“Tuesday gives us lots of time.”

“Good,” Chloe said, giving my hand a quick, warm pat.

“She’s going to look like pure perfection.”

I came into my little kitchen at five fifteen and started browning ground beef in the heavy cast-iron skillet.

The room filled with the sharp smell of Tuesday night chili, and steam clouded the bottom corner of the window over the sink.

Sadie came in the back door five minutes later and dropped her canvas backpack on the linoleum with a heavy thud that shook the legs of the wooden kitchen table.

“Madison got her gown today,” Sadie said, walking right over to the stove to look into the skillet.