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“Christina! Answer me right now!”
I startle and blink, looking around me. I’m standing in the center of the grand foyer, the late afternoon sunlight shining in on me. My mother is standing to my right and she looks extremely pissed off.
“How many times do I have to call your name to get a response? Being disrespectful like that isn’t like you.” She snaps, frowning at me.
I wince. “Sorry. I was lost in thought, and I didn’t hear you.”
“Fine. Follow me.”
I raise an eyebrow but do as she says, following her up the stairs two at a time.
“Mom, is everything okay?” I ask, carefully. She’s acting really weird.
We arrive at the door to my room, and she holds out her phone. I take it cautiously and look down.
She has it open to a picture of a beautiful pink dress with silver rhinestone beading on it.
“Wow, this is gorgeous,” I say, handing it back to her.
“I thought you might want to have it,” she says softly.
I look up at her in surprise. “Why do I need a dress like that?” I ask.
She smiles at me. Her previous irritation forgotten.
“I know how badly you want things to feel normal and I can’t give you that but, Albert and I have tickets to go to the big movie premier coming up. Red carpet and everything. It’s a romantic comedy starring that hunky Irish actor you like. The Midnight Alchemist. I thought you’d want to go.”
I stare at her blankly.
“One of the women at work has a daughter your age, and she was talking about it. I just assumed you’d want to go.” She looks up at me.
Go to a movie premiere? Really?! I can’t believe it. I thought for sure I’d be banned.
“Of course, I do. Thanks Mom!” I exclaim, wrapping my arms around her in a big hug. Her arms circle me, holding me tight for a brief moment.
Her hug reminds me of when our lives were simpler and I get a jolt of sadness. I don’t remember the last time my mom hugged me like this.
“I love you, Mom,” I whisper fiercely.
She tightens her arms around me. “I love you too, Darling. You’ll understand it all one day. I promise.”
When we part, I reach for the phone and stare down at the dress. It really is beautiful.
“Before you start making plans, know that we still need to talk to Albert first about the logistics,” she reminds me.
I pull back. “Why? I don’t need his permission to go.”
She shakes her head. “We’re married and we make decisions as a team. I’m telling you, we’re going to talk to Albert first.”
I scowl at her.
“And what if I want to take a date? Are you really going to let him cancel it if I invite someone to go with me?”
She eyes me curiously.
“Who is your date?”
I open my mouth to answer and Nico steps into the room. I screech and take a step back. I never even heard him come back into the house.
