This Hick?

Chapter 67

CHAPTER 67

KAREN

M ary Ellen had scheduled a full spa day for us, but before that, we were eating a luxurious breakfast in the hotel restaurant. The Texas sun was streaming through the windows. The table had a bouquet of lavender and white roses in the center, making it feel elegant.

Plates of fresh fruit, fluffy pancakes, and crisp bacon sat in front of us as we spoke about everything and nothing. Mary Ellen was on her phone, rapid-fire texting. Tomorrow was the wedding, and I was sure she was freaking out about last-minute details.

“How’s the morning sickness?” Rylee asked.

“Good. It was there this morning but I’m fine now.” I took another bite of my pancake.

“That’s good to hear,” Rylee said before sipping her coffee.

Suddenly, Mary Ellen gasped. Her face turned a shade paler than the fancy linen napkins on our table. Everything seemed to halt.

“What is it?” I asked, my voice barely cutting through the sudden tense silence.

She looked up from her phone screen and stammered, “The florist. She’s short two arrangements.”

We all stared at her. I was having a hard time understanding why two arrangements warranted such a strong reaction. I was worried she was going to start crying.

“That’s not a problem,” Jenny said calmly. “What arrangements? Table? Reception? Ceremony?”

“Table,” Mary Ellen pouted.

Lauren, who had recently had her wedding, reached out. “It’s fine,” Lauren said. “We’ll talk with the planner. I’m sure she can either condense guests to eliminate two tables or you can ask the florist to put together another similar arrangement. No one is going to notice.”

Mary Ellen took a deep breath, nodding slowly as if trying to convince herself. “You’re right,” she said. “Nobody will notice such a tiny detail.”

“All eyes are going to be on the beautiful bride,” I said.

Mary Ellen smiled. “I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

Lauren laughed. “Trust me, I thought I wanted the same thing, but perfect is impossible. You’ll give yourself wrinkles trying to make it perfect. When I look back on my wedding, it’s not the flowers or tablecloths or even the music I remember. It’s my husband and how much fun I had with all of you.” She cleared her throat. “And the wedding night.”

Mary Ellen sighed. “That’s good advice. I still want it to be as close to perfect as can be.”

“That’s understandable,” Jenny said. “Just don’t forget to enjoy yourself in the process.”

As we continued our breakfast, we all shared a laugh and began to look forward to the day ahead. The spa was sure to be relaxing, just what we all needed before the storm that was the wedding descended upon us.

After breakfast, we piled into the limo waiting for us. We arrived at the spa, ready to be pampered from head to toe in a place that looked like it had been plucked right out of a high-end magazine. My friends’ men were filthy rich. I was happy for them but I was perfectly fine with my roughneck cowboy. Although, if his inheritance came through, he’d be rolling in the money as well.

Not that I cared. I wanted Cassidy for who he was. I couldn’t give a shit about the money.

“Heaven, here I come,” I said as we walked in.

“After this week, my back deserves an apology,” Lauren said.

We checked in and were quickly shown to our chairs. The tension was already starting to melt away, and I hadn’t even gotten to the massage part of the day yet.

We started with manis and pedis, sinking into plush, ergonomic chairs that massaged our tense muscles. We soaked our feet in warm water. The air was filled with the soothing scent of lavender and eucalyptus. We were delivered cucumber-infused water. It felt like heaven.

Next came the facials. Our faces were pampered with exotic creams and masks that promised to make our skin glow and take years off our looks.

“What is that?” Rylee asked when the beautician came at her with a glass container.

“Algae extract, collagen booster, and hyaluronic acid,” the beautician explained patiently. “It’s our exclusive recipe.”

Rylee looked skeptical but shrugged. “Let’s do it. If it melts my face off, don’t think I’m sitting out the wedding pictures Mary Ellen. I’m going to be front and center.”

We all fell quiet under the soothing touch of a facialist massaging our sinuses and chins. I grew drowsy and was about to pass out by the time they peeled the masks off. I felt like I had been born again.

We moved to the massage area. Gentle music played and the low lighting made everything feel like a dream. The therapist started working on my back. I practically melted into the table.

“Oh, my god,” I muttered, a rush of relief flooding me as she worked through knots I didn’t even know I had. “If I could marry this massage therapist right now, I would do it.”

Lauren’s laugh floated over from the next table. “I’m sure Cassidy would understand. This is a whole new kind of love.”

“Do you guys offer lessons?” I asked. “I would love it if Cassidy could do this.”

“Me too,” Jenny said. “Ward has magic hands, but not this good.”

“Archer is really good at massages,” Mary Ellen said.

“Wish I could say that about Jameson,” Lauren said with a sigh. “His version of a massage is more like an attempt at wrestling.”

Our therapists continued kneading away our stress.

Jenny all but purred from her table. My therapist moved onto my shoulders, working the knots and tension out with strong, dexterous fingers. The deep ache beneath my shoulder blades slowly began to fade. Shoveling the shit at the ranch had wrenched my neck. All the knots were disappearing, replaced by calm and tranquility I hadn’t experienced in weeks. It was absolute bliss.

