“Honestly, Jill, we were all nervous. Katie is a tough artist to match.”
"It is," I said, watching her twirl, her badge gleaming. "You made her night special. You gave her back something I thought was lost forever."
"That's what families do," he replied. "Keith made us promise. There was never any doubt."
Katie ran over to her, beaming. “Mom! Did you see me dance?! And General Warner didn't even step on my toes!”
I knelt down and hugged her, holding her tighter. “You were wonderful, my love. And your father… he would be so happy.”
General Warner saluted her. "It was an honor, ma'am. You made us look good."
When the last song played, the gym erupted in applause. Parents and teachers cheered Katie as she bowed in the center of the room. Cassidy stood still on the sidelines, forced to watch.
As we left, Katie shook my hand. “Can we come back next year?”
“Yes, we’ll be here,” I promised. “And Dad too.”
We stepped out into the cold night. Katie's hand was warm in mine. Above us, the stars shone brighter than ever. For the first time since Keith left, I felt the promise he'd made to me.
She lived in the laughter that still echoed from the gym. She lived in the way our little girl twirled in the moonlight. It was truly, finally, home.
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