Big Tex (19 page)

"Mind your own business little girl."  Brody laughed.

"I can't believe you two just got it on in the middle of your engagement party.  Yuk, you didn't use my bed, did you?"  She asked.

"You'll never know, and lower your voice or I'll sic your future sister-in-law on you.  You should see how she handled Lisa…it wasn't pretty."  Brody laughed along with Brighton and Willow.

"So Brighton, ever been to New York?"  Willow asked.

"No, why?"

"Well, me and Sierra are planning a trip there next weekend to look at dresses and stuff, and since you'll be a bridesmaid, I wanted you to come with us.  Your mom too, if she wants.  Just think of all the shopping, and we'll even take you out to have some fun!"  Willow offered.

"Sounds great!  Kind of like a girl's weekend?"  Brighton asked excitedly.

"Exactly!  Think we can trust the guys to be home alone though?"  Willow asked, giving Brody a look to tell him to behave.

"I think you can trust him.  Just this once though!"  Brighton joked.  "Oh my god, I am so excited.  Wait until my friends hear I'm going to New York, they'll be so jealous!  Oh, thank you so much for including me Willow!"  Brighton hugged Willow, catching Willow by surprise.  "I've got to go rub it in to all of my friends now!"

After Brighton rushed away, Brody said, "Wow, you'd think she was 12 and not 21 considering how excited she got.  She's still a little kid at heart.  Thanks for asking her to go along.  Not only does it mean the world to her, it means the world to me too."

"Well, she's going to be my sister-in-law.  I think we need some bonding time, and a weekend of shopping and partying is just what the doctor called for."  Willow said with a smile.

"God, I fall in love with you more and more every day.  You know that?"  Brody asked.  "What did I ever do to deserve you in my life?"

"Must have been something pretty good.  Now, let's go mingle with our guests."  Willow said, intertwining her fingers with Brody's and disappearing into the crowd of people.

*****

The next weekend, Brody dropped Willow, Sierra, his mom, and his sister off at the airport for their trip to New York.  "Call me when you get there, let me know you made it, ok?"  He asked Willow when they heard their boarding call over the public address system.

"I will.  Have a good weekend, and we'll see you on Sunday.  I love you, be careful."  Willow said, her eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, it’s only for a weekend, don't cry.  Just remember what you're going up there to do…you're looking for dresses for the wedding.  I'll see you soon, ok?  I love you so much!"  Brody said as he kissed the tears on Willow's cheeks.  Though he didn't want to show it, he was torn up inside over Willow leaving too.  He knew it was just for a short period of time, but they had spent all of their time together since she came to Texas.  Brody released Willow from a hug and the four women turned and walked to their gate.  Just before they disappeared, Willow turned and blew Brody a kiss and waved goodbye.  He repeated her movements, then turned and left the airport, not quite sure where he was going or what he was going to do.  Most likely call Micah and have a boy's weekend.

When the plane touched down in New York, the girls started to get excited.  Willow and Sierra were happy to be back, but it felt a little empty for them now.  Maggie and Brighton were visiting for the first time, so they wanted to see a few tourist attractions.  Willow had hired a car for the weekend so they wouldn't have to take taxis everywhere.

The car brought them to the hotel, where Willow called Brody to let them know they had made it ok.  She began unpacking her suitcase and found that Brody had put a note and a wrapped jewelry box inside.  Willow unwrapped the box and found a gold charm bracelet, with all of the links empty.  She picked up the note and read it.  Brody told her that she was to go to Tiffany's on 5th Ave. tomorrow, because they had the rest of her gift there.  The note said that he loved her and couldn't wait for her to get home.  Willow called Brody back and thanked him.  He truly made her happy, and he was so thoughtful. 

After they unpacked at the hotel, the girls got some famous New York pizza, and then took in a few sights.  After they went sightseeing, Willow treated them to dinner at a fancy restaurant.  So far, Maggie and Brighton were both impressed with New York.  They had expected to see homeless people on every street corner, and witness a few crimes, but they saw none of that.  They did get to see some of the street vendors selling knock-off designer purses and watches, but they didn't see anything bad that New York is "famous" for.