I let myself sink deeper, forgetting everything. I wasn’t worried about the ranch or where Cassidy and I were going to live. We were still waiting to hear if the bank was going to give him the loan. If they didn’t, we were all homeless. But right then, with my body feeling like jelly, none of that mattered. I knew it would work out.

When it was finally time to head to the plunge pools, we drifted out in fluffy robes, hair up in towels, our skin soft and glowing. “I feel like a marshmallow,” I said.

“Me too,” Lauren said. “A clean, hydrated marshmallow.”

We sank into the water. The aromatherapy wafted up from the steamy water, the scent of rosemary, mint, and other medicinal herbs filling the air. We let the warm, bubbling water wash over us. The heat relaxed our muscles, further loosening them up. I was certain I was not going to be able to physically walk out of the spa. I felt boneless. Nothing more than a gooey blob. The tranquil sound of the water lapping and the sound of soft bells pumping in through the speakers transported us to a different realm. A realm of peace and tranquility.

Years of pent-up tension and anxiety slowly ebbed away with each minute I spent in that steaming bath. It was the perfect cap to an amazing couple of days.

Soon enough, it was time for the final part of our spa day: personal steam rooms. Each room was softly lit with color-changing lights. As I walked into mine, a warm swath of steam enveloped me and more aromatherapy washed over me. I sat on the wooden bench and let the steam do its work.

After our beauty treatments, we made our way to the juice bar. The outside was all shiny and new and now it was time to clean up the insides. There was a long granite counter, lined with elegant bar stools, illuminated under the soft glow of hanging pendant lights. We all took our seats, still wrapped in our fluffy white robes and slippers. The walls behind the bar were lined with shelves heavily laden with fruits and vegetables of every color imaginable.

We each took our green juices and munched on pita chips with the spa’s homemade hummus.

“So, tomorrow,” Lauren began. “Mary Ellen will be a wife. How’s that feel?”

Mary Ellen smiled. “Surreal. I still feel like we’re playing house half the time.”

“Welcome to adulthood,” I said. “None of us know what we’re doing. We’re just better at faking it than we used to be.”

“That’s for sure,” Jenny added, her mouth breaking into a knowing smile.

“Do you feel like you’re faking it?” Lauren asked me. “Your version of adulting is serious. You’re going to be a mom. An infant depending on you for everything.”

“It’s terrifying,” I said. “And exciting. I don’t think I’ve really thought about the actual infant on my hip, yet. I’m more focused on growing a human inside me. When are you guys going to do the baby thing? I don’t want to be the only mom. I need one of you to do this with me. I don’t want to do it alone.”

“You’re not going to be alone,” Lauren said.

I took a deep breath. “Honestly, it’s the control thing that gets me. Everything about this pregnancy feels like something I can’t wrap my hands around and plan for.”

“Oh?” Rylee teased, eyebrows raised. “You? Like control?”

Jenny let out an exaggerated gasp. “No way. I’m shocked. We’re all shocked. Who would have known?”

Mary Ellen just smiled at me. “Ignore them. I get it. I bet it’s terrifying to feel out of control of your body, your life, and what comes next. You’ve always been the one with a clear plan.”

“Thank you, Mary Ellen.” I stuck my tongue out at the others. “And for the record, I know I’m a control freak. It’s not new information.”

Lauren grinned. “It’s okay. That’s why we love you.”

I smiled, feeling the warmth of their support. This was everything I wanted. A good man, a family, a life together, but there was a voice in the back of my head that wouldn’t stop whispering what-ifs. Cassidy and I hadn’t exactly had the time to build our foundation before we were thrown into this whirlwind. What if we weren’t strong enough to handle the difficulties that came with raising a child?

“I don’t want to be a downer, but there are moments when I worry. What if we’re not strong enough for this? Cassidy and I didn’t get the time most people do to really build a life together before all this. I got pregnant the very first time we had sex. What if things fall apart?”

The ladies exchanged glances.

Jenny shook her head. “Karen, Cassidy is a good man. If he’s standing by your side now, he’ll be there for the long haul.”

“And you’re even stronger,” Rylee said. “You’ve got this. Don’t doubt yourself.”

“And if he bails, we’ll all hit him in the head with a shovel and bury him somewhere on that ranch,” Lauren said.

We all laughed.

“Lauren! Little dark, don’t you think?” Jenny said with a shake of her head. “I’m sure there are cameras listening.”

Lauren waved her hand dismissively. “You’re telling me you wouldn’t be right there with us? I’d be the one wielding the shovel. Jenny, you would be the lookout, and Mary Ellen, you’ll bring the snacks.”

Mary Ellen just shook her head, laughing. “Can we please avoid homicide? It would ruin my wedding theme.”

It was strange to feel so much peace when my life really was chaos at the moment. My hand went to my stomach like it so often did. I couldn’t feel anything yet, but I knew my little one was there. I couldn’t wait to meet him or her.

“You’re going to be an incredible mom, Karen,” Mary Ellen said.

I had my worries, but I knew I would have them and Cassidy. We would fumble our way through.

“You’re legit going to give us mom envy. I guarantee it,” Rylee chimed in. “Once we see how you handle it, we’ll consider doing it.”

“Oh, I’m the guinea pig,” I said with a laugh.