Page 8

Odette

“I can’t believe you picked out our daughter's sophomore year homecoming dress without letting me see it.” Murphy huffed and puffed in our bathroom behind me as I was removing my makeup.

“Murph, you would have lit the store on fire, and with two kids in the house, I wouldn’t have been able to afford your bail.

” If he had laid eyes on some of the options for dresses they had, I had no doubt he would have at least committed a misdemeanor, if not a full-fledged felony.

I was on whatever team kept my husband out of jail.

“You aren’t giving me much reassurance here, Odette.” He continued to pace.

“Could you just trust me, please?” I begged him.

It had taken hours for us to find the perfect dress—one that would showcase that she wasn’t a kid anymore but was still respectful and wouldn’t send her father into an early grave...or her date.

It was a perfect powder blue with a sweetheart neckline; it sat high enough to hide anything that could be considered risqué.

It fell to the floor in silk that hugged her body but was blurred by the layer of sparkly tulle.

You would think it would make it look tacky; however, it fell just perfectly so she looked like she was glowing.

It really was the perfect dress, and we had spent entirely too much money on it.

“It’s the perfect dress for her, and you will love it. Do you understand me?”

His distressed eyes met mine and softened for a fraction of a second before I saw him shake his head and the stress crept back in. “I just can’t believe she’s growing up. And she’s been dating that punk for over a year. Do you know what kids are doing at fifteen, Odette?”

“Murph, it’s just puppy love, you know that.”

“I’m sure that’s what people used to say about us.”

I sighed at my husband. “I’m sure they did, but she cares more about her dress than who her date is. Believe me, Murph, he isn’t her forever.”

That seemed to make him relax a bit more than anything else I’ve said. “I can’t help it.”

“She’ll always be your little girl, even if she puts on a fancy dress.” I squeezed his hand as I headed to our bedroom to turn in for the night.

“Always,” he agreed with me as he laid down next to me.