Page 140 of Dangerous Encore
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Lacey
IletMom opine about my fashion options for tenminutes.
The entire time, Mal shoots meare you really okay with thislooks.
It feels familiar.Normal.
But he'sright.
I don't likehearingit.
I'm not going to put up withhearingit.
After my next glass of wine, I summon up the courage to saysomething.
"Mom, could we not talk about my body?" I run my fingers over the rim of the glass. "I'm happy with howIlook."
"I'm only trying to help." Momfrowns.
"I know. But I'd like to table the conversation." I top off my glass. "Or we canleave."
"Okay." Mom's voice is apprehensive. "Your dress will need to fit your location. Where are you planning theceremony?"
"At the beach." I take another bite of the buttery garlic perfection. It's pure comfort food. It's exactly what I need to quell my stomach's flip-flopping.
Even so, I follow it up with a long sipofwine.
"Hmm." Mom's voice lifts to that judgmental tone of hers. "That'smodern."
I need to cut her off at the pass here. "No, it'snormal."
"I guess people might like it if you plan it right." She lifts her wine glass to her lips and takes a dainty sip. "You don't have to ask for help. I know you're not the kind of girl who would plan a wedding without hermom'shelp."
"Actually." I stab a meatball with my fork. "We have it undercontrol."
Mombalks.
I stuff the meatball in my mouth, chew, swallow,smile.
"You must mean that you have most of it finished." Mom sets her wine glass on the table. Her lips purse. "You'd never lock me out of yourwedding."
My fingers curl into fists. This is how it starts. A fewyou'd never hurt me like thatcomments.
Then it's theI'm sorry I ruined your lifecryingfits.
Dad is swirling pasta around his fork like everything isnormal.
Mal's eyes are narrow. Well. For him. It's almost imperceptible, but I know hisexpressions.
He'spissed.
So he seesittoo.
He doesn't think I'm thecrazyone.
"Actually." Mal keeps his voice even. "We appreciate your offer, Judith, but we have it under control. We won't need any ofyourhelp."
