Chapter 15 - The Little Girl at the Gala
Three years later, Lily noticed a child hiding near the ballroom doors during a foundation gala.
The girl couldn't have been older than seven.
Her dress was slightly oversized.
Her shoes were worn.
She was staring at the elegantly dressed guests.
Lily approached.
“Hey.”
The girl looked frightened.
“I'm waiting for my foster mom.”
“Okay.”
Lily sat on the floor beside her.
In an evening gown worth more than my first car.
On the floor.
The little girl looked at her.
“Aren't you the lady who owns this place?”
Lily smiled.
“Technically.”
“Why are you sitting on the floor?”
“Because you're sitting on the floor.”
The girl considered this excellent logic.
“What’s your name?”
“Ruby.”
“I'm Lily.”
“I know.”
Lily laughed.
Ruby looked at her dress.
“Mine isn't pretty.”
Lily's expression changed.
“Who told you that?”
“Some girls.”
Lily leaned closer.
“Want to know a secret?”
Ruby nodded.
“When I was six, someone laughed at my dress too.”
“What did you do?”
Lily smiled.
“I believed them for about five minutes.”
“And then?”
“My dad reminded me they were wrong.”
Ruby smiled.
Across the room, I watched.
Lily glanced toward me.
Our eyes met.
Twenty-seven years disappeared.
I saw the six-year-old girl beside me again.
“Daddy, why are they laughing?”
I smiled at her.
May you like
Lily smiled back.
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