She smiled.
“Something weird.”
Alexander walked outside carrying a cardboard box.
Daniel followed with coffee.
Marcus came through the side gate complaining that nobody had told him there would be gardening.
I looked around.
“What is happening?”
Sofia pointed toward the far corner of the yard.
“We’re planting roses.”
“With the wedding dress?”
She nodded.
“I’m cutting it up.”
I stared at her.
“That was expensive.”
“So was therapy.”
Daniel nearly choked on his coffee laughing.
Sofia took scissors from the box.
She cut the dress into long strips.
Then tied the strips loosely around the stakes supporting six new rose bushes.
White fabric fluttered in the sunlight.
Alexander watched silently.
Sofia noticed.
“Dad?”
He cleared his throat.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re crying.”
“I have allergies.”
Marcus looked at the cloudless sky.
“To polyester?”
Alexander glared at him.
We laughed.
That laughter mattered.
Because for months, life had been hearings, investigators, lawyers, statements, and questions.
