Page 118 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

The knock on her apartment door sent Siena’s heart jumping in her throat. For a whole three seconds, she thought she had dazed out staring at the clothing, and lost time. Like that might have been John coming to pick her up, or something.

She quickly realized that wasn’t the case when her mother’s muffled voice carried through her apartment.

“Siena, I let myself in, darling.”

Why was her mother here?

“In the bedroom, Ma,” she called back.

Soon enough, Coraline was standing in the doorway of Siena’s bedroom, and surveying the dresses on the bed. She acted like it was totally normal for her to be there, and not at all like she actually barely visited her daughter’s apartment to begin with.

“Did you or Dad need something?” Siena asked.

“No,” her mother replied. “I came to help you.”

“For what?”

Coraline smiled widely, and gestured at the dresses. “To get ready for church, Siena.”

Siena felt like she had swallowed a fly. “I know how to dress myself.”

“Of course, you do.”

So, why did it sound like her mother was patronizing her?

“It might not seem like a big deal to attend services with a family like the Marcellos, but I can promise you that it is,” Coraline added.

She had not told her parents that she wouldn’t be attending services with them that morning. She simply said something else had come up.

Sure, she had thought it was a little strange when her father didn’t question her on it. Attending church was non-negotiable in their family, after all. She let it go and didn’t press her father, thankful for one less argument.

“How did you know I was going to church with John this morning, Ma?”

Coraline stepped closer to the dresses, and looked them over. “At least you didn’t pick anything black.”

“Who wears black to church unless it’s a funeral?”

“Siena, you would be surprised.”

“I know black is a no, Ma.”

“Good,” her mother replied with a smile. “Also, the red one is a no. Catrina Marcello, the wife of the boss, prefers red. It’s never respectable to show up in the same color as her, and since you never know if she’s going to be wearing red or not, simply don’t ever wear it at all.”

Huh.

Siena blinked. “Ma.”

“Yes?” Coraline moved to the white dress. “This one is nice—you have a pair of Valentinos that match the color, too.”

“Ma, did John mention to Dad that he was taking me to church this weekend?”

“Siena, focus on the dresses. I know what time their Mass starts. You do not have time to be messing around with silly conversations.”

Her mother was right.

Siena put her attention where it needed to be.

The white dress it was.