Prom night finally arrived.
Ryan showed up exactly at six.
He stood on our porch holding a bouquet of white roses.
He wore a perfectly tailored tuxedo.
His manners were impeccable.
“Mrs. Carter,” he said politely, extending his hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too, Ryan.”
When Iris walked downstairs, Ryan simply stared.
“You…”
He smiled.
“You look incredible.”
Iris blushed.
“So do you.”
I snapped what felt like hundreds of pictures.
Them smiling.
Holding hands.
Laughing.
Ryan gently placing the corsage on Iris’s wrist.
For the first time in years, I felt completely at peace.
Maybe life really was giving my daughter the happiness she’d earned.
As they climbed into Ryan’s car, he looked back.
“I’ll have her home before midnight.”