Annalyse

“Thanks for the afternoon and the dress, Mom”, I said as we gathered our purchases and headed toward the house.

“You’re going to look gorgeous, Lyse. Maybe you’ll even meet your mate there! It will be your birthday, you know.” She added the last part quietly.

“Is everything okay, Mom?”, I asked.

She glanced quickly up at me. “Yeah, hon. Just remembering you so little. I can hardly believe the years have gone by so fast.”

“I know”, I said. Feeling an unexpected pand of sadness. “I wish my father was here for it. It’s a big day.”

“He loved you more than anything in the world, Lyse. You were<