So I got out. I figured it was better to be in a crowd of fancy people than stuck in Wayne’s back seat.

In contrast to my turmoil, it was a lovely, warmish evening beyond the car. I took huge, grateful gulps of the fresh air as I watched Wayne drive away.

“Sweet pea? What are you doing here?” a voice called out behind me. “I thought you said you couldn’t make it!”

“Dad?”

I turned around to see my father, dressed in a tux. Obviously a rental. It was a little baggy around the shoulders. But he looked sophisticated and refined, totally locked and loaded to receive a Lifetime Achievement award.

An iceberg rose up in my stomach as I began putting two and two together. Oh my God.

“You look great,” he said, pulling me in for a hug. “And I’m not Doll, so I won’t say anything about the weird bag.”

He curved an arm around my shoulders and guided me along like he used to when I was a kid. “I’m just glad you managed to make it. Especially considering that your mom couldn’t be here. C’mon, I can’t wait to introduce you to all my associates.”

“Wait, Dad, hold on…”

“Darrell! Man of the hour, good to see you!” the Attorney General himself approached us before I could get the rest of my protest out.

I piped down, not wanting to embarrass my dad, who enthusiastically introduced me to the federal appointee. But to my horror, we were getting closer and closer to the entrance.

“RhIDS! That’s a good school!” the Attorney General boomed. “You must be very proud, Darrell. Very proud!”

“Sure am,” Dad answered with a straight face.

“Maybe you can draw us a picture,” Dad suggested to the Attorney General. “Something to commemorate the evening. She used to draw pictures for me all the time when she was a kid.”

“That’s not really how animators work—” I started to answer.

“I’ve got to wait until my wife gets here to go inside, but no need for you to wait in this line,” the Attorney General boomed again, cutting me off. He led us straight toward a guy with a clipboard. “You’re the guest of honor.”

“Thanks, man,” Dad says, like he and the Attorney General are best buds, even though I was pretty sure he hated the current administration.

“Darrell Kingston,” he said to the guy with the clipboard. “And this is my daughter, Dawn. Not sure if she’s on your list of RSVPs, though, since she just showed up as a surprise.”

“We’ve got her on the list,” the guy assured him. “And your plus one is already inside.”

My stomach turned to concrete at his announcement. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh no.

“You brought a date?” Dad asked, his genial smile turning into a full-on beam.