When Butchy arrived back at his house, nobody was in the living room. 'She's probably upstairs with Lela.' Butchy thought to himself. Heading upstairs to Lela's room, Butchy heard nothing that would indicate that Mick or Lela were there. No laughing, no talking, no... anything. Just in case, Butch knocked before stepping inside the pink room.
"Sis?" Butchy called, taking a few steps in.
"Hang on a minute!" Lela called from her closet. As she emerged from the room, Butchy noticed some stray threads dangling from her hair and clothes. "Sorry. I was fixing Mick's dress. She is terrible at sewing."
"Where's Mick?" Butchy asked as he pulled a thread from his sister's hair.
Lela looked away a bit. "I don't know if she wants me to tell you where she is."
"Why wouldn't she?" Butchy asked as he watched his sister.
She had to lie. Lela hated doing it, but she had to to cover for Mick. She didn't want Butchy to chase her and end up making things worse. "She wanted to try on her dress, but you came in and she panicked. She doesn't want you to see her almost naked."
"Why would she not want me to see that?" Butchy questioned. "She sleeps in the same bed with me every night. I've seen it before."
"She just doesn't want you to see her dress yet. Not until the wedding."
"Oh. Well, tell her I'll be waiting down the beach. I'm ready for when she wants to leave."
Lela tilted her head a bit in confusion. "Leave? Where are you going?"
Butchy smiled. "She wanted to do something later. Just ask her." Butchy stated before leaving.
Lela sighed as she walked back to her closet to finish up the dress. She knew that, eventually, the lie would come out. Lela closed her eyes tightly as she hoped her brother would forgive her. Picking up the thread, Lela started sewing again.
Mick yawned as she pulled herself downstairs. It was past ten in the morning and Mick was very thankful for the extra rest her parents had given her. Mick smiled as she watched her mom put a plate of food onto the island.
"Thank you, Mom." Mick smiled as she sat at the counter.
"Your welcome. Did you get a good sleep last night?" Mack asked, rubbing her daughter's back lightly.
Mick nodded with a sigh. "Yeah. Sorry I kinda flipped on you guys last night. I was just-"
"We know. And, trust me, I know how it feels to be jealous and hurt. It will all be over with soon enough."
Mick nodded, eating some of the slightly warm food. "I just feel so stupid and frustrated and worried and-"
"Hurt." Mack finished. "I understand. Why don't you let me go talk to Butchy? I can try to understand his side of things before we conclude that he could be cheating on you."
"Please don't tell him that I think he is." Mick pleaded, turning to her Mom with a hopeful look.
"I won't. You just stay here and hang out with your Dad." Mack claimed with a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
Mick nodded, shoveling more food into her mouth. "Phank yuh." Mick mumbled as she covered her food stuffed mouth.
"Your welcome, baby. I'll be back in a bit." Mack stated as she headed to the back door. "I love you."
"I love you too, Momma." Mick replied as she swallowed.
Butchy sighed as he sat on the rock he proposed to Mick at. He had been walking for quite a while and Mick still wasn't back. He had considered going back to the house to see if she was okay, but he ended up deciding against it. He didn't want to rush her or make her feel more dragged into the dirt than she already was.
Watching the water in front of him, Butchy smiled. Every time he saw the waves crash, he thought of Mick. His life had changed so much and it was all because of one person. He knew they were going to be married soon, yet he still felt like he had to impress her. Butchy never thought this would happen; that one, short, brunette girl could change him.
He wouldn't change any of it.
As his brain wandered to the brunette, he took no notice of the teen's Mom approaching him. Mack climbed up on the rock and put a hand on Butchy's shoulder. Butchy jumped, turning to the older woman with a 'deer-in-the-headlights' look on his face.
"Oh. Hey, Mack. Where's Mick?" Butchy asked as he settled down.
"Back home with Brady. I need to talk with you for a while. Without Mick around, of course." Mack stated calmly.
"Okays. What do you's want to talk about?"
"How are the wedding plans going?" Mack questioned, watching Butchy's face.
Butchy shrugged. "Goods, I guess. Mick an' Lela 'ave been doin' most of it."
Mack nodded, knowing the two girls had probably taken the reigns on the plans since the beginning. "How's Lela?"
"She's good. Been a little high strung with all those plans goin' through her head."
"Good." Mack smiled, "How's the new girl?"
Butchy's gaze snapped to Mack's as he answered, "What? How did you's?"
