Room for Just a Little Bit More(23)

“You have the contract?” I asked Andy.

“Signed and dated,” he confirmed.

“Here.” I handed the check to Don, who grinned as he looked down at it. “Now get out.”

Looking up at me, his smile grew bigger. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Nice doing business with you boys.” He nodded and turned toward the door. It would have been worth it to punch him right in the back of his smug head if I weren’t still on probation for my bar fight incident.

The door closed and I slammed my palms down on Andy’s desk. “He didn’t even f*cking care. How is that possible?”

Andy pressed his lips together in a tight line and shrugged. “I have no idea, man. No amount of money you offered or security team you hired would keep me away from my daughter, money or no money.”

“You know what’s sad? I would’ve paid the million without even thinking about it.”

Andy’s eyebrows shot toward the ceiling. “You would’ve?”

“Yep.” I nodded. “In a heartbeat, but he was too desperate.”

Andy clapped my shoulder and walked around behind his desk, filing the contract in a folder. “I can’t decide if you’re completely heartless or if you have the biggest heart in the world, Murphy.”

“Don’t go soft on me now, Shaw.” I laughed for what felt like the first time since Kacie had told me about that meeting with her dad.

He sat down in his chair and rested his chin on his hands. “You gonna tell her you talked to him?”

“Nope.” I didn’t even hesitate with my answer. “She told me she never wanted to see him again, and I made sure that’s going to happen. The details of how I went about it aren’t necessary.”

“I think Don was right.” He laughed, shaking his head at me. “Maybe you are in the mafia.”



11 - Kacie

Like an impatient child, I’d wished the months away because I was ready to be Mrs. Brody Murphy approximately three minutes after he proposed, but now that our wedding was less than two weeks away, I wanted time to slow down so I could enjoy every second of it.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” My mattress dipped as my mom sat down on my bed, gently brushing the hair from my face.

“Good morning.” I moaned as I stretched out.

“So, I know you’re busy with last-minute wedding stuff, but the girls and I were hoping we could steal you for a couple hours to go to the spa, get a mani-pedi and maybe a facial if there’s time. What do ya say?”

“I say that sounds fantastic.” Sitting up in bed, I covered my mouth as I yawned.

“Good.” She patted my knee. “Get moving. You have an hour.”

An hour? I’d have to hurry. I hustled into the girls’ bedroom to get their clothes out. “What do you guys want for breakfast?” I asked as I sorted through their messy drawers.

“Cinnamon rolls,” Lucy said.

Piper frowned. “Chocolate chip pancakes!”

I stood up and sighed. “How about eggs?”

They both nodded in unison as I tossed two sundresses to them and hurried off to the kitchen. In record time, I had the pan on the stove and eggs scrambling while I threw a few bites of yogurt and granola in my mouth. Lucy’s and Piper’s cheery but sleepy little faces appeared in the kitchen the same time as my mom.

“Here ya go.” I scooped some eggs onto two plates along with a handful of blueberries and set them in front of the girls.

Mom, who was already showered and ready to go, sat down next to them.

I scooped her up a plate of eggs too. “Since you’re already sitting here, would you mind keeping an eye on them for a minute? I want to run and take a quick shower.”

“Of course not. Go get ready.” She waved me off.





A little while later, I threw on my favorite capris and Minnesota Wild T-shirt, tucked my damp hair into a neat braid, and went out to the kitchen.

The girls were sitting at the island and my mom was leaning over them, whispering quietly.

I snuck up behind Lucy and Piper, reaching out and grabbing their waists as I got close. “What are you doing!” I yelled, scaring them half to death.

Piper screamed and giggled while Lucy whined, “Mooooom, did you hear our secret?”

“No.” I stood up straight, looking at my mom suspiciously. “What secret?”

“Nothing,” she snapped quickly. “Now leave it alone and let’s go.”





We piled into my mom’s car and headed five miles or so down the road to Lavender and Lilies, a cute little spa in town that used to be an old house but had now been updated and converted into an intimate, relaxing assortment of rooms for pampering. Once inside the front door, a cute college-aged girl sitting at a beautiful antique desk greeted us.

“Good morning.” She smiled brightly, making eye contact with all of us. “How can I help you?”

“Hi.” My mom stepped forward a bit. “We have appointments this morning, for all four of us.”

“Great. What’s the last name?”

“Jensen?”

“I have you down for four mani-pedis and four facials. Is that right?”

Mom nodded.

“Fantastic. Come on back and follow me. I’ll get you all set up.” She stood from her desk and held her hand out. “I’m Amanda, by the way.” My mom shook her hand and the girls and I smiled at her. She led us down a short hallway and up a couple steps. Two pedicure chairs sat in a large room with light lavender walls and several vases of beautiful white orchids.