#Chapter 87: A Real Date

Agnes Thea had been bouncing around my room all evening, pulling dresses from my closet and tossing them in a massive heap on the floor. She was so enthusiastic that I didn’t have the heart to ask her to stop. Finally, she seemed to settle on a deep emerald gown, one I hadn’t worn in years, and her eyes sparkled as she held it up to me. “This one, Mommy! It’s so pretty, and it matches your eyes!” she declared. I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, even as my stomach twisted with both anticipation and unease. Thea had been under the impression that this outing with Elijah was a real date, and nothing I said could convince her otherwise. “It’s just a comedy show, sweetheart,” I had tried to explain earlier, but she hadn’t really listened. “Daddy doesn’t take just anyone to fancy places like that,” she had said matter-of-factly. “He likes you, Mommy. I can tell.” Her words had lingered in my mind all evening, no matter how much I tried to silence