“My beautiful girl,” Elena whispered. “Look at you.”
“Hello, Mom.”
“I can’t believe this day has finally come. I have dreamed about seeing you as a bride.”
I stood several feet away, listening.
Dreamed about it.
The words were so astonishing that I almost laughed again.
Elena pulled back and examined Chloe’s dress.
“You look just like me at your age.”
Chloe smiled politely.
Then Elena turned toward the nearby guests.
“This is my daughter,” she announced. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
Several people smiled awkwardly.
She took Chloe’s arm.
“I know we’ve missed so much time, sweetheart, but we’ll make up for it. We have the rest of our lives.”
Chloe looked at her mother for a moment.
Then she said, gently, “Mom, I’m glad you came.”
Elena seemed relieved.
“Of course I came. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
She glanced at me.
The smile on her face changed.
“David.”
