A Blooming Flower

Seventeen

Jason

"No" I blurted out as the girls admired their job well done. Their eyes shot over to me once more as I stated "Lily's not wearing that dress to the party Ellie"

"But Dad, you just said..."

"I don't care what I just said. She's not wearing it and that's final" my voice filled the space and Lily looked at me in shock alongside her friends.

"Fine!" My daughter huffed at me as she flung some dresses over her shoulder "we'll blame you when Lily is in college and still a virgin then".

My face almost fell at her callous remark as I watched her drag her bestfriend back into the closet.

I took a seat on the bed, a little ashamed with myself and a few minutes later they emerged once more with Lily dressed in the purest white dress. It was short like the first one but the skirt was much fuller, there were layers upon layers of fabric, it was like looking at flower petals blooming from her body.

An elbow nudged me and I realised that in my daze all the girls were waiting for my response. My eyes locked onto Lily's and I gave her a big smile.

"You look perfect Flower"

Ellie and the twins leaped into a short lived applaud as Lily remained still, blushing to herself.

"However..." I started and they all groaned. I chuckled, standing up and made my way towards Lily. My fingers graced her bare shoulders and I felt her relax as I manoeuvred her body to face the mirror. "It needs something"

The room fell quiet as I pulled out a necklace from my jean pocket and placed it around her neck. My heart fluttered at the thought of what this necklace could mean. If she were mine, completely, then the likes of Benjamin couldn't touch her.

"It's beautiful" she whispered and glanced up at me. "Thank you..." her voice trailed off.

"Wow" Victoria interrupted as her image filled the mirror beside us. "Mr D, its beautiful! Where did you get it?"

The chain that adorned my flowers delicate frame resembled a lineworked lily that melted at its stem to form her name. It surely was beautiful.

"It's a lily right?" Samantha continued as they both fiddled with it.

"Yes" I smiled "one of my old friends knew someone who made unique pieces of jewellery for a living, so I commissioned this from them a few months ago. I thought it fitting, a flower in bloom for our blooming Lily"

The twins audibly melted at my words whilst Ellie giggled at their dramatics.

"It's perfect Dad, she'll look like an angel tonight".

The twins eagerly agreed as they began fidgeting with their model once more, Ellie immediately going in search of shoes to complete the look. I couldn't help but stand there admiring her as they worked, they weren't wrong, she would look as pure as snow.

It had only been a few months since Ellie's birthday, I thought I knew what to expect for this one but somehow Lily's seventeenth felt harder on me.

Rodger stood beside me on the phone, how he could hear the other person over this music I'd never know. My body was mesmerised on the scene ahead, a cluster of teenagers moving their bodies to the music in the middle of the crowded hall.

I felt a hand touch my shoulder and turned to see Rodgers form retreating towards the entrance.

"It's OK" her voice popped up and I almost gave myself whiplash to greet the most beautiful creature in the world. "He's trying to close a big deal right now, it's been on and off for a few weeks"