Chapter 28
Willow
It’s a warm spring day, the sun is shining, and life is good as I drive down Fifth with Maylee in her car seat making gaga noises. We are going to meet Maddie and Ms. Noble for Maddie’s wedding dress fitting. There is parking not far from the boutique, and I scramble to get Maylee and her diaper bag out of the car since we are running late, as usual. It’s amazing how easily Maylee and I have fallen into a routine here in New York City. My baby loves her day care and I’m enjoying being back at work. I’ve even had time to start working out again in the gym, which has helped ease my anxiety as well.
I am pushing the stroller down the street, inhaling the warm, fresh spring air, as we make it to the front door of the boutique. Ms. Noble is waiting for us with Asher by her side.
“Hi.” I lean in to give her a hug and she holds me tight, squeezing for an extra second. I realized a while ago the Nobles are all really good huggers.
“Hi,” she says back.
Asher runs up to the stroller and makes silly faces at Maylee and she grabs on to his cheeks and pulls, which causes him to giggle. He and Maddie spend a lot of time with us in the evenings during the week when the guys are on the road for games. Ellie and Syd also join us for at least one meal a week and so, even though I miss Brett when he is gone, we are never alone.
“She’s in the changing room getting suited up,” Ms. Noble explains with excitement.
“Eep,” I squeal. “I’m so happy for her.” After having a run of bad luck with men, Maddie met the love of her life in Brett’s best friend, Kaleb, who grew up living next door to them.
“Me too,” Ms. Noble says. “My Maddie had a crush on that boy since she was a teenager, but I didn’t know Kaleb saw her in that way.”
“It’s such an amazing story,” I sigh, not even recognizing myself because I was always the girl who didn’t believe in love. The girl who had to fend for herself because no one ever cared enough. The girl who took care of her brothers and always tried to make everyone around her happy. I was the biggest cynic when it came to relationships and, somehow, Brett converted me. He made me believe I could rely on him, that I could trust him, and now I am so in love with the man I even dream about him. But I haven’t said those three little words and I know they are a long time coming. Every time we are alone or we’ve made love they end up on the tip of my tongue, but something holds me back.
Maddie leaves the dressing room. “Tada,” she chimes, holding out her arms.
“OMG,” I gasp. “You’re absolutely stunning. This dress is magnificent” I walk up to her and palm my cheeks. It’s an off-the-shoulders, long-sleeve dress in a mermaid style. It’s all lace and has a classy train in the back.
“Thank you, I’m just so happy. I don’t want to wait for June,” she shares, looking in the mirror. She turns and spins, checking out every angle of the dress.
“Oh, baby girl,” Ms. Noble says with tears in her eyes.
“I can’t wait for Kaleb to be my husband,” she shrieks.
The salesperson brings us a tray with three glasses of champagne.
We each take a glass.
“To happy ever afters,” Maddie toasts.
“Hear, hear,” Ms. Noble says.
“Cheers,” I add as we all clink glasses.
“Can I have some too?” Asher asks.
The salesperson offers him bubbly apple juice and she serves it to him in a flute.
“What about Maylee?” Asher asks the salesperson.
“She’s okay, sweetie. She drinks out of her sippy cup,” I explain.
Since Maddie and Asher are over a lot, he and Maylee have gotten close. He loves to play with her and spends time with her on the floor as she learns to crawl.
The seamstress comes over and pins the dress in some spots.
“I think this is perfect,” she says to Maddie.
Maddie turns. “Willow, there was something I wanted to ask you.”
“Shoot,” I say.
“I know we haven’t known each other a long time, but the time we have spent together has been so meaningful. I’ve always wanted a sister growing up, and you’ve become that person for me.”
Tears fill in my eyes. “I always wanted a sister too.” I swipe at a stray tear.
“Would you please be my maid of honor?” she asks.
I squeal, “Yes.” I jump and hug her, and the seamstress almost has a heart attack as she grabs the champagne flute away from Maddie. “It would be my honor.”
“This is going to be so amazing. Brett and Henry are the best men,” she says, which I already knew since they are both Kaleb’s besties.
“I think so too.”
We wrap up at the bridal boutique and then we meet Ellie and Patty for lunch. Ms. Noble moved to the city a month ago with her boyfriend of many years. They plan on marrying too, but she doesn’t want to steal her daughter’s thunder so she is waiting for the fall to tie the knot.
The guys made it to the playoffs this year, so they have been playing hard. They come home tired and in need of RR.
After lunch, I head home with Maylee and put her to sleep in her crib. Brett calls just as I am about to lie down on the couch for a little afternoon nap since I have the day off today.
“Hi,” I answer, feeling excitement at hearing his voice.
“Hi, baby, we are going to be home in a few hours,” he informs me.
“I’m waiting for you,” I tell him.
“I’m counting down too,” he says and then he falls silent.
“What is it?” I ask, sensing some tension through the phone.
“Bonnie showed up to the game in Nashville last night,” he begins.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I ask. I mean, obviously anyone has a right to go to a game, but Bonnie showing up to Brett’s game sets warning signals off inside me.
“She somehow got through to the locker room area. When I was walking out on my way to speak to reporters. She caught me and hugged me,” he explains.
I had missed their game on television last night because Maylee had been up the night before with teething issues, and I was completely exhausted. I crashed the same time she did at 7:00 p.m.
“What did you do?” I ask him.
“I removed her arms from around my neck, obviously, since it was an invasion of my personal space, but one of the reporters got curious and asked who she was and Bonnie answered that I dated her. I immediately said it wasn’t true, but then she got all sugary and said shit about me meeting her in a bar in Sugar Meadow. Not sure if you’ve been on social media but it looks bad.”
“Damn,” I breathe out a long breath. “I don’t look at social media anymore. I don’t see a point.”
“It’s better you don’t, it’s all lies anyway,” he advises. “When the reporter asked me about you and if there was trouble at home, I simply said. . .”
“Brett?” I ask, worry filling my stomach.
“Honey, I didn’t want to say it like this for the first time. I wanted to have an epic moment and make it really special, but Bonnie, she flustered me and . . .”
“What did you say?” I ask, dread filling my veins but only because Brett sounds a little tongue-tied, which is unusual for him.
“I said I’m madly in love with Willow Heaton and there is no other woman for me ever,” he declares, and all the dread floats away as warmth fills my chest and a smile spreads my lips.
“I love you too, baby,” I reply. “I’ve been wanting to say it for some time, but. . .”
“I know,” he answers. We have become so in sync with each other. “I wanted to find a perfect time but things have been so busy.”
“We don’t need perfect, Brett. I’m happy with the messy life we have. I’m happy to have these perfectly imperfect moments with you. I know it’s not how we both envisioned confessing our love but it’s us, unplanned, messy, a perfect storm.”
“We are a perfect storm; I couldn’t have said it better. Since you’ve come into my life, Willow, I’ve just been so happy,” he says. “I don’t want anything to get in the way of that. Definitely not Bonnie and her antics.”
“You don’t need to worry, I trust you with my whole heart,” I assure as a tear runs down my cheek. I feel the words radiating from the center of my chest and it feels like whatever worries I had in the past have finally melted away. This sense of freedom and love has my emotions in a twist.
“That means the world to me, Honey,” he sighs. “I’ll be home soon. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, and we end the call. I realize how far we’ve come. How we’ve shown up for each other, time and time again. I know through thick and thin; Brett Noble is my person.