Page 103 of The Apple Tree

She was sitting on my bed, hugging my pillow.

“Sorry,” I said quietly, easing my bag to the floor, hoping she didn’t question what was in it.

The dress.

The heels.

The makeup.

Memories from the best night of my life.

“Where were you?”

“I went to a movie.” I kept my head bowed as I pulled a nightshirt from my dresser drawer.

“Look at me,” she said.

I gave her a quick glance before heading to the bathroom. She followed me, closing the door behind us. With a firm grip, she grabbed my chin and made me look at her.

“Have you been drinking?”

I shook my head.

“Why do you have so much gaudy makeup on your face?”

I pulled away, turned on the water, and grabbed the bar of soap to remove thegaudymakeup from my face. “Because sometimes I like to wear makeup.”

“You said you were with friends. Which friends?”

“I said I was going out. You assumed it was with friends. I had a date.” I worked the soap along my cheeks with tiny circles.

“With whom?”

“Someone who goes to the community college with Erin.”

“What movie?”

I splashed water onto my face and then dried it before sighing. “Dirty Dancing.”

Her nose wrinkled. “What on earth kind of movie is that?”

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “It’s rated PG-13. Don’t freak out over the title. It was a romance about forbidden love, star-crossed lovers, and strict, unsympathetic parents. Things like that.” I started to remove my shirt but remembered I wasn’t wearing a bra or underwear.

Mom frowned. “What did you do after the movie?”

“Talked. I lost track of time. And that’s why I’m late. Sorry.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday, Eve. I don’t believe you just talked.”

“What did you and Dad do on dates?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Because. I want you to think of what you did with Dad on dates and imagine that’s what I’m doing on dates.” I grinned while squeezing toothpaste onto my toothbrush.

Her nose wrinkled, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

“What’s that look for?” I mumbled past the suds in my mouth. “Were you and Dad naughty?”

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