"Butchy," Mack started, placing her hand on Butchy's shoulder, "I'm a Mom. When my daughter comes to visit, she tells me everything."
"Yeahs, but I didn't think Mick even noticed Juliet. I thought she's was busy with Tanner and that other soifer."
Mack took a mental note of the name Juliet before guessing, "Seacat?"
"No. The other annoying one." Butchy said as he fixed his vest a little.
"Rascal." Mack assumed.
"Yeahs, that one. I's was tryin' to help Juliet with the fact that she's in another world, but she doesn't get it." Butchy sighed, "I saw Mick leave Big Momma's, but I's haven't seen 'er since."
"Did you try to think about reasons for why you haven't seen her?" Mack questioned before stepping down from the rock.
"No, I didn't. Why?" Butchy asked back.
"Maybe a little thinking could change that. Good luck, Butchy." Mack settled before walking back toward the house.
Butchy sighed before turning back to the ocean. What had he done that could've made Mick not want to see him?
Mick laughed as she and Brady practiced the Father-Daughter dance for the wedding. Brady had been tripping over every little thing; the rug, shoes, even his own two feet. It had taken about an hour for him to actually get it right. Brady loved dancing with his Baby Girl, but he was genuinely terrified of dancing with her at the party.
All because it meant he had given his Princess away.
That dance means a lot. The only thing that could top that would be saying "I am giving her away." Could he even do that? When it comes down to that sentence, will he be able to say it? Brady always thought he would give her away when she was in her twenties or thirties, not her teens! At least it was to someone he knew and trusted, but was it really a good idea for them to get married so soon? Couldn't they have waited until she was as old as Butchy?
Mick's giggle brought Brady or of his thoughts and back to the beautiful girl in front of him. "Mick," Brady started. "I love you, Baby Girl."
"I love you too, Daddy."
Brady smiled as he thought of some of the best memories he had with her saying that same sentence. "Princess, do you remember the song I used to sing to you when you were llittle?"
"Not really." Mick replied with a shake of her head. "Can you sing it for me, Daddy?"
"I sure can." Brady smiled before singing.
/Song Time - Butterfly Kisses\
(Brady)
There's two things I know for sure: she was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl. As I drop to my knees by her bed at night, she talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and I thank god for all of the joy in my life.
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking little white flowers all up in her hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
(Flashback)
Five year old Mick giggled as her Daddy held her hand and walked next to her on the horse. "I love you, Daddy! Thank you for letting me ride the pony!"
(A couple years later)
Twelve year old Mick smiled shyly as she put a birthday cake in front of her Dad. "Do you like it, Daddy?"
"Of course I do! Thank you." Brady replied, ruffling his daughter's hair.
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve a hug every morning and butterfly kisses at night.
Sweet 16 today, she's looking like her mama a little more everyday. One part woman, the other part girl. To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls, trying her wings out in a great big world.
But I remember...
(Two years ago)
"Daddy, thank you so much. You're so awesome. I love you!" Mick smiled as she and Brady danced to the music of Wet Side Story.
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking little white flowers all up in her hair. "You know how much I love you, Daddy, but, if you don't mind, I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."
Oh with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right to deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses at night.
All the precious time, like the wind, the years go by. Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.
She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise and I'll give her away. Standing in the bride-room just staring at her, she asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not sure- I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
She leaned over, gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there. Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair, "Walk me down the aisle, Daddy- it's just about time."
(A couple days ago)
Mick was trying on her almost-finished Lela-improved dress in front of her parents in their house. Turning to face her parents, Mick saw the tears in her Dad's eyes and gave him a tight hug. "Daddy, don't cry yet! Save those for the day you walk with me."
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry"
Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have done something right to deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses.
I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is. I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember...
Every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses...
/Song End\
"Daddy." Mick said shakily as she hugged her Dad. Taking a shuddering breath, Mick let her tears flow down her cheeks. "Are you really that scared to let me go?"
"Of course I am. You're my Baby, Princess." Brady replied as he pulled Mick into his arms.
"I love you, Daddy." Mick murmered into Brady's shoulder.
"I love you too, my Butterfly."
I know that this chapter is mostly just cute, filler fluff, but I just feel like Mick didn't really get to hear how much she means to her parents. This was one of the songs my Dad and I used to dance to and it admittedly made me cry just writing this.
I miss you, Dad. I love you.
-Snaps