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“So, nothing poofy.”
“I want something dignified. I’m not twenty-two.”
You are way not twenty-two.
Shut up, Inner Bitch.
“Elegant,” Sandra said, “but not fussy.”
“And a little bit sexy,” I added.
“Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I think I know what you mean.”
I checked on Myrtle while my sister flipped pages. She was lying down near the water’s edge and seemed fine.
Then my sister dropped a catalogue into my lap.
The gown on the front cover was a short one with spaghetti straps and a skirt that flared but was not poofy. It was a little too fun for me, but it was heading in the right direction. I started flipping pages in that particular book to humor my sister and stopped suddenly when my eyes got stuck. There was a simple Grecian gown. It draped from the shoulders, clung until it passed the hips, and then its skirt spilled onto the floor.
“Rachel?”
I didn’t answer but was instead trying to picture myself in the dress. I thought I might love it.
Sandra got out of her chair and came to stand behind mine. “Oh, wow. Rachel, that would be stunning on you.”
“You think?”
“Do you not see the little heart sticker I put on that page?”
I frowned, then dug at the little pink heart with a fingernail. “I thought it was part of the layout.”
“It’s not, and I knew that was the catalogue you’d like best, and I was pretty sure that was the dress. Although if you want to see the other two you’d love, just look for more hearts. Either way, it’s perfect. Because this shop,” she took the catalogue from me and flipped to its back cover, tapping her finger on the address, “is in Saratoga Springs.”
I looked at her. “Where Misty is.”
“Yep. And if we go out there on a wedding gown shopping trip, it won’t look like we’re checking up on her.”
“I— I—” Aye yi yi. “You’re good. Maybe you should be the one helping Mason solve crimes.”
“I have enough trouble solving daughters. So, are we on?”
“Fine. We’re on. We’ll drive out this weekend, okay?”
“Great. Perfect.” She gathered up the catalogues and closed the binder around them.
“You planned this,” I accused.
“Yes, I did.”
“You know me a little too well, Sis.”
“Better than anybody,” she said. “I’m heading out. Love you.”
“Love you.” She kissed the top of my head and headed back across to her car in my driveway. I settled into my chair to finish my coffee. The catalogue was still on its arm, its pages riffling in the breeze that came off the reservoir.
Sandra’s van crunched over the gravel road until I couldn’t hear it anymore. Just off the edge of the dock, the water stirred in a weird way. I got up, moving nearer the railing for a closer look.
A grown-ass woman with a fucking fish tail breached the surface. She looked right at me and swung that tail my way. Splash! I threw my arms up in front of my face, but the wave hit me full on all the same. I felt the shock of the cold water drenching me. “What in the actual—” I lowered my arms.
