Page 57 of To Hold and Protect

It wasn’t fair for Parker to steal another piece of her heart. No man had ever bought a dress for her before, and why did that make her smile like a fool?

Fanny waved a hand. “Go on with you. But Everly and I want to see each thing you try on.” She winked at Everly. “Don’t we?”

Everly clapped her hands. “Oh, yes. But she needs a pink one like mine, Miss Fanny.”

“Well, I don’t have one like yours in a big girl size, but there is something pink for her to try on.” Fanny put her hands on Everly’s shoulders. “We’re waiting.”

“Okay. Going.” She was curious to see what Fanny thought she’d like. There were three outfits hanging in the dressing room, and the first one was a sundress with blue and yellow flowers. Since she loved sundresses, she was sure she’d choose it.

It was pretty and fit well, and when she modeled it for her audience, Everly and Fanny gave her a thumbs-up. The second outfit was a sleeveless pale blue blouse paired with a soft blue-and-white-striped cotton skirt. She liked the outfit, but not as much as the sundress. Her fashion advisors agreed.

She almost didn’t bother with the third outfit, but decided to give it a try, even though it wasn’t her style. “Well then,” she murmured when she stood in front of the three-way mirror.

The dusty rose wrap dress with a V-neck that showed a hint of cleavage fit her perfectly. She loved the soft material, the way the skirt flared, and the above-the-knee hem. The sleeves were elbow length, which she liked.

“Miss Willow, are you coming out?” Everly yelled.

Willow smiled. She was pretty sure Everly was going to pick this one because it was a shade of pink. She walked out, her smile growing at the way Everly’s mouth formed a big O.

“You have to get that one, Miss Willow. It’s so pretty, and it’s pink. We’ll look like princesses.” She looked up at Fanny. “Tell her to get that one.”

“Get that one, Willow.” Fanny smiled and winked.

“This one it is. What color shoes would go best with it?”

“I’m glad you asked.” Fanny reached behind her and picked up a pair of strappy nude sandals. “These would be perfect. I’m guessing you’re about a size seven?”

“You’re good at guessing sizes.”

“Honey, I’ve been at this a long time.”

Fanny was right—the shoes were perfect for the dress, and once both dresses were wrapped in tissue, and they were ready to go, Willow thanked her.

“I’m not the one you need to thank.”

Willow laughed when Fanny winked. “We’ll be sure to thank Parker, too.”

Everly tugged on her hand. “Why are we thanking my daddy?”

“Because your daddy’s a very nice man for buying us dresses to wear on your birthday.”

“Then you should kiss him. He’d like that.”

Fanny’s keen eyes landed on Willow, and she grinned. “From the mouth of babes.”

“Um... Well, I guess we better go.” She could feel that she was blushing, clearly giving away the fact that if she hadn’t already kissed Parker, she wanted to.

“I’ll see you both at the party,” Fanny called to them as they left.

Willow waved, then hustled Everly out the door. She’d received an alert on her phone that her package had arrived. “I have a surprise for you, an early birthday present,” she told Everly as they were driving home.

“Oh, goody! I love presents.”

“Me, too.” Willow glanced behind her at Everly in the car seat, the one Willow had bought especially so Everly could ride in her car. “Are you excited for your birthday party?”

“Yes!” Everly threw her hands in the air and held up six fingers. “I’ll be six years old, Miss Willow. That means I can go to the big kids’ school. I’m so excited ’cause I’m not a baby anymore.”

Lord, she loved this girl and her exuberance for life.I’m going to miss you, ladybug, when I leave.She and Parker had agreed that they’d sit Everly down after her birthday party and tell her that Willow would be moving soon. Willow wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.

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