“Well, a flood or a tornado would be a disaster,” I said. “Not liking a dress is not a disaster.”

Kelsey rolled her eyes at me.

“Okay, okay,” she said. “But, like, everyone is going to be staring at you and expecting you to just go crazy over one of them!”

“Kelsey, no one who knows me expects me to go crazy over a dress!” I said, starting to get exasperated. “It’s just a dress, and Mimi thought it would be a fun thing because—”

“Because you don’t have a mom to take you shopping,” Kelsey said.

I stopped stacking the napkins on the counter. “What?” I asked, a little shocked.

Kelsey looked at me. “Well, I mean, that’s why we’re all making a big deal about it, right? Everyone’s mom takes them for their Fall Fling dress, and they thought this would kind of make up for the fact that you can’t do that. We’re trying to fill in for your mom.”

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. “Um, I have to go to the ladies’ room.” I said, and bolted, practically running across the restaurant.

I closed the door to the stall and took a deep breath. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that this wasn’t a dress party—it was a pity party. I felt my cheeks get hot, and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. My hands were shaking too, and I crossed my arms over my chest to kind of hold myself together.

The door to the bathroom swung open.

“Lindsay?” It was Kelsey. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I think that came out wrong.”

I gulped. “It’s okay,” I said, but my voice was shaking and the tears were starting to come.

“Lindsay, can you come out? We both left the counter, and I’m afraid Grandpa is going to notice,” Kelsey said.

She waited a second and I gulped again.

“I need…,” I said. “I need a second, okay? Can you cover for me?”

“Of course,” Kelsey said. I heard the door shut and then suddenly swing open again, and then she paused. “It’s not because we feel sorry for you. It’s because we want to help in case you’re sad about things.”

I nodded, but then realized Kelsey couldn’t see me. I quickly wiped my eyes.

The door shut and I heard voices outside. A few minutes later Aunt Melissa came in.

“Lindsay?” she called. “Honey, are you okay?”

“I just have a stomachache,” I said.

Aunt Melissa stood right outside the stall. “Sweetie, can you please come out?”

The bathroom door opened again and I heard Jenna and Lily whispering. Goodness, there was nowhere at the Park I could go and be alone!