Page 150 of Free to Fall

“All of this is for one dance?” I’m astounded.

“All this and more.”

“Laura . . .” Words fail me.

Shocking me, she leans forward and presses a lingering kiss near my ear before murmuring, “Just wait until you see what we have inside. Now, why don’t you get Bailey out of her ride. I know a good deal of time was spent making sure she looks perfect.”

Laura turns to climb the steps again. I want nothing more than to follow her, to let me hold her and dance with her, but I have a date to greet first. I wait while Mike opens the limousine’s back door.

My head spins.

My heart stops.

Bailey carefully alights from the vehicle wearing a sleeveless A-line satin dress with crystals sewn around the armholes and collar. She’s also wearing a tiara.

She looks like a princess, but more than that, she’s openly beaming with joy. I never want to see that look disappear from her face. In the farthest region of my mind, I hope her grandparents can see her. A part of me, a tiny unselfish part, even hopes Ashleigh can despite not deserving to witness the beauty her daughter has become.

Pulling myself together, I bend over my daughter’s wrist and slip her corsage on.

It’s then I realize it’s made of white roses and buttercups.

I step back and admire my daughter’s long curls, carefully arranged to be just like Laura’s. The light dusting of blush and lip gloss. Just enough to make a seven-year-old feel special but not too much to hide my daughter’s budding beauty. Tears clog my voice when I tell Bailey, “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

“Thank you, Daddy. Laura tells me I have to ask you to be my escort inside. So, will you?”

I scoop her up so she doesn’t have to bear any more pain than necessary. “It would be my honor, Buttercup.”

“Mike, will you get Bailey’s crutches?” Laura reminds her cousin.

“For our newest princess? Of course.”

Bailey giggles as I walk up the ramp with Laura and her cousin behind us. Once inside Amaryllis Events, we’re both shocked by what awaits us.

Chapter

Eighty-One

“What was your favorite part?” I ask Bailey on the drive home. I declined the “limo service” Laura’s cousin offered in favor of driving my daughter back to our own home.

Bailey’s voice pipes up from the back seat. “Dancing.”

My voice chokes when I agree, especially after I realized Laura wasn’t helping run the event but was a guest herself.

The guest of honor, it turned out.

We had customized menus that explained our schedule. First on the agenda was Dessert for Three that consisted of hot chocolate and a tower of other delicious desserts. Cassidy approached from the shadows at one point when Bailey’s face dropped in tragedy at being unable to eat more—causing both Laura and me to laugh. She told us not to worry about finishing our sweet smorgasbord. “We’re already creating special to go boxes for you.”

With a wink, she recommended we read the next item on our agenda. It was a special father/daughter dance. Bailey’s lips parted in anticipation. “Daddy, am I allowed to dance?”

Just then, the opening strain to Paul Simon’s “Father and Daughter” started playing. I laid my napkin aside and held out my hand. “Just trust me, Buttercup. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t let you fall.”

She giggled when I swooped in to lift her from her seat. Taking her little hand and holding it against my heart, I sang every word directly to Bailey—a vow. A promise to protect her precious heart. In my heart, I know I will do everything within my power to prevent my daughter from feeling an ounce of pain ever again.

It’s a vow I planned on making to Laura as well if she’d let me.

Every time I spun her around, I caught a glimpse of Laura’s eyes. Cassidy stood behind her, squeezing her shoulder. At one point, I caught her leaning down and whispering something in her daughter’s ear.

Laura nodded frantically.

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