"Melissa, please." Lawrence threw up his hands as Melissa walked out on him. She stopped by the door, biting her lower lip.
When she looked back, sadness flickered in her eyes. "Dad, it's not that you forgot… but that you forgot to do what? This?"
"Tomorrow is a big day for me because the Lancasters are finally accepting me into their family," she continued, her voice trembling, eyes red from suppressed tears. "We all worked so hard for this — you, me, and Mom — to make this engagement happen. I know how much effort you put into it, and now it's finally happening."
"I'm sorry, Dad, but I'm just… hurt." She drew a shaky breath. "Even so, I still hope you'll come to my engagement and… please, come back to Mom. She's been so worried about you. She hasn't been sleeping like she used to."
Having said her piece, Melissa resumed walking.
