“Because, Mom,” Eva said with a sigh. “It always turns into some kind of awkward safe sex talk.”
“I just want to make sure you’re protected and know you can talk to me about anything.”
“I understand, but I’m an adult. You don’t have to worry about guys and me anymore. I’ve got it handled. I promise.” Eva smiled at her mom’s reflection. “Now for the moment of truth.” She awkwardly stretched her arm around her back to reach the zipper.
Lori gasped. “It’s stunning, Eva.”
“You were totally right.” The soft chiffon tickled her thighs as she twirled in front of the dressing room mirror. “And the high neckline looks amazing.” She stood on her tiptoes to better envision what she would look like in heels. “Way less churchy than I thought it would be.”
“See? I know fashion. Now, let’s go find some shoes.”
Eva sucked in an excited gulp of air. “Shoes?!”
Lori collected her purse and opened the dressing room door. “For me, not you. Come find me after you’re dressed.”
Eva exhaled and slowly changed back into her clothes. “Good thing we wear the same size shoes.”
She hung the dress back on its hanger and draped it over her arm. She took one more look at herself and smoothed out her frizzy flyaways before leaving the dressing room.
"Mom?" Eva stretched out her neck and called out over the racks of clothing. "Lori?"
"Over here!” Eva spotted her mother's arms flailing next to the end of season shoe sale rack.
"Coming!" she called back.
“What do you think about these?” Lori opened the shoebox once Eva was in range. Nestled among white tissue paper lay a pair of sparkly gold wedges.
“Super cute!” Eva chirped. “Are they on sale?”
Lori scoffed. “Of course not. They’re Jimmy Choos.”
“I thought we were only getting stuff that’s on sale.”
“No, you’re only getting stuff that’s on sale because you don’t have a job. I, however, can get what I want.” She grinned.
“But you told me that my job is finishing school.” Eva followed her mom to the store’s purse section.
“Right.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t make any sense. I can’t buy my own stuff because I don’t have a job because you told me not to get one.”
“Right.” Lori held up a designer handbag and looked at herself in the mirror. The round mound of frizzy multicolored tassels reminded Eva of something she pulled out of their clogged vacuum.
Eva scrunched her nose. “I wouldn’t go with that one.” Lori hung it back on the rack. “So, I’m totally confused, and I feel like I’m being punished for still being in school.” Eva pooched out her bottom lip.
“You know damn well you’re not being punished. And you’re twenty-three years old. That pouty face you have on doesn’t work on me anymore.”
She shrugged. “It was worth a try.”
Lori pulled another purse from the rack and modeled it in front of the mirror.
“It’s been a while since you’ve said anything about William.” Eva demonstrated her best Downton Abbey accent when pronouncing his name. “Well, not since he left for Mexico. Is he back yet?”
“Bill’s been back for a while now. Remember, we saw him a couple weeks ago when we were at Home Depot getting more birdseed?”
Eva looked blankly at her mom while she searched her memories.
Lori continued, “He was buying those chains to help the guys who are renovating his basement.”
Eva had met Bill only once before, but something about the way he looked at her that day had made her skin crawl. He hadn’t been inappropriate, and Eva couldn’t even pinpoint what made her so uncomfortable. There was just something off about him. I’m sure it’s something that you’ve made up in your head. Don’t go all crazy, possessive daughter because your mom finally has a boyfriend. She forced the images from her mind.
“Well, I’ve seen him a couple times since the store, but…” Lori trailed off.
“You’re going to fire him, aren’t you? Oh my God, he’s totally fired,” Eva blurted, surprised by how much joy the thought brought her.
“No, he’s not going anywhere. I still like him. I know you’ve only seen him a couple times, but you like him, right?”
Eva looked away from her mom and shrugged. “I don’t really know him.”
Lori’s shoulders slumped slightly, and she hung the bag back on the rack.
“But, when I did meet him, he seemed really great,” she lied, instantly regretting not supporting her mom. “And from everything you’ve told me, he’s really nice too.”