Page 17 of Sam’s Forever (Crow MC 2nd Generation)

ADAM

My sweet girl is beautiful and made a gorgeous bride. She’s also very happy; the happiness shines brightly from her face as she looks up at her husband.

The ache in my chest is killing me at the thought of my baby not living with us anymore.

It didn’t matter that she’d not lived at home for the last year, her getting married meant it was real.

She no longer needed me; she had a new man to turn to now.

The night we nearly lost her has never left me. It’s burned in my memory for eternity.

I’m glad that she’s found a man who knows her worth and treats her like she’s his queen. He’s a good man… but, fuck, it still hurts to let her go.

It’s coming up for time for the father-daughter dance, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold it together.

Ally walks towards us just as Tilly whispers, “Here she comes.” And I know it’s time. Ally’s face is glowing with happiness when she stops in front of us.

“It’s time, Dad.”

“I’m not ready,” I grumble grumpily.

Ally lets out a tiny laugh at my words. We’ve had this conversation a few times in the last year.

“It will be okay,” she promises me, taking my hand and pulling me towards the dance floor. I’ve chosen ‘I Loved Her First’ to dance this dance with my girl. Because that’s what she was from the moment she walked into my office all those years ago. My girl.

Holding her in my arms for this last dance, the memories are like a kaleidoscope running through my mind — from the first time I saw her beaten and broken, then as she got stronger, not letting what had happened to her break her, to watching her leave school, her prom, going to college, then university, the night she was nearly taken from us, not once but a few times, and finally now as I’d walked her down the aisle to the man who would take my place.

I don’t even know I have tears on my cheeks until Ally wipes at them.

“It’s going to be okay, Dad; I’m going to miss you too, but you gave me all the tools to ensure that I’d always be okay. I’m not going to be far away; we can still have lunch twice a week. You’ll always be the man I go to for advice. Plus, you love my husband; it’s not like you don’t know him.”

“I know that, cailín deas, doesn’t make it easy to hand over the reins, though, even if I did that over a year ago.

Today is just the final bit. You’re always going to be my sweet girl, and as long as I’m around, you’ll never have to worry about anything, you’ll always have a home with us.

I love you, and all I want for you is to be happy. ”

“I am happy, Dad,” she assures me, her blue eyes sparkling with tears as they look into mine.

“That’s good, sweet girl.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I hug her tight one last time as my little girl.

“Your man’s here,” I whisper against her temple. Pressing another kiss to her head, I release her into Sam’s arms.

“I’ll take good care of her, Adam,” he assures me, taking her from me. Giving him a nod, I turn because I can’t speak past the lump in my throat.

I know he will. And I’m happy with her choice. She’s been his for over a year from the night he made her his Old Lady, but somehow her taking his name has made it final.

Tilly is waiting for me at the edge of the dance floor, and I take her in my arms and breathe in her scent as she holds me tight. This woman has been mine from the first day. It’s only right that our children find the same love.