Her mother had to help secure it so it would not fall off.
But Emily refused to remove it.
The watch belonged to Michael.
And she wanted her father with her.
During the drive to NBC Studios, Emily sat quietly in the back seat holding the folded paper. Outside the window, the city lights passed by, but she was thinking about the person who should have been sitting beside her.
When they arrived at the studio, the atmosphere was exactly what Michael had imagined.
People were excited.
The audience was laughing.
The energy of live television filled the room.
But Emily was different.
She did not smile.
She looked at the empty seat beside her.
The seat where her father should have been.
Karen leaned toward her.
“Daddy’s watching from heaven, sweetheart.”
Emily nodded.
“I know, Mommy.”
Then she looked down at the letter in her hand.
“That’s why I have to give Johnny the letter.”
