wear this dress by accident.”
I stared at her.
“I chose it deliberately.”
“What?”
“Before I explain, tell me what you’ve noticed tonight.”
I folded my arms.
“I noticed Catherine making comments.”
“Yes.”
“I noticed she judged you the moment you walked in.”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
I thought.
“James hasn’t.”
My mother nodded.
“Exactly.”
She leaned against the counter.
“James has watched you worry all evening. He noticed you were embarrassed, but he hasn’t commented on my clothes once.”
She paused.
“No look toward his mother. No smirk. No little
