Years of detergent and cold water had left the skin around my knuckles rough.
“Do you think I’m going to embarrass you?”
Lauren closed her eyes.
“That’s not fair.”
“Then tell me what you mean.”
She sat across from me.
“Mom, I love you.”
I felt something turn cold inside my chest.
People often say those words when they need the next sentence to hurt less.
“I know you do.”
“You’ve done so much for me.”
“Lauren.”
She pressed both hands flat against the table.
“I don’t want to spend the wedding worrying about whether you’re comfortable or whether people are judging you.”