“Actually, I think it’s all the orgasms,” Noreen said in a whisper. “Your father liked sex well enough, but wasn’t very good at stimulating me. Gerald is just so much more gifted in that department. I know he isn’t much to look at, but his skills bring out the most erotic response. He’s a true sexual dynamo.”

Natalie stared at her mother, wondering how normal daughters would react to this information. “I’m so happy for you,” she said.

Clearly displeased to not have provoked a more heated reaction, Natalie’s mother switched gears. “You are late and we’re holding the wedding for you. Just you. I asked you to come yesterday, and you couldn’t be bothered, and now we’re all waiting on Miss Important TV Star.” She surveyed Natalie. “I see the studio did your makeup. The eyelashes are a bit much, don’t you think?”

There was no way to win—in this battle, every victory was a defeat. Plus, Natalie really wanted to check her phone and knew her mother would freak out if she did it right there. So she raised the white flag. “I’m really sorry, Mom. I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll go upstairs and change and tone down the makeup, okay? I can be ready really fast.”

“Natty! Natty!” The squeal was accompanied by the sound of tiny pounding feet and Natalie looked up to see Sarah’s four-year-old daughter, Lulu, running straight at her.

“Hi, sweet Lulu! I’ve missed you,” she said, catching the little girl in her arms and spinning her around with a squeeze. She buried her face in her niece’s neck and inhaled the feeling of warmth and love. God, she’d missed this. It had been so long since she’d last seen her. “I’m so happy to be with you,” Natalie said, lifting Lulu high in the air to get a better look at her. “Don’t you look like a big girl in your flower girl dress!”

“Gramma doesn’t like my dress. Gramma says Mommy should have got me a more ’ganic dress. But I like this one!”

Lulu twisted her head around to look at Noreen, who said with exaggerated pronunciation, “Organic,” then with a sigh explained, “With what we know these days, it’s unwise to dress little people in anything other than organics. I read that polyester can contribute to autism, learning disabilities, and several unfortunate skin conditions.”

“I’m not little,” Lulu declared and, turning back to Natalie, said, “I’m five. Well, almost five. Really four and ten months, but soon I’ll be five. I go to kindergarten.”