Room for Just a Little Bit More(24)

“We only have the two pedicure chairs, so we’ll have to do you in two different groups. Is that okay?” Amanda asked as she stepped back, letting us pass.

Mom looked around. In the opposite corner of the room were two fancy white armchairs for us to sit in while we watched the girls get their first pedicures. “No problem.” She smiled at Amanda.

Once Amanda was out of the room, the girls bounced around, inspecting everything. “Look at this flower, Lucy. There are crystals at the bottom.” Piper stared wide-eyed at a vase with an orchid in it on the table.

“Mom, are these crystals?” Lucy asked.

“Kinda. They’re really shiny beads,” I answered, twirling their ponytails in my fingers as I stood behind them.

Mom went over and set her purse down as the door opened and two more young girls came in. “Hi, I’m Rachel,” said the exotic-looking girl with doe-shaped eyes, a nose ring, and really curly hair. “And this is Audra.” Audra was a little simpler looking with a cute bob and rosy cheeks.

“Good morning,” Audra greeted with a wave.

Rachel clapped her hands together and scoped the four of us out. “Who’s going first?”

“Me! Me!” Lucy and Piper made me laugh with the way they were hopping up and down like puppies in a pet store.

“I guess they wanna go first.” I giggled. “I’m assuming it’s okay if we sit over here?”

“Of course. Make yourselves comfortable.” Rachel walked over and took the lilac and sage green pillows off the chairs and set them on the white dresser. “Have a seat. Can we get you a drink?”

“Uh… I’m driving. I’ll just have some hot tea, please,” Mom answered.

“Oooo, I’ll take a mimosa.” I grinned.

“Mom, can I have a… mimmermosa too?” Piper asked.

I chuckled at her version of the word. “Sorry, babe. Not for a few more years, but how about some orange juice? It looks just like a mimosa.”

Lucy and Piper both nodded and Rachel disappeared out the door.





The morning was flying by too quickly.

“Are they the cutest things you’ve ever seen in your whole life or what?” Mom said, blowing on her hot tea as we watched Lucy and Piper getting their feet pampered. They sat in the big chairs, looking tinier than ever, holding their champagne flutes full of orange juice as Rachel and Audra massaged their little feet and polished every little toenail.

“They are the cutest. I’m pretty crazy about them.” I couldn’t help but grin at my sweet daughters.

“I’m pretty crazy about you,” my mom said, leaning in close.

My head snapped to meet her glassy eyes and trembling chin. Instinctively, I reached out and put my hand on hers. “What’s this about?”

She shrugged and plucked a tissue from her purse, dabbing at her eyes. “I don’t know. My only baby is getting married soon and I’m emotional. I’m also so damn proud of you, Kacie. I can’t believe all you’ve accomplished on your own since you had them.”

“I wasn’t exactly on my own.” I squeezed her hand gently. “You’ve been there for me since the day I found out I was pregnant, Mom. Way before Zach even left. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Kacie, but you totally could have. You’re the strongest woman I know.” She sniffed.

“It takes a strong woman to raise a strong woman.”

“Oh God, look at me.” She laughed awkwardly as she wiped her eyes again. “If I’m like this now, how can I possibly get through your actual wedding?”

Giggling, I nodded my head toward Lucy and Piper. “Just focus on them instead. They’re usually good for a few laughs.”





We left the spa a couple hours later with smooth skin and pretty fingers and toes.

“Do you have to get back, or do you have time for a late lunch?” Mom asked.

“Um…” I glanced at my phone. “Sure. Alexa and I were supposed to go over some last-minute flower details, but I can’t get her to text me back.”

“There’s a really nice Italian restaurant that just opened down the street here. Wanna check it out?”

It wasn’t worth driving, so we walked the two little blocks to Cellucci’s. The hostess welcomed us, grabbed a few menus, and asked us to follow her. We walked past a handful of empty tables and I wondered why we were being led all the way to the back of the restaurant. We passed through a set of large, wooden saloon doors and—

“Surprise!”

My head whipped forward and my mouth fell open.

Alexa, Lauren, Darla, Shae, and JoAnn all stood near a large table in the middle of the room that was exploding with flowers and balloons and streamers. Mom and the girls turned to face me and once again, tears filled my mom’s eyes.

“What’s going on?” My hands covered my mouth as my eyes darted around the whole room.

Lauren walked up and pulled me into a tight hug. “A surprise shower, silly.”

“But I said—”

“We know, we know. You didn’t want a shower.” Mom rolled her eyes. “But your friends are excited and wanted to celebrate with you. Me too, so have fun.”