My daughter was mocked for standing alone at the father-daughter dance — until a group of Marines walked into the gym.

over her heart.

Keith’s voice echoed in my head.

Downstairs, I grabbed my purse and coat, ignoring the stack of unpaid bills on the counter and the casserole dishes from neighbors we barely knew.

Katie hesitated at the door, glancing back down the hall, maybe hoping, for one impossible second, to see Keith appear and scoop her up in his arms.

The drive continue reading …