---

Chapter 15 — Seven Days

A year after Julian died, Caleb and I held a small ceremony at Lily’s House.

There were children everywhere.

They were laughing.

Running between tables.

Trying on clothes Julian had made years earlier.

Some were wearing new dresses.

Some were wearing little suits.

Some were simply there because they needed somewhere safe to be.

I stood beside the glass case containing Lily’s red dress.

Caleb came up beside me.

“You know,” he said, “Dad would have loved this.”

I smiled.

“He would have.”

Caleb looked at the dress.

“I wish he could see it.”

“So do I.”

Then a little girl approached the case.

She couldn’t have been more than six.

She looked at the red dress for a long moment.

Then she turned toward me.

“Did somebody make that for you?”

I knelt beside her.

“No.”

“Then who?”

I smiled.

“A father made it for his little girl.”

“Where is she?”

I looked at the dress.

“She isn’t here anymore.”

The little girl became quiet.

Then she reached for my hand.

“Did he love her?”

I felt tears rise in my eyes.

“Yes.”

“How much?”

I looked at the dress.

“As much as a heart can love.”