Chapter 190: Cabaret

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

Going to the Cowboy Cabaret was bittersweet for all the princesses in attendance. Mary had planned to be here for her daughter’s eighteenth birthday. Had planned to watch her daughter grow into a young woman.

But life had other plans and there was an empty seat in the large gathering.

As if they understood, and missed their friend, none of the dancers or waiters sat in the chair. They would sit in a chair and pull one of the women into their laps. Or drag a chair over to the grouping of tables. A fresh daquiri sat in front of the empty chair all night, replaced as it began to melt.

Even without any alcohol in her system, Dean was having the time of her life. Every so often, she would look at the pink icy drink next to her, sadness would fill her to the point that it would leak out of her eyes and down her cheek. Her aunts and cousins seemed to understand and would g