Always.
Dad.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked at General Warner.
“Did you really know my father?”
The general smiled, looking into her eyes. “Yes, Katie. Your father wasn’t just a Marine, he was the heart and soul of our unit. He talked about you all the time. He kept your photos and drawings in his locker and showed them to all of us.”
Sergeant Riley stepped forward with a smile. “That’s right, honey. We knew all about your dance routines, your spelling bee trophy, even your pink boots. Your dad made sure of it.”
Katie’s eyes widened. “Do you know about my boots?”
General Warner nodded. “Oh, yes. And your Halloween princess costume. Your dad was so proud of you. He made sure we knew who to turn to if he ever needed us.”
She stood up and walked into the room. “One of our fallen comrades made us promise that his little girl would never be alone at this dance. So tonight, we’re here to keep that promise.”
The marines dispersed, each offering a hand and a warm greeting. Sergeant Riley bowed.
—May I have this dance, madam?
Katie laughed, taking his hand. “Only if you know the chicken dance!”
Soon, laughter and music filled the gymnasium. Other girls joined in, their parents followed suit, and the atmosphere turned into a real party.
Cassidy blushed, looked down, suddenly out of place. The other mothers moved away, avoiding her gaze.
And that night, my daughter was enveloped in the love that her father had left her.
I saw the headmistress, Mrs. Dalton, watching us from across the room, her eyes glistening with tears as she smiled at me.
Katie was in the center, dancing, laughing, with flushed cheeks.
At one point, a marine placed his officer’s cap on her head, making her wobble with pride as the crowd cheered and took pictures.
I let out a laugh. For the first time since Keith’s funeral, happiness didn’t feel like a betrayal.
As the music softened and the crowd began to disperse, General Warner approached me. He stopped, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Thank you. For all of this. I didn’t know Keith had never told me that he’d asked you to come if he couldn’t… come.”
She smiled. “It was him, wasn’t it? He never meant to worry you. But he made sure we knew, just in case.”
—He was everything to us, General.
General Warner nodded. “He was one of the most honorable men I’ve ever known. I would do anything for him, even risk making a fool of myself by doing the chicken dance in a gymnasium full of eight-year-olds.”
I laughed, feeling lighter.
next