After dinner, Maggie went back to the hotel because she was tired.  She insisted that the younger girls go out and have fun.  She was just going to get some sleep.  Willow and Sierra took Brighton to some of their favorite bars, where no one seemed to forget who they were.  In a city with millions of people, they still seemed to remember Willow and Sierra for some reason.  They all had a great time and after dancing and drinking the night away, the girls got in the hired car and headed back to the hotel, slightly drunk.

Willow laid down in bed after sobering up a bit, but found that she couldn't sleep.  She looked at the clock and it read 3:47 am.  Knowing that he wouldn't be mad at getting woken up, Willow called Brody.

After ringing three times, Brody picked up.

"Hi honey, were you sleeping?"  Willow asked, a little too cheery.

"Willow, are you ok?"  Brody asked, worried because she was calling in the middle of the night.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just couldn't sleep.  Sorry if I woke you."  She said apologetically.

"No, it's fine.  I wasn't sleeping well either, so I took a sleeping pill about an hour ago.  How did your day go?"

"Well, it was action packed.  I think we tired your poor mother out with all the site seeing.  Your sister had a great time though.  Tomorrow is the big day, I have some dress fittings scheduled, so hopefully we'll find something nice.  What'd you do today?"  Willow asked.

"Well, Micah came over, we played some games, watched some movies, nothing too interesting.  Stella kept us fed all day, so you don't need to worry about us bachelors."  He laughed.

"Well, enjoy it while you can.  Only 4 more months until you'll be a newlywed, and a bachelor no more."  Willow smiled.

"I can't wait for that day.  I'm sure if you find a dress tomorrow, it will look perfect on you.  I can't wait to see it!"

"Unh-uh Country Boy!  You're not seeing the dress until November 28th at 11:00 am!  You got that?  I'll have your mother lock it up in her house so you can't snoop!"  Willow scolded.

"I know, I know.  I just like to mess with you.  So, do you feel better now?"  Brody asked as he heard Willow yawn.

"Yeah, I do.  I think I just needed to hear your voice.  I think I can finally sleep now.  Thanks for not getting mad that I woke you up."  Willow said.

"You know you can call anytime.  It helped me to hear your voice too.  Sweet dreams darling.  I love you, call me sometime tomorrow, ok?"

"Ok, love you too Brody.  Dream about me!"  Willow was asleep as soon as she hung up the phone.

*****

The next day, the first place the group headed to was Tiffany's.  While they were waiting for the man to retrieve the box for Willow, the girls looked at the wedding bands.

"Oh, wow.  Look at these ladies!  They would be perfect for us!"  Willow said excitedly when she saw a pair of yellow gold wedding bands.  The woman's band had diamonds all around it, while the man's band was diamond cut, so that it wasn't too flashy.  "I wish Brody was here to see them."

"Wow, those are cool!  Why don't you call him and take a picture of them with your camera phone?"  Brighton suggested.

"Good idea!"  Willow said and took out her cell phone.  After talking to Brody and letting him see the picture of the rings, they both decided that they were the perfect bands.  When the man came back with Willow's box, she told him that she wanted the wedding bands and had them engraved to say '11/28/2004 and forever more', with their initials.

After paying for the wedding bands, Willow opened the box that Brody had them set aside for her.  Inside were yellow gold charms for her charm bracelet.  There was a small Stature of Liberty, a small Empire State Building, a ladybug, and a thin flat heart that had 'I 'heart' NY' inscribed on it.  Willow smiled at the charms as the man helped her put them on her bracelet.  She was so touched that Brody was always thinking of her.  She wanted to do something for him to show him how special he was to her, just as he had done for her.  An idea came into her head, and she decided she would tell everyone about it after they got done shopping.

The group left Tiffany's and headed to the bridal shop.  They had a few dresses waiting for Willow to try on, along with the rest of the girls.  As soon as Willow and Brighton walked over to the bridesmaid dresses put aside, they both reached for the same one.  It was a red tank top, with a shimmering, sheer overlay, and a matching skirt.  Willow handed it to Brighton to try on, and gave Sierra a different one to try.  Both girls came out of the dressing room at the same time, and though Sierra's dress was pretty, they all fell in love with the one Brighton was wearing.

