Room for Just a Little Bit More(27)

“But your condo, you love that condo.” Her hands were shaking as she rubbed the sides of her face, still not fully comprehending what she was hearing.

“I do love that condo, so I was thinking, why don’t we keep that condo in case you and the girls come to a late game and we don’t want to drive all the way back here after? The commute isn’t that bad for me, and it’s really only three quarters of the year I have to make the drive anyway.” The girls stomped through the second floor above our heads as I took Kacie’s hands in mine. “Come on, what do ya say? Let’s build here.”

A heavy sigh shuddered through Kacie’s body as she closed her eyes, opening them when she exhaled. “I’m still waiting to wake up from this dream where I find out you aren’t real, that none of this is real.”

“You’re awake, babe. We both are and we’re gonna live out these dreams together.”

She rolled her tongue in between her teeth and her lip. “All right, Murphy. Let’s do it. Let’s build a house.”

“Yes!” I fist pumped in the air. “I built a castle for my princesses, now it’s time to build one for my queen!”

I reached around Kacie’s waist and pulled her toward me, closing the space between us and tilting her face up. She lifted onto her tippy toes and pressed her lips against mine. She tasted sweet, like strawberries. I eased her lips apart gently with mine and swiped my tongue against hers. Her hands fisted the cotton of my T-shirt and she dragged me tighter against her.

Lucy and Piper came flying down the stairs, causing us to break our kiss and settle for a hug. “Mom, you have to come look at this! There are beds up here.”

“And a bathroom!”

Kacie narrowed her eyes at me and cocked her hip to the side, crossing her arms over her chest. “A bathroom?”

“What if they have to pee?” I grinned, grabbing Kacie’s hand and pulling her upstairs.



13 - Kacie

I’d learned that every bride worries about the little things that could potentially go wrong during their wedding. Maybe the flower girl pouts and refuses to walk down the aisle, maybe someone has a coughing fit during the vows, maybe a groomsman drinks too much and passes out in a corner. Those were the types of horror stories I’d been hearing about from every person I came across over the last couple months, all the way down to the cashier at the grocery store telling me that her now husband cried during his vows and it pissed her off. It pissed me off too, frankly. Not that he cried during his vows, but that she was mad about it. When did the world become so worried with the wedding and less excited about the reason for that wedding?

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.



14 - Brody

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.”