“I don’t hate it.”
My voice cracked so badly he stopped talking.
I started crying for real.
I touched the blue flowers with shaking fingers. “It’s beautiful.”
His eyes got shiny then, which meant mine got worse.
Dad cleared his throat. “Your mom would have wanted to be there. I couldn’t give you that.” He looked at the dress, then back at me. “But I thought maybe I could let part of her go with you.”
I threw my arms around him so hard he made an oof sound.
He hugged me back and said into my hair, “Easy, girl. Your old man is fragile.”
“Your mom would have wanted to be there.”
“You’re not fragile.”
He pulled back and looked at me. “Try it on, kid.”
***
When I stepped out wearing it, he just stared.
“What?” I asked.
He blinked fast once. “Nothing. It’s just… you look like somebody who ought to have everything good in the world.”
That nearly had me crying again.
“Try it on, kid.”
***
Prom night came warm and clear.
Lila gasped when she saw me.
Her date said, “Whoa,” which I decided to take as respectful.
Even I felt different walking into that hotel ballroom, not rich, not transformed, just… held together. Like I was carrying both my parents with me somehow. My mother’s gown, molded by my father’s hands.
For one whole moment, I let myself feel pretty.
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