Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

EPILOGUE
MADDOX
Five years later.
Looking at the sparkly princess dress hanging in front of me, I was
brought back in time. One of the best memories in my life was Valentina’s
first Daddy-Daughter dance when she was nine.
From seeing the sheer joy on her face as she discovered the lilac dress
Sofia had bought her, to getting to hold her hands as she stood on my shoes,
softly swaying to the rhythm of whatever song was playing then, everything
about this memory was special.
I still remembered how we tried several stores before finally finding a tie
which was the exact same shade as her dress. Valentina had charmed many
salesladies that day with her adorable smiles and sparkling eyes. They all
assumed she was my daughter and I didn’t bother correcting them, because
why would I? She was like a daughter to me, in every way that mattered. She
may not have my blood running through her veins, but I would bleed for her
all the same.
We had an amazing night, dancing, eating from the buffet and then, when
she was too tired to stand anymore, just resting at our table while she told me
all the gossip about her little schoolmates. I even remembered a certain
Connor having peed his pants in gym class and a Jinnie having kissed some
boy’s cheek at recess. I also remembered being glad my little Valentina
wasn’t kissing boys.
Those were just details of what was one of the best nights of my life.
And as I took in the new dress in front of me, several sizes bigger than the
one Valentina wore five years ago, I couldn’t help the wave of emotions
surging through me.
How did she grow up so fast?