| You Did Great |
| “You can let go now,” she laughed, pulling herself out of his embrace, “You’re going to wrinkle my dress.” Joey looked down at his little girl looking stunning in her wedding dress. She wasn’t so little anymore, but in his heart, he’d always see her as the wrinkly baby wrapped in a pink blanket he had been reluctant to hold that day in the hospital. “I’m going to miss you, Bri. Promise me you won’t stop coming to see me.” Brianna’s chocolate eyes widened in disbelief, “Daddy! How can you even think I’d stop coming to see you! Oh my gosh, you’re going to see Tim and me so much you’ll be sick of us.” “Bri! How can you even think I’d be sick of seeing my little girl,” he mocked. Brianna looked at her father, tears threatening to mess up the make-up she had spent long hours perfecting. She ran her long fingers through his graying hair. “I love you, daddy. I just wish mommy could be here.” Joey’s chocolate eyes turned misty at the mention of Kelly. If only she could be here to see their little girl get married, to see their little girl all grown up. He couldn’t help but feel guilty that he was here to witness it all while the woman who had raised Bri for the first 3 years of her life had lost her life to cancer. Brianna looked at the pain in her father’s eyes and knew what he was thinking. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know.” ”If I had been around a little more, I would have seen it. If I had paid more attention, I could have helped. I was never there for either one of you. I missed the first 3 years of your life, and when Kelly…passed away, I didn’t want to take you. I’m so sorry, Bri. You needed your mother.” Brianna shook her head furiously. “I needed you too. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t want to take care of me at first; it just took you a while to get used to the idea. You raised me.” Joey smiled and bent down to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, Bri. After all the stupid stuff I did in my life before and after you were born, at least I know I did something right. You’re the one thing in my life that I’m truly proud of.” “Daddy, stop it or I’m going to cry! Margi’s not going to be happy if she has to redo my mascara. “We wouldn’t want that. I’ll be outside when you’re ready. Tell grandma there are extra tissues in Aunt Janine’s purse; I think she used up all of her’s on the ride over. Make sure she gets some for grandpa too. I love you,” Joey said before leaving the room. He stood looked in on Tim once before joining his friends outside of the church. “Hey Joe,” Chris greeted, puffing away at his cigar, “want one?” Joey shook his head. “I don’t get how you can smoke those things.” Chris shrugged his shoulders and continued puffing. “Can you believe Brianna’s getting married? It’s surreal,” Justin said, wrapping his arm around his trophy wife, Coconut. “Tim’s a great guy. Really nice and stuff, but I still don’t think he’s good enough for Brianna,” JC stated bluntly. “You never think anyone’s good enough for her or your daughters. That’s why you have 4 grown daughters still living at home,” Lance chuckled. JC opened his mouth to respond to Lance’s comments, but Joey’s wavering voice stopped him. “Do you think I did right by Bri? Kelly would have done better, but did I at least do okay?” Joey felt Justin’s hand on his shoulder. “You did better than okay. You changed your whole life just so you could take care of Brianna when Kelly died.” “Yeah, man. You gave up the women, the partying, and the women for Brianna,” Chris chimed in. Lance nodded his head. “You even gave up the group, so you could be there for her. You did better than okay; you did great.” “Hey guys, they’re ready to begin,” a man called from the church doors. The guys moved towards the doors, except for Joey. “You coming, Joe,” JC asked, confused. “Yeah, just give me a moment.” The guys nodded and went inside. Joey looked at the church doors and then up at the blue sky. “Thank you, Kelly,” he whispered, knowing that wherever she was, Kelly would be watching, “thank you for our little girl. I hope you can be proud of the way I raised our little girl.” “Daddy, we’re ready,” Bri’s soft voice carried from the door. Joey blew a kiss to the sky and walked towards Brianna. Halfway there, he felt the wind blow a strong breeze. Many would say he was crazy, but Joey could swear he heard a familiar female voice in the wind whispering, “you did great.” |