"Wow, that was easy.  Let's hope mine and Willow's go the same way!"  Maggie said.  Willow put in the order for five of the red dresses, and told the shop manager what sizes to order.  They looked at the 'Mothers' dresses next.  Everything seemed too matronly for Maggie, so they decided to wait for the next shop to find a dress for her.

They all turned their attention to the bride's dresses next.  Willow could feel her hands shaking as she looked through the ones set aside for her.  The attendant brought them all into a huge dressing room and hung them up throughout the room.  "The only way you'll figure it out is to start trying them on."  The attendant said to her sweetly.

Willow undressed and tried the first dress on.  "Well, it's beautiful, but it's just not me."  Willow said.  She said the same of the next six dresses.  "Oh, man, this is just hopeless, isn't it?"  She said, starting to get down about the dresses.

"No, we still have plenty of dresses here.  We'll find one that suits you."  The attendant told her.

When she tried the next dress on, Willow realized that she had spoken too soon.  After the dress was buttoned up, everyone, including Willow, stared in shock.  Tears began falling from Willow and Maggie's eyes, as they realized that Willow had finally found her wedding dress.  The attendant brought over a veil and gloves for Willow to complete the look.

"This is it, wrap it up.  All of it."  Willow said, a little choked up.

"It was meant for you.  The dress doesn't even need any alterations.  It’s almost as if the designer had you in mind when making it."  The attendant said in awe.  "The price on this dress is-…"

Willow interrupted her.  "It doesn't matter.  Price is no object.  Like I said, I will take it all."  The attendant nodded and began to unbutton the back.  Willow stepped out of the dress and put her own clothes back on.  She paid for everyone's dresses, then had them carry her gown out to the car waiting for them.  They went to the next dress shop and found the perfect dress for Maggie that Willow also paid for.  She had the car bring them back to the hotel so they could drop the dresses off.

After the dresses were safe in the dressing room, Willow took them all out to lunch.  Once they started eating, she told them all about her idea.  "Ok, I have wanted to do something nice for Brody, to show him how much he means to me.  I don't want to go out and buy him a watch or anything, I want it to mean more than that.  I think I've come up with the perfect idea.  I want to get another tattoo."  Willow said.

"Wow, nothing says I love you like permanent ink!"  Maggie laughed.

"I know it seems odd, but I got one of my tattoos in memory of my grandmother, and it means a lot to me.  I just want something to show Brody that he's always in my heart."  Willow explained.

"I think that is so cool!"  Brighton exclaimed.  "Do you know what you're going to get?"

"Well, I was thinking that I would get a big heart, with 'Country Boy' and a small shape of the state of Texas inside of it."  Willow said, drawing it out on a paper napkin.

"That does look cool Willow.  Where are you going to get it?"  Sierra asked.

"I'm going to get in on my lower back.  I don't really want it to be visible, unless you're looking for it or know where to look for it.  I don't want to seem like a biker chick or something with a million tattoos, so I want to be able to hide it if I need to."  Willow explained.  "And I want to get it this afternoon."

"I'm in."  Said Brighton.

"Not me.  I'm tired.  I think I want to get a little more shopping done, then head back to the hotel."  Sierra said.

"I think I'm with Sierra.  How about we meet you two back at the hotel?"  Maggie asked.

"That's fine.  Sorry if I spoiled anyone's day."  Willow said.

"No, you didn't.  I think it's good that we're kind of doing our own thing this afternoon!"  Maggie told her.

The two groups went their separate ways, and on the way to the tattoo parlor, Willow called Brody.  She told him that she got her dress, as did everyone else, and they were just headed to do something for him.  Brody tried to get it out of Willow what they were doing, but she was insistent on keeping it a secret.  She told him that she'd call him later and see him in the morning.

They got out of the cab and went inside the tattoo parlor.  Brighton talked Willow into getting a belly ring with her too.  After they both got pierced, Willow got tattooed.  An hour and a half later, Willow was done.  She was so sore and wasn't sure how she was going to sleep that night, with a new tattoo on her back and a new piercing in her stomach.  She grimaced at the thought, but loved how the tattoo turned out.  She even liked her belly ring.

Later that night, Willow laid down, feeling the pain of her new purchases.  She laid on her side and put a pillow between her legs to help keep her from rolling over.  She called Brody and talked to him for a little while, then told him she'd see him bright and early the next morning.