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Dad chuckled.

“I think they’re beautiful.” Mom beamed at her. “This one here is yours too, isn’t it?” Mom walked a few paces down and picked out another one of Mandy’s pieces.

“How did you know?” Mandy asked.

Mom leaned down close to Mandy’s ear. “Because it’s one of the best.”

Mandy smiled so big her cheeks hurt.

After she got to tell them about each one of her art pieces, and they listened to music, and they watched a skit from the theater department, they headed out to the car. Mandy skippedalong even if the night air still held the heat from the day and sweat built up on her nose. It didn’t matter.

“I don’t know about you, but I could really go for a dip cone,” Dad said.

Mom raised her brows at him. “It’s Mandy’s night, so I think that should be up to her.” She turned to Mandy. “What do you think?”

Dad winked, and she said, “Dip cones for sure.” She grabbed his hand, and then she grabbed Mom’s in the other.

Pop Rocks danced in her belly. Mom had said her art was the best—even better than some of the older kids. And now they were going out to get ice cream. On a school night. As her arms swung forward and then back, in sync with both her parents, Mandy smiled so big she bet the moon reflected off her teeth—even though she was missing one in the front.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

June 2015

The entire store waslike a sea of white, and tulle, and sparkles. Literally everything glistened, from the crystal chandeliers to the bubbles floating in Mandy’s champagne glass. It was as if Glinda the Good Witch barfed on everything, showering it in a rainbow of glitter. It was so frilly, and girly, and not at all like Mandy. Not that she didn’t like pretty, girly things. This was just completely over-the-top.

“Oh, this would look absolutely to die for on you.” The salesperson who had been assigned to them, Krystin, sounded way too cheerful. She held up the poofiest dress Mandy had ever laid eyes on. It was strapless and the top looked like a heart, and the bottom looked like an over-frosted cupcake with sparkles, of course. Mandy’s gaze connected with Isa’s, and it was obvious she thought the same thing. That dress was hideous.

“Well, that is something.” Mom poked her head out from behind a rack. That was her nice way of saying she hated it too.

“I’ll put it with the others.” Krystin strolled off.

“ ‘To die for.’ ” Isa edged up to Mandy’s side.

“I might die if I have to wear that,” Mandy whispered.

“You never know unless you try it on,” Mom said—always diplomatic. “Now what about this one?” The dress she held was better. Not perfect, but better. It had straps, for one thing, and the sparkle was subtle. But it was princess-style, and even though Dad still liked to call Mandy his princess, that kind of dress just wasn’t really her thing. Mom, though, was trying—which was nice, since she picked this boutique out.

The whole shopping excursion had been Mom’s idea. She “did the research” and made the appointment. This was supposed to be the best bridal shop in all of Southern California, but Mandy was having her doubts. Maybe it was the best bridal shop for drag queens, or Kardashian wannabes, but for other people? Mandy had so many things she needed to do, like finish the commissions for Aziz, who—thankfully, even though Mandy probably didn’t deserve it—still talked about her and her work and continued to sell her pieces. He’d been hinting at another show, but Mandy didn’t have the emotional bandwidth. Mandy was lucky she had Aziz, and she was well aware of that, so she didn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize their relationship—like blowing off the time she should be painting on looking at overpriced dresses.

“It’s not bad,” Isa said for Mandy—trying to play the peacekeeper.

“I’ll have Krystin put it with the others.” Mom followed the path Krystin had gone just moments before.

“No one ever buys a dress from the first place they go to.” Isa pushed a cream-colored gown to the side.

“And you know this how?” It wasn’t like Isa had ever beenmarried. Mandy didn’t even think she’d been wedding dress shopping before today. Mandy hadn’t.

“TLC. Like everyone else.” She bumped Mandy with her hip. “Come on. Just try the things on and make your mom happy.”

“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to squeeze your ass into them and then parade around.”

“Fair. But…I bet you one hundred dollars I can find the ugliest dress.” Isa smiled.

Mandy glanced around. If she had to be here and do this anyway, she might as well make it as fun as possible, right? “Oh, you’re on.”

Isa took off in one direction and Mandy in the other. This new task almost made sifting through hundreds of dresses mildly enjoyable, and even though Mandy’s arms started to ache, she wasn’t about to give up. And if she was going to be completely honest, some of these weren’tthatbad. There were actually a few that could be okay, maybe. Mandy pushed a basic sheath dress to the side and hit the jackpot. What hung before her was quite the monstrosity—it even needed two hangers to hold it all up. Off-white, sparkly (of course), and oh god, did it have beaded fringe?

“Krystin,” Mandy called. “Could you help me with this one?” Mandy was totally going to win.