance. I stared at the big shelf, feeling a little sad that I didn’t know him then. I know if I had, things between us might not be the same, but I wish I could’ve seen him get his first NHL save.

“Awww!” Lauren’s coos pulled me from my trance. I turned toward the door as Lucy and Piper walked into the room in their ice blue dresses, with my mom following along behind. My hands flew up to my mouth and tears stung my eyes when I saw them. They looked so grown-up with their blonde hair pulled up in loose buns and a few soft pieces curling around their faces.

I walked over to them and squatted when I got close. “You guys look
so
beautiful. No one’s gonna notice me today because they’re going to be too busy looking at you.” I sniffed.

Neither responded, but they both smiled shyly, not used to all the attention.

“Is that mascara?” I squinted and got closer to Lucy.

“Uh huh. Gigi put it on us.” She beamed.

Mom winked at me. “Just a tad.”

“You two are just the sweetest little things,” JoAnn said, shaking her head slowly. “Kacie, I’m gonna leave you girls to get dressed. I have to get ready myself.”

“I’m gonna take them and head downstairs too.” My mom followed. “You three need to get moving and you don’t need us gawking at ya. We’ll see you downstairs in a bit.”

I bent down and planted soft kisses on Lucy’s and Piper’s cheeks. “See you soon, loves.”

“Kacie, what’s this?” Lauren picked up a small blue box on the desk. “It has your name on it.”

“It does?” I took a couple steps across the room and she handed it to me.

It was a simple little ice blue box with a perfectly wrapped white ribbon on it. Before I lifted the lid, I knew exactly who it was from, though that didn’t lessen my shock when I saw the shiny necklace looking back at me. It was a beautiful, delicate white gold chain with a large diamond in the middle and two stones on either side.

“Wow, that’s so gorgeous.” Lauren peered over the top of the box.

“It really is,” Alexa agreed. “Are those emeralds?”

“No.” I shook my head as a small smile crossed my lips. “They’re peridots, the birthstone for August.”

“Oh my God…” Alexa took a step back, tilting her head to the side as she laughed incredulously. “Lucy and Piper’s birthstone.”

I nodded at her as a tear rolled down my cheek.

“No. No. No crying,” Lauren squeaked as she jumped up and grabbed a tissue off the desk. “Your make-up looks fantastic. No more crying.”

“Sorry.” I sniffled as she wiped my eyes.

Alexa took the box from me and set it back on the desk. “Hurry up. Get in your dress so I can put that thing around your neck.”

Lauren unzipped the bag and pulled my dress out as Alexa helped me undo my buttons. “Do you think he knew, about the birthstones?”

“He knew.” I nodded confidently. “He pays attention like that.”

“Wait.” Alexa stood up and stared me square in the eye, pulling her perfect brows in tight. “Did you get him a wedding present?”

My face grew hot as I looked toward the ground, not wanting the girls to see me.

Alexa gasped. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” I snapped defensively. “I’m not telling you guys. It’s embarrassing.”

“Like hell you aren’t.” Lauren was practically drooling as she abandoned my wedding dress and sat on the edge of the couch. “Spill it, girl.”

Sighing, I peeked around the corner to make sure Brody’s mom wasn’t coming down the hallway. I closed the door quietly and plopped down on the bed, dropping my head into my hands. After another deep breath, I looked at Alexa and Lauren, pleading with my eyes. “You guys can’t tell
anyone
, promise?”

They nodded in unison, both of them leaning forward slightly.

“Okay, here goes. You know how sometimes women get those photo shoots done in like, lingerie and stuff for their boyfriends or husbands?”

Lauren sat up straight, clapping her hands like a teenager. “Oh my God, yes! Like a boudoir photo shoot?”

The back of my neck heated as I nodded. “Well, I did that. Some in lingerie and some in… hockey stuff, like his jersey and helmet. Stuff like that.”

“Holy shit, you’re the coolest wife ever! I got Derek a flask for our wedding. He was so excited I thought he was gonna hump it.” Alexa rolled her eyes.

“You
are
the coolest ever.” Lauren’s sparkling eyes were wide as can be. “I’m not brave enough to do something like that. Good for you.”

I shrugged. “I just wanted to step out of the box. You know how shy I can be when it comes to certain things. I wanted to shock him a little.”

Lauren stood and picked up my wedding dress again, carrying it over to me. “Put this on. We gotta move. Did you give them to him yet?”

“I was too chicken,” I admitted, glancing back and forth between the two of them, “so I left the album in a pretty box in the workshop, where the boys are hanging out right now, with a note that read
Open when you’re alone
.’”

“Oh, great. So if he’s hard when we walk into the barn, we’ll know why,” Alexa joked.

“Deep breath. You ready, kiddo?” Fred squeezed my hand as we stood on the side of the barn all alone, waiting for the bridesmaids to finish walking in. I would’ve given anything to see Lucy and Piper walk down the aisle, tossing their flowers as they grinned at all the attention, all while leading Diesel down with them, our rings tied around his neck. Thank God for videographers. When Brody told me he wanted Diesel in the wedding, I laughed at first. I thought he was kidding. He looked offended, whining that my babies were in the wedding; he wanted his baby to be too. So we went out and bought an ice blue leash and collar to match the tux Brody’d had made for him.

“I’m so ready. I can’t wait to see him. Them. Everyone.” My stomach twisted and churned as I listened intently for the barn doors to close. That was our cue to move to the front and wait for them to open back up.

“Did you guys decide what you were doing with your vows? Your mom mentioned you were talking about it the other day,” he asked, trying to keep me calm and distracted.

“We decided to go with traditional vows. Actually,
I
decided. I can’t help it. There’s something romantic about reciting the same promise that people have been saying for decades and decades.”