Years ago, she’d cried in his lap after being bullied that no boy would ever take her to prom. And he had said, “One day, I will walk you down the aisle myself. Prom is nothing compared to that.”

Now, here they were.

Mr. Hills felt his throat tighten, remembering that little girl.

She felt his arm shake slightly under hers.

But she didn’t cry. Not yet.

They reached Bruno.

She stopped just behind him.

The music sounded louder.

She ...