Contessa (23 page)

“
I still think it
’
s a good idea for me to take him out to dinner or something so he doesn
’
t even have to see his little princess go out with her prince charming.
”

“
He won
’
t go for that.
”
My mom laughs.
“
I
’
ve considered it.
”

As they shuttle me from store to store, in and out of countless dresses that I can
’
t stand, I eventually grow frustrated and start to get a little irritable.

“
Can
’
t we just go home? I have those black pants and that green shirt with the sparkly things, Mom. The one you love so much. That will be fine.
”

“
You
’
ll look perfect in anything,
”
my aunt says.
“
But your mom told me where you
’
re going–
”

“
Where?
”
I ask.

“
He wants it to be a surprise, but you
’
ll love it. I promise.
”

“
Yes, you will, Liv, but you
’
ll feel much more comfortable in something nicer. Here, how about this?
”
Anna asks as she holds up a knee-length black dress with silver and black beading around the waist. It
’
s the first dress I
’
ve seen all day that I don
’
t entirely hate.

“
Let
’
s try it,
”
I say with a sigh, following her into the dressing room.
“
Why would he take me somewhere that I have to dress up to go to?
”
I ask myself, more than to anyone else.

“
Probably because he
’
d like to see you in a dress, Livvy,
”
my uncle says.
“
He
’
s a seventeen-year-old boy. Apparently the straight ones like to see a little leg and a lot of cleavage.
”

I groan in frustration as I blush.

“
You and me both. I don
’
t see the draw, either, but they do,
”
he says with a laugh.

“
Now I
’
m nervous.
”
My stomach feels totally unsettled all of a sudden. With all the focus on what I
’
m going to wear, I nearly forget that I
’
ll be spending the evening alone with a guy I really, really like. Love, even. I stand in front of the full length mirror, watching myself tie the thick black ribbon behind my neck. When I finally bring my arms to my side, a smile breaks across my face. I stand on my tiptoes, envisioning myself in high heels, lengthening my legs. One thing is for certain. I do
not
look like a little girl in this dress. I look so
unlike
a little girl that I
’
m not sure my dad would approve of me in this dress. I realize immediately I have to have it.

“
I love it,
”
I say from behind the dressing room door.

“
Open up,
”
Anna says.

“
Let me see, Liv,
”
my mom encourages me.

I take a deep breath and pull my long, brown hair over my shoulders in an attempt to mask some of the apparent cleavage that the top of the dress highlights. My aunt, uncle and mom are watching expectantly when I open the door.

“
It
’
s beautiful,
”
Anna says.

“
Perfection,
”
Matty adds.

“
No way,
”
Mom says as she pushes my hair back behind my shoulders to get an unobstructed view of the bodice.
“
I don
’
t think your dad will go for that.
”

“
I don
’
t care,
”
I tell her.

“
I don
’
t
either,
”
my uncle chimes in.
“
I
’
ll fight this battle. She
’
s wearing this dress tonight.
”

“
What don
’
t you like, Emi?
”
Anna asks.

“
It
’
s... it
’
s so grown up. I mean, look at her,
”
she says as her focus diverts to my breasts.

“
Mom!
”
I fold my arms over my chest, but Anna pulls them down quickly.

“
Turn around, Livvy.
”

I make a slow circle, watching myself at different angles in the mirror.
“
I
’
m wearing this.
”

“
Absolutely not,
”
my mom declares when my back is to her.
“
It
’
s practically backless,
”
she says.

“
Em, it is not. She wears tank tops that show more than this dress.
”
It
’
s true. I do.
“
I think it
’
s perfectly age-appropriate. And yes, maybe it shows off her curves a little, but wasn
’
t that the point in finding a dress for her tonight? I mean, what were your expectations?
”

“
Something pretty, but something... I don
’
t know... more conservative?
”

“
She looks beautiful, Emi. And it
’
s not revealing. It
’
s quite modest, actually. It
’
s not low-cut. It
’
s not see-through. It goes down to her knees. It covers more than half of her back,
”
my aunt tries to convince her.
“
I don
’
t think we would find anything more perfect. It
’
s her first date, Emi. And Jon wants it to be special. Livvy, do you feel special?
”

“
I do,
”
I tell her happily.
“
I totally do.
”
I feel like a grown up in this dress.

“
We
’
ll get her some strappy heels–
”

“
No,
”
my mom protests.
“
Let
’
s go conservative with the shoes. Peep-toes, max.
”

“
Even better,
”
my uncle says.
“
Nothing
’
s sexier than a peep-toe.
”

“
Matty, you
’
re not helping,
”
I tell him as I watch my mom
’
s shoulders relax.
“
Can I get it, Mom?
”

“
Matty, you
’
re going to have to help me sell this to Jacks.
”

“
I
’
ll handle my brother. I can spin this, don
’
t worry.
”

“
Alright then,
”
she says.
“
I have the perfect necklace for you to wear, Livvy.
”

“
No, I already have something in mind,
”
I tell her. I pull the silver chain out of my purse. I
’
d been hiding it from her all day, but I knew I wanted to wear it tonight, and now seems like a good enough time to show her. I clasp the necklace around my neck, and the small charm hangs at the perfect length.

“
What
’
s that?
”
she asks.

“
It says
chosen
, in French.
”

“
It
’
s so pretty, Livvy. Where did you get that?
”

“
Jon gave it to me Thursday.
”

She raises her eyebrows.
“
Jon did?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
It
’
s lovely, Liv, but maybe we shouldn
’
t let your dad see that quite yet.
”

“
He already has.
”

“
He has?
”
she states her question evenly.

I nod my head.
“
Last night.
”

“
And he knows where you got it?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
Curious that he wouldn
’
t mention such a thing to me,
”
she says.
“
What did he say?
”

“
Nothing,
”
I tell her.

“
Nothing,
”
she repeats.
“
Well, it
’
s very sweet. It just seems a tad serious.
”

“
Well, I think it is serious.
”

She smiles, but it feels like she
’
s not
taking
me seriously. I could tell her that he
’
s said he
’
s in love with me, but I don
’
t want to do anything that might make my parents change their minds about letting me go out with him.

“
Okay, sweetie. Let
’
s get changed so we can go find some heels for you to wear.
”

“
Peep-toe,
”
I insist as I close the door.

“
What have I started?
”
she asks my aunt and uncle as I start to get into my jeans and t-shirt. I hang the dress carefully and pass it over the dressing room door to my mom. I keep the necklace on, proud to wear it and happy that I don
’
t feel the need to hide it anymore.

After we find the shoes, I drive Matty, Mom and myself back to the house. I hadn
’
t realized it was so late in the day, and start to get a little jittery when I get home and realize I still have to shower, curl my hair, paint my nails and put on make-up before Jon shows up in two hours. I guess the best thing about it, though, is my dad doesn
’
t have any time to argue about the dress when he finally sees me in it. I emerge from the basement with only five minutes to spare.

“
Livvy,
”
my dad says with a tinge of sadness to his voice. I can tell he wants to say more as his hand drags across the stubble on his chin. He eventually covers his mouth, seemingly unable to speak. I can see the smile in his eyes, though, and he just shakes his head minutely.

“
You should have seen the dress she
really
wanted, Jacks,
”
my uncle lies.
“
Really short, and it had this, like, cut-out around her midriff. We talked her into this.
”
My mom smiles behind my dad
’
s back.

“
You look so grown up, Contessa,
”
he says.
“
This is our little girl?
”
he asks my mom.