“Let’s go,” Penny demands, opening the car door.
“Wait for me,” I instruct and make my way to help her down from the truck.
“Come on.” She drags my hand toward the entrance, adding all of her force into the pull.
Stepping into the hall is like being transformed into a different era. Everyone is dressed up, and the music playing is appropriate for the times.
“Wow,” she whispers. Penny stares up and around, taking in all the details.
Near the entrance, we find a section for photos, with a white and black checkered backdrop and props. Tables are set up around a dance floor, with the same checkered pattern table cloths and mini jukeboxes as centerpieces.
“Daddy, look!” Penny points at a real jukebox near the stage, where I presume Knox and Sutton will perform.
Balloons are placed throughout the space, and plastic vinyl records decorate the walls. We walk around the hall, taking in all the details.
“This is what my class made!” Penny exclaims. “This one is mine.” A proud smile pops up on her face as she points to a little girl cutout in a poodle skirt and shirt.
“I colored it and drew the poodle all by myself. The boys did the boy ones,” she states what I had assumed was the case.
I smile and bend down. “You did a great job.”
She jumps toward me in a hug and laughs. “Let’s go.”
I hold her to me to carry her, but Penny stops me. “Daddy, I can walk on my own.”
A furrow deepens between my brows, but I nod, holding her hand. She’s growing up way too fast.
“Penny!” A girl with tight curls bounces toward Penny. Releasing my hand, she hugs the girl and begins to tell her how pretty her skirt is. I stare at their interaction with raised eyebrows, wondering where my shy little girl went and who this talkative and smart one is.
“I’ll be back, Daddy,” she says over her shoulder before she’s whisked away from me, and I’m standing alone in a corner. With hands in my pockets, I look around the hall in search of a familiar face before my eyes land on Penny again, laughing and dancing with her friends.
What my mom told me not too long ago hits me like a freight train. Before I know it, Penny will have her own life, and she won’t want to hang out with her dad. I’ll officially become like all the dads I knew growing up who wanted their children’s attention, but their kids had better things to do with their friends.
In this moment, I realize how right my mom was about having my own life. Hadley’s gone, and the life I thought we’d have will never happen. Penny will never have her real mom, but maybe she can have someone who will care for her, teach her things I won’t know how to.
It was just a year ago that we were at this same event, and Penny wouldn’t leave my side, making me dance with her. I grin at the memory. I wonder where Abbie and Finn are. They confirmed they were coming.
I scan the place again and head over to the drinks table to grab a pop. At least this will make me look busy. I face the crowd again and find hazel eyes locked on me. A smile brushes Sutton’s face as we make contact, and she waves from her spot beside the stage. Waving back, I mouth, Good luck.
“Hey!” My head whips to the left. Poppy stands with a huge smile and her hand on her chin. Light catches something on her hand, and my eyebrows shoot up.
“I see congratulations are in order?” I smirk.
“Yes!” She jumps up and down, her loud shriek turning heads. “Harris proposed earlier today. I’m so freaking excited.” She shoves her left hand in my face. I laugh and hold it, nodding as I look at the ring.
“I’m happy for you, Poppy.” I give her a hug.
“Thanks! Where’s Abbie? I want to tell her.”
“I was looking for her, but I don’t think she’s here yet.” My eyes move around again.
“Ugh,” Poppy groans. She pulls her phone out and taps the screen. I’m sure she’s sending Abbie a message demanding she show up.
“She’ll be here soon,” Poppy announces. “Let’s go sit.”
We make our way to the tables, sitting at an empty one that will fit most of us coming to the sock hop. The tables are informally set since we won’t have a sit-down dinner, but snacks will be placed on a table for everyone to grab.
Shortly after, Axel and Lia arrive and sit with us. I catch up with Axel and talk about our ranches as Lia and Poppy seem to start wedding planning. When Abbie arrives, she goes crazy, pulling Poppy into a hug. Finn stares at me with wide eyes and back at his girlfriend.
“I take it she’ll be really excited whenever I propose.” He drops on a seat next to me.
“Yup.” I nod and look out on the dance floor to make sure Penny’s still there. She knows better than to run off without telling me where she’s going, but I know how excited you get as a kid when you’re with your friends.
We talk and catch up until Mr. Powell introduces Knox and Sutton. Once they’re on stage, Ainsley and Harris head over to the table, whispered congratulations said before the music starts to play.
My eyes are glued to the stage as I watch Sutton strum her guitar and smile at the crowd while Knox opens up the song. She’s dressed the part, full pink skirt with a silver poodle, white button-down shirt tucked into her skirt, and her short blonde hair curled and some kind of bandana thing tied around her head.
She looks beautiful, and I can’t help but admire her as her voice rings around the hall. I’m mesmerized
