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She took a deep breath in through her nose studying her reflection in the mirror. She swallowed hard as someone knocked softly on the door before it cracked open.
Glancing over her shoulder as Holland poked his head in the room.
He opened his mouth to speak and she watched as he took in the woman standing in front of him.
She laughed a little as he came into the room closing the door behind him, his eyes immediately welling with tears.
“Hi Daddy” she whispered
Holland came to stand in front of her taking her face in both his hands and kissing her forehead before he stepped back, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Holly laughed, reaching to wipe her hands down his face as tears slipped down her own cheeks.
“Jesus Daddy, keep it together, we still have to walk down the aisle”
Holland nodded, carefully wiping the tears from Holly's cheeks with his thumbs, but kept her face held firmly in his hands.
“You look just fuckin’ like your Mom” he whispered, barely able to keep his voice from cracking.
Holly pressed her lips together and clenched her hands into fists briefly before releasing them.
“I still can't believe you kept her dress”
Holland snorted “She would have haunted me if I didn't”
Holly sniffed with a laugh wrapping her arms around Holland’s neck and hugging him tightly.
He hugged her back just as tightly kissing her cheek.
“I wish she was here” she muttered against his shoulder.
He nodded, a hand rubbing over her back gently “I know, sweetheart,”
Holland sighed and took a step back before unclasping the chain around his neck; Holly looked at him quizzically before shaking her head when he held it out
“Turn around”
“Daddy no, I- I can't”
He shook his head and motioned for her to turn around.
She sighed, turning and gently lifting her hair and veil out of the way as the wedding band on the dainty chain landed heavily on her neck, dropping slightly as Holland clasped it into place.
Holly's manicured fingers rubbed gently over the metal as she turned back around to face Holland.
He stood in front of her with his hands at his sides. She had seen him in a suit every single day for almost her entire life, but today, he looked more together than she'd ever seen. His black pants creased perfectly, meeting the tops of his shined shoes. Holly stepped forward adjusting his matching jacket over his crisp white dress shirt.
“I'm so proud of you, Daddy” she smiled, adjusting his tie
He huffed a laugh “I think the roles of this conversation are backwards”
“Well,” she smoothed out the front of his suit jacket “Today is a special day for you too”
He cocked his head slightly in a way she knew all too well.
“What?” She laughed lightly “You didn't think I'd forget did you?”
“Didn't think you'd kept track” he muttered more to himself. “It's only been a year”
“Daddy, you've been sober for a year “ she smiled “You should be proud, Mommy would be proud”
He snorted again with a laugh “Your mom would have beat me senseless, kid”
“I can ask Healy to break your arm again?” She smirked
As if on cue there was another knock on the door, and Healy peeked around the door. “Showtime, kid”
“I'm not a kid anymore, Mr. Healy” Holly smiled, making her way to where he stood
“And I’m not Mr. Healy anymore” he bent to kiss her on the cheek.
“Sorry, Dad” her smile exaggerated as she squeezed her eyes shut before giving him a more genuine smile.
“You'll always be a kid” he winked before disappearing.
Holly scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“He's right y'know,” Holland nodded, coming up behind her and offering her his arm. “You'll always be my baby”
Holly took it without saying anything more and they walked together to the second set of double doors where her future husband waited mere steps away.
“Daddy?” Holly turned to look at him swallowing hard. Her hand squeezing hard on his forearm.
Holland looked at her, and looking back at him was his little girl, scared and uncertain. She let out a shaky breath before she spoke again.
“Don't let me fall, okay?” she whispered
He nodded “Of course, baby”
She held up her pinky finger “Promise?”
He hooked his pinky around hers and smiled “I promise”