Nathan cried before I did.
By the reception, I finally relaxed.
Mom was tired but smiling.
Isabella had been polite.
Nathan and I had made it through our first dance without either of us falling over.
Then our photographer waved from across the dance floor.
“Andrea! Nathan! Two more before dinner!”
Isabella had been polite.
Nathan took my hand.
We’d gone maybe six steps when something yanked me backward.
Hard.
I heard lace tear.
Not a tiny snag.
A long, ugly rip.
The guests nearest us gasped.
I heard lace tear.
I looked down.
Isabella’s high heel was planted directly on my train.
For a second, nobody moved.
Then she lifted her foot.
“Oh! I didn’t see it!”
I stared at the torn lace.
My eyes filled before I could stop them.
I stared at the torn lace.
A split ran through the train nearly to the bustle.
“Andrea.”
Nathan reached for me.
Isabella looked at the damage.
Then she sighed.
“Well, I did warn you that train was too long.”
A split ran through the train nearly to the bustle.
Nathan looked at his mother.
Then at the tear.
“Mom.”
“What?”
His voice had gone very quiet.
“You warned her?”