Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“My God, you are all stunning.”
The color was the same, but each gown was styled to suit the wearer. All were elegant and beautiful. With their coiffed hair and radiant smiles, I was mesmerized.
Heather laughed. “We cleaned up good, Daddy. Wait until you see Ashley. She puts us all to shame. The photographer is taking a few more shots, then you can go in and she’ll take some with you. She’s going to do family ones after.”
I cleared my throat. “She is going to take some photos I requested later. Special for me.”
Katy’s gaze found mine. “Special?”
“Me and my girls. All of them. I want it for my desk.”
She smiled. “That would be lovely.”
Greta, the photographer, came out. “Okay, I need to grab a couple of things. You can go in, Richard. I’ll give you a few minutes, then take some shots.” She pursed her lips. “We have enough time, I could do a couple of group photos then, plus take more later so you can choose?”
“Great.”
I paused at the door, glancing over my shoulder. My wife smiled at me encouragingly, and my younger daughters chuckled. They knew how emotional I’d gotten on their wedding days, and today was no different. Being part of Ashley’s day was unexpected but amazing. There was a time I’d never thought we’d get to this point.
I stepped inside the room and shut the door behind me. Ashley turned from the mirror, and the breath caught in my throat.
Tall, elegant, and beautiful, she was a vision. Her dress was simple—ivory satin, off the shoulder with a fitted bodice and a long skirt that flared out at her feet. A long slit up one leg made it sexy, and I knew Luc would go crazy when he saw her. Her hair was down, worn away from her face, and she chose not to have a veil. The lack of frills, lace, or sparkles suited her perfectly. She was exquisite.
I held my hand over my heart. “You are beautiful. You remind me of your mother.”
There was a time I wouldn’t have been able to say those words without causing her anger, but those days were in the past now. She smiled in return at my statement. “I think I have the best of both my parents.”
I stepped forward and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.” I reached into my pocket and slipped a box into her hand. “Katy and I wanted you to have these.”
She opened the lid and gasped. Inside, a pair of earrings sparkled against the dark velvet. Pearls hung from a row of diamonds that alternated in size. Set in white gold, they were eye-catching.
Ashley’s eyes were glassy as she met mine. “They are so beautiful.”
“So are you. Katy picked them. She thought you’d like them and could wear them again. I, ah, I gave Luc a set of cuff links. They’re inlaid with pearl to match.” I shuffled my feet, feeling anxious all over again. “It’s sort of our tradition.”
She moved closer, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Thank you, Dad,” she whispered. “I will treasure them always.”
I held the box as she slipped them from the velvet and put them on. My heart still exploded every time she called me Dad. It signaled how much we had progressed in our relationship. We’d come so far in eighteen months.
Katy came in and clapped her hands. “Oh, they are perfect. Aren’t they perfect, Richard?”
“They are.” I drew her close and kissed her. “So are you.”
“Oh, stop,” she protested, but her eyes danced in delight.
Ashley groaned. “Can the two of you stop? Always with the touching and cooing,” she teased.
Gracie walked in. “You’ve only had to put up with it for a short time. Imagine seeing that your whole life. It was embarrassing as a teenager.”
Heather joined her. “Yeah, the constant lovey-dovey stuff. Even in front of our friends. Ugh.”
Penny laughed as she came in. “I always thought it was sweet. My friends envied me.”
The others rolled their eyes, but they were laughing. Ashley met my gaze, hers a touch sad, yet she smiled. I knew she was thinking about her mom and her own upbringing. How much she missed out on.
“I don’t really mind,” she admitted. “I hope Luc and I are that way in fifty years.”
“Hey!” I protested. “I’m not that old.”
Everyone laughed, and Greta walked in. “Okay, let’s do your shots, Richard. You and your girls.”
She arranged us in a group, taking some fast photographs. There were ones of all of us, a few of Katy and me with Ashley, and a couple of just Ashley and me.
“Great. I’ll get more later. I’m heading downstairs to set up.”
She left, and the girls all did last-minute checks in the mirror, then with air kisses, followed Greta down the steps to the small chamber. Katy and I were alone with Ashley, who smiled at us. Gone was the bitter, angry young woman I’d feared would never allow me to be close. Instead, before me stood a lovely, engaging woman I was proud to call my daughter. Who returned my affection and blended into our family well.