Page 8 of Corrupt Obsession

Jesse stepped to the side to get a look and felt his heart skip. Violet perched on the seat, a vision in a pale pink gown. Her wild hair had been drawn back from her face into some kind of fancy braid, aside from two spirals that framed her face. Mom had been teaching Violet girly stuff like how to dress and do her hair, but this was such a drastic transformation from the girl he’d come to know that he was momentarily dumbstruck.

Violet had an uncharacteristically bashful look on her face as she took Molly’s hand and carefully stepped out of the van.

“You look…” Isaac cleared his throat. “You’re growing up too fast, kiddo.”

Violet flashed him a smile before she turned to help Mom out of the vehicle. Seeing his mom as a bride in a white gown and short veil made his chest tighten. Molly stood off to the side, capturing the moment with a camera as they took each other in.

“You two look so handsome,” Mom gushed, grinning from ear to ear.

“And you…” Isaac shook his head, clearly at a loss for words.

Jesse understood completely. As Mom and Isaac leaned toward one another for a kiss, Violet made her way over to him.

“Do I look okay?” she whispered.

“Okay?” he echoed.

She tugged on her skirt. “No one’s ever seen me in a dress before. I feel silly.”

“You don’t look silly,” he reassured her. “You look…” Like Isaac, he struggled to come up with the words that would let her know she outshined every girl their age. “You’re perfect.”

Even as he inwardly castigated himself, Violet’s face cleared.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Violet gave him a giddy smile and patted his chest. “You look great.”

He cleared his throat and eased away from her, worried she’d feel his heart racing. He thought he’d overcome those odd nerves he sometimes experienced around her, but for the first time in months, they were back.

“How’s Dad?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at their parents, who were having a moment.

“Nervous, but hanging in there,” he said and then blurted, “You’re wearing makeup?”

Violet jerked her head back around, eyes wide and startled. “You can tell?”

“Yes.”

During their parent’s whirlwind romance, they became best friends and were nearly inseparable. His favorite pastime was observing Violet, who wore her emotions on her sleeve. He’d come to know her face as well as his own and immediately picked up the subtle enhancements—her already long lashes were thicker, and her lips were a shiny, muted hue instead of her natural deep red.

“Don’t tell Dad,” Violet whispered.

“I think you’ll get a pass today,” he whispered back. “But if he does lecture you about it, blame Mom.”

Violet’s eyes danced with mischief. “Good thinking.” Violet extended her foot so he could show off her fancy shoes. “Aren’t they pretty?”

“Yes. And you painted your nails?”

“My first time ever! I got glitter nail polish.” She wriggled her toes, so they sparkled in the sunshine.

“You two ready?”

Violet whirled and threw herself into her father’s arms. “I’m so happy! I never thought this day would come.”

Isaac kissed the top of her head. “Well, now that it’s here, we don’t want to waste a moment of it, do we?”

“No! Let’s do this!”

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