By the time we arrived at my parents' house, Amber had woken up. Before exiting the car, she asked me for two minutes to check her appearance in the makeup mirror. I nodded, giving her a moment of privacy to freshen up and compose herself. I watched as she gently patted down her hair, checked her makeup, and then fiddled with her hair again, as if trying to get it just right. I couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked in her quest for perfection. Her efforts were endearing, and I found myself feeling a rush of affection for her at that moment.
"You look good, princess,"
I said, my voice soft and reassuring. She looked at me, a hint of anxiety in her eyes. I could see that she was nervous about meeting my parents, and I wanted to put her at ease.
"You look beautiful. There's nothing to worry about."