Nick appeared beside me.
“She’s right, Mom. Please stop.”
“Why are you talking about my daughter?”
For the first time, Martha looked uncomfortable.
Something about Caroline’s reaction made my stomach tighten.
Before I could ask, Nick took my hand.
“Dance with me.”
On the floor, I rested one hand against his shoulder.
“Dance with me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Stop apologizing for her.”
“I don’t know what else to do.”
“Neither do I.”
For once, I didn’t turn it into a joke.
“I don’t know what else to do.”
Nick looked at me carefully.
“After tonight, we figure it out.”
I nodded.
“After tonight.”
Then Martha cut my hair.
“After tonight.”
***
My best friend, Alicia, pulled me into the restroom and locked the door behind us.
She turned me toward the mirror.
My hair ended unevenly around my neck.
Two crushed flowers still clung near one ear.
I pulled them free.
“I want to go home.”
She turned me toward the mirror.
Alicia picked up my bag.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll get my car.”
I stared at myself.
Outside were my parents, our friends, our food, our music, and the man I’d just married.
Martha had already decided what happened to my hair.
