“It’s so far beyond perfect,” I tell them, and I know I’ll feel more than treasured tonight and for the rest of my life.
I pull the sisters and Mave into a massive hug. “Thank you,” I tell them, hoping those two words convey just how grateful I am for each of them. They all took me in and accepted me with no hesitation or reservations, and it changed everything for me.
“Let’s get it on,” Mave commands, her words more of a squeal as she pats her cheeks dry. I laugh and strip down, eager to see if this gorgeous dress will fit as perfectly as it looks like it will. I step into it, and Birdie zips me up. It hugs my body like a second skin until mid-thigh, where it slightly flares out. I feel dainty and feminine, and covered in the blessings and adoration of the women I love.
“You look stunning, Vinna,” Lila tells me as she wipes at her eyes.
“Don’t you start, Lila! You’re going to set us all off, and then we’ll really be in trouble,” Mave scolds. We all chuckle and try to get a hold of ourselves.
Adelaide darts to the window and peeks out. She looks up at the sky and smiles. “Right on time,” she announces.
She claps her hands together and orders her sisters and Mave to get dressed really quickly, and they all dart off. I run my hands down the tight bodice of the dress and feel...beautiful. Someone knocks on the door, and I debate for a second if I’m supposed to answer it. No one else comes out to do it, and I figure that pretty much solves that question. I pull the door open to find my dad. His face lights up when he sees me, and then he steps back so he can take me in.
“Kid...” he trails off, and then he takes a moment to breathe through the emotion I see take over.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispers, wiping at his eyes.
I blink back my own tears, and he pulls me in for a tight hug.
“Love you,” he croaks as we pull apart.
“Love you,” I counter and wipe at my cheeks.
Shit,I hope I didn’t mess up anything the sisters did too badly.
“Ladies, I’m taking her down,” my dad shouts into the small cabin.
“We’ll meet you there,” Mave hollers back, and he chortles and shuts the door behind us.
He puts his elbow out for me to take. I smile and wrap my arm around it. We start to walk toward the tree line, and I can tell sunset is quickly approaching.
“So were you in on all this too?” I ask as a welcome breeze winds around us to help chase some of the heat away.
“Guilty,” he admits with a smile.
I shake my head and give his arm an affectionate squeeze. He squeezes me back and lets out a deep content sigh.
“Who would have thought this time last year that you and I would be here now...like this?” he states, gesturing to my hand in his.
“I know. I was training with Talon and fighting. I didn’t really see anything beyond that,” I confess.
“I’m glad he looked out for you,” my dad states. “He was rough around the edges but a good guy nonetheless. I owe him a lot.”
My grin grows wider. It’s a perfect description of who Talon was.
“We both do,” I agree.
We make our way slowly through the trees, and I take in the birds chirping and the smell of pine and soil.
“Thank you, Vinna,” my dad tells me quietly, pulling me from my thoughts.
“For what?” I ask, searching his face for an answer.
“For finding me...fighting for me...giving me this,” he tells me, patting my hand. “After how Lach was...well, you didn’t have to believe in me the way that you did,” he finishes quietly.
My dad has done nothing but apologize for Lachlan and what went down between us. No matter how much I try to make him understand that it’s not his fault, I don’t think he’ll ever see it the way I do.
I can just make out some lights through the trees, but I stop and pull him to a stop too.
