Chapter 16
FRIDAY MORNING AT SIX FORTY-FIVE, I pushed open the front door of my house. I had my dress on a hanger, my book bag on one shoulder, and a tote bag filled with homecoming essentials on the other. I also had the phone glued to my ear.
“Pantyhose,” Mom was saying. “Did you pack an extra pair? I always put a run in mine. That could be hereditary.”
“I have two extra pairs,” I told her.
Dad locked the door behind us, then headed for the car.
“Oh, baby, I should’ve come home for this,” Mom said.
I froze on the steps. “Really, it’s okay. Dad will take a ton of photos and shoot some video, and—”
“What kind of mother sends her little girl off to a situation like this over the phone?” She sniffed and I could tell she was starting to cry.
Dad started the car and pointed to his watc
