Page 136 of Behind the Bars

“I know, I know it’s just…I always dreamed of this day, and I’m so happy you’re the one who has my son’s heart. I know you’ll keep itsafe.”

“I promise Iwill.”

She pulled me into a hug and held on tight. When her voice whispered against my ear, I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheek. “I always wanted twodaughters.”

I held her even tighter than before. “I always wanted amom.”

“We ruined our makeup,” she softly laughed against myear.

“It’s okay. There’s always time for touch-ups.”

“Are you having a good day, SnowWhite?”

Laura and I both smiled at the sound of Ray’s voice. We turned around to see him peering into the dressing room. He was wearing his best suit and tie, looking dapper asever.

“Wow,” he breathed out. “You both lookamazing.”

“She’s the showstopper,” Lauraremarked.

“Says the beauty queen.” Ismiled.

“Let me give you two time alone,” Laura said. As she walked past Ray, their hands slightly brushed against oneanother.

“You are beautiful, Laura,” Ray toldher.

Her cheeks blushed over. “You don’t look half bad yourself,Ray.”

She left the room, and Ray’s stare followed her until she was out of hisviewpoint.

“What was that?” I bellowed,shocked.

“What waswhat?”

“That! What was that moment you and Laura justhad?”

Ray smirked and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”

“You definitely know what I’m talking about, Dad! Oh my gosh. You andLaura?!”

“Shh…” he hissed. “It’s… I just asked her out to dinner, that’s all. It’s not a bigdeal.”

“You do know Elliott is going to give you hell for this,right?”

He nodded, and walked over to me. “I definitely know. Especially seeing how I’d gave him hell since he was sixteen. But you know what? Some things—some people—are worth going through hell for, and I think Laura is one of thosepeople.”

That made my heart skip. “You both deservehappiness.”

“Speaking of happiness…” He stood in front of me and crossed his arms. “Wow, wow,wow…”

My stomach knotted up with butterflies. “Stop…”

“Snow, you look like the princess I always knew you were. This is the happiest day of my life.” His eyes watered over and he bit his bottom lip. “Elliott is the luckiest manalive.”

“And I’m the luckiestgirl.”

“Oh! I have something for you.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small box. “Your gift from thefather.”

“Dad…you didn’t have to get meanything.”

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