“But normal scared.”
“What’s normal scared?”
“Like when things change.”
“And the other kind?”
She knew exactly what he meant.
“The kind where you feel like saying something will make everything worse.”
Michael remained silent.
Lily looked at him.
“I don’t feel that.”
He released a breath.
“Okay.”
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“If you marry Claire, can I wear Mommy’s necklace?”
Michael’s throat tightened.
“Yes.”
“And Claire won’t care?”
“You should ask her.”
Lily did.
Claire answered before Lily finished the question.
“Of course.”
The wedding happened in Michael’s backyard the following September.
Forty-three guests.
No ballroom.
No crystal chandeliers.
No professional string quartet.
David burned one tray of appetizers.
Margaret cried before the ceremony even started.
Lily wore a pale blue dress.
Around her neck was Emily’s silver heart-shaped locket.
Claire saw it immediately.
She smiled.
“That looks beautiful.”
Lily touched the locket.
“Mom’s here.”
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
Those two words mattered more to Michael than any wedding vow.
During the ceremony, Michael looked at his daughter.
For one impossible second, he saw the seven-year-old girl from the hotel ballroom.
Ivory dress.
Red eyes.
Tears on her face.
A tiny broken speaker between her fingers.
Then Lily smiled at him.
The memory faded.
Later that evening, after most guests left, Lily found Michael alone near the porch.
“You okay?”
He laughed.
“You’re asking me?”
“You look weird.”
“Thank you.”
“You know what I mean.”
Michael looked toward Claire, who was helping Margaret pack leftover cake.
“I was thinking about the other wedding.”
Lily became quiet.
“So was I.”
“Bad thoughts?”
“No.”
She touched the locket.
“Just different.”
Michael nodded.
Lily looked up at him.
“You know I thought you were going to marry her anyway.”
His chest tightened.
“At the hotel?”
“Yeah.”
“Even after you showed me the necklace?”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Because everything cost so much.”
Michael stared.
Then laughed softly in disbelief.
“You thought I would marry someone because the flowers were expensive?”
“And people flew there.”
“Lily.”