Chapter 35

I wasn’t prepared for such a quick retreat on his part. “Good, then.” I kissed him. “It’ll be fun, okay?”

His response to my faked enthusiasm was a long sigh.

* * * *

I expected to find chaos upstairs, but when I walked into my sister’s apartment, I was greeted by silence. Fay was in the bathroom with Eileen, getting her hair done, and Ingrid and Elsie were standing in front of my sister’s vanity mirror, putting the final touches to their makeup.

I stopped on the threshold. Elsie had chosen a simple off-white dress, which draped her curves perfectly. Her belly was hard and round as a melon. The dress flowed down to the floor in gentle ripples of satin. She was wearing a crown of flowers instead of a veil. When our eyes met in the mirror, I got a little choked up.

“Hey,” I whispered. “You look so amazing.”

Elsie smiled. She didn’t seem nervous at all. “Yeah? The lipstick isn’t too much?”

“No, it’s perfect, really.” I kissed Ingrid’s cheek. “Hello. You look beautiful as well.”