Chapter 77

• Rosalyn
• Father was not just a strict parent. He was a total disciplinarian, and to some, maybe a terror. He was a no-nonsense perfectionist who dedicated hours to making sure the expected results were as excellent as he wanted. But even with that tough exterior, he allowed me to dream beyond the life he had. He never restricted me to the walls he built or tried to kill my hope when we joked about careers, family, and having friends.
• I was six when he told me he wouldn’t allow me to get close to boys until I was twenty. He was that protective. After his death, I imagined what he would have said to the man who managed to win my heart. Knowing Father, he would have threatened him before agreeing to give him my hand. There were some nights when I was holed up in my room, and I’d picture myself in a flowing white dress, a flower tiara, and white sparkly heels in Father’s arms as we walked down the aisle.