ignored her. She looked teary. “After all that we’ve been through, you getting an invitation is such an honor for this family. I’d love nothing more than to see both my girls make their debut together.”
Both my girls. Did Aunt Maureen just say that?
Izzie knew her aunt really cared about her, but she and Mira also cared about this backward, totally-past-its-prime tradition. Cotillion was
so
not her. It sounded time-consuming—and ugh,the white gloves! Izzie glanced at her fingers, which were already sticky with melted M&M’s from the cookie she still hadn’t eaten. There was no way she was wearing white gloves! Still, there was her aunt to consider. She looked so hopeful. Mira’s expression was the same. She was clutching that invitation as if it were an invite to the Oscars. How was she going to let them down?
“I think cotillion sounds ridiculous.” Izzie felt the need to repeat that one more time. “But if you really want me to do it, then I guess I will.” Mira and Aunt Maureen sandwiched her within seconds. This family was too touchy-feely. “It’d better not conflict with swim meets or visiting Grams or Social Butterflies,” she said, trying to find a way to breathe and talk while being hugged so tightly. “I just signed up for that club, and I don’t want Mrs. Fitz to think I’m a slacker already.”
“It won’t.” Mira bounced up and down in her heels. “The Junior League makes sure classes don’t conflict with our regular schedules.” She shrieked again. “Isn’t this great? I don’t have to do cotillion alone! I mean, we can do it together,” she corrected herself. Another squeal escaped her lips. “I can’t wait to go dress shopping!”
Izzie groaned. She wondered what she had just gotten herself into.
“Do we get to go to this ball, too?” Callista asked.
“Of course,” Aunt Maureen said. “We’ll be buying awhole table for the event. It’s Bill’s job to present the girls to their escort.” Her face took on an almost dreamy quality, like it did whenever she watched George Clooney movies. “I’ve always imagined that moment he brought Mira down the stairs, which are lit with candles and—”
Callista cut her off. “Bill is part of this, too? This is super!” She was practically foaming at the mouth. “I’ve been looking for something exactly like this to give to news programs and the papers—a true father-daughter moment showing Bill at his finest. We need something feel-good like this right now. A true, happy family moment in all this chaos.”
“I have waited forever to escort Mira down those stairs,” Bill told her, happy to see the smiles on everybody’s faces for a change. Mira and Izzie watched as he slid the pie plate over to his dish and took the last slice right under Mira’s nose. “To do this with both my girls would be incredible.”
“Perfect!” Callista scribbled things down furiously.
“No.” Mira’s voice was barely audible, but Izzie heard her.
“What did you say, sweetie?” Aunt Maureen asked as she placed the now empty pie dish in the sink.
Mira stared at her dad’s plate, waiting to see him take a bite. “I said no.” Her voice was stronger. “I don’t want Dad presenting me.”
“Mirabelle,” Aunt Maureen said in a hushed voice.
“I’m serious.” Mira stared angrily at her dad’s plate. “I won’t pretend we’re something we’re not!” Her voice was at afull yell. “You were a coward, Dad, and I won’t let you pretend everything is okay just to save your stupid party ticket!”
Izzie was shocked. She wasn’t used to hearing Mira flip out like a reality TV star.
“I understand you’re upset, but let’s not make any rash decision. Cotillion is still over a month away,” Bill said. Izzie could hear the hurt in his voice.
But Mira wouldn’t back down. “I’ve made my decision. I won’t go with you, and I know Izzie won’t, either.” She glanced at Izzie. Even though Izzie felt uncomfortable,
Both my girls. Did Aunt Maureen just say that?
Izzie knew her aunt really cared about her, but she and Mira also cared about this backward, totally-past-its-prime tradition. Cotillion was
so
not her. It sounded time-consuming—and ugh,the white gloves! Izzie glanced at her fingers, which were already sticky with melted M&M’s from the cookie she still hadn’t eaten. There was no way she was wearing white gloves! Still, there was her aunt to consider. She looked so hopeful. Mira’s expression was the same. She was clutching that invitation as if it were an invite to the Oscars. How was she going to let them down?
“I think cotillion sounds ridiculous.” Izzie felt the need to repeat that one more time. “But if you really want me to do it, then I guess I will.” Mira and Aunt Maureen sandwiched her within seconds. This family was too touchy-feely. “It’d better not conflict with swim meets or visiting Grams or Social Butterflies,” she said, trying to find a way to breathe and talk while being hugged so tightly. “I just signed up for that club, and I don’t want Mrs. Fitz to think I’m a slacker already.”
“It won’t.” Mira bounced up and down in her heels. “The Junior League makes sure classes don’t conflict with our regular schedules.” She shrieked again. “Isn’t this great? I don’t have to do cotillion alone! I mean, we can do it together,” she corrected herself. Another squeal escaped her lips. “I can’t wait to go dress shopping!”
Izzie groaned. She wondered what she had just gotten herself into.
“Do we get to go to this ball, too?” Callista asked.
“Of course,” Aunt Maureen said. “We’ll be buying awhole table for the event. It’s Bill’s job to present the girls to their escort.” Her face took on an almost dreamy quality, like it did whenever she watched George Clooney movies. “I’ve always imagined that moment he brought Mira down the stairs, which are lit with candles and—”
Callista cut her off. “Bill is part of this, too? This is super!” She was practically foaming at the mouth. “I’ve been looking for something exactly like this to give to news programs and the papers—a true father-daughter moment showing Bill at his finest. We need something feel-good like this right now. A true, happy family moment in all this chaos.”
“I have waited forever to escort Mira down those stairs,” Bill told her, happy to see the smiles on everybody’s faces for a change. Mira and Izzie watched as he slid the pie plate over to his dish and took the last slice right under Mira’s nose. “To do this with both my girls would be incredible.”
“Perfect!” Callista scribbled things down furiously.
“No.” Mira’s voice was barely audible, but Izzie heard her.
“What did you say, sweetie?” Aunt Maureen asked as she placed the now empty pie dish in the sink.
Mira stared at her dad’s plate, waiting to see him take a bite. “I said no.” Her voice was stronger. “I don’t want Dad presenting me.”
“Mirabelle,” Aunt Maureen said in a hushed voice.
“I’m serious.” Mira stared angrily at her dad’s plate. “I won’t pretend we’re something we’re not!” Her voice was at afull yell. “You were a coward, Dad, and I won’t let you pretend everything is okay just to save your stupid party ticket!”
Izzie was shocked. She wasn’t used to hearing Mira flip out like a reality TV star.
“I understand you’re upset, but let’s not make any rash decision. Cotillion is still over a month away,” Bill said. Izzie could hear the hurt in his voice.
But Mira wouldn’t back down. “I’ve made my decision. I won’t go with you, and I know Izzie won’t, either.” She glanced at Izzie. Even though Izzie felt uncomfortable,
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