“Sarah writes—hurry up and get here! Mom’s coming at me with a diffuser full of patchouli.”

“I’m so happy for you, I’m so happy for you,” Natalie intoned as she sped through the suburbs of Virginia. She did some fancy in-and-out-driving, causing two people to honk and one man to give her the finger. “I’m so happy for you,” she yelled at him as she sped off and she meant it, especially when she managed to arrive in front of her mom’s new house at exactly 11:45. A few hours late for the bridesmaids events, but plenty of time to change for the wedding. It was like not being late at all. She’d run in and change—surely her mother would still be primping.

She jumped out of the car, grabbed her suitcase, and wheeled it to the front door. From inside she heard barking and through the window she could see Cronkite, her dad’s black Lab, running in circles of excitement. Her dad used to say Cronkite always knew when she was headed home.

“Hello?” she said, pushing open the front door, getting a face full of furry dog. Paws on her chest, Cronkite stood licking her face in huge long slaps. She laughed, but felt her throat get a little tight and had to close her eyes against an unexpected welling of tears. Fuck, she thought. She heard glasses clinking and the sound of people talking in the distance and knew she should go and join the party. She was too old for this. For how much longer would the sight of Cronkite make her feel like her dad was still alive?

“How kind of you to join us. Or did you only come for the dog?”

Natalie felt a jolt of primal fear, like a kid caught wearing muddy shoes on a white carpet. She spun around, pushing Cronkite to the floor. “Mom! Hi! I’m so sorry I’m late.” Ignoring the survival instinct telling her to duck and cover, she leaned in and gave her mom a hug. Her mother was wearing a long lace and fringe dress, with feathers in her hair. If she were a doll, she would have been called Original American Stevie Nicks.

Natalie stepped back in a pantomime of admiration. “Mom, you look amazing!”

“I know. I’ve been using the most wonderful yam and pumpkin enzyme peel. It’s just delicious. If it weren’t for the hyaluronic acid, I swear I might eat it!” Noreen threw her head back to give Natalie a better view of her throat. “Is the contrast with my neck too extreme?”

“You look great, Mom.” If her mother’s neck had been covered in irradiated scales, Natalie would have given the same answer. “You look gorgeous and happy like a beautiful bride.”