“So, I was—” But we were interrupted. Again.

This time by Mrs. Fonseka, who burst into the room, slightly red in the face. I don’t remember there being this many constant interruptions in the Fonsekas’ house.

“Ah, there you are.” She was panting slightly.

Kaavi raised her eyebrows. “Where else would we be?”

“I thought . . .” She peered down the corridor but pulled herself together as quickly as she first appeared. “Anyway, Kaavi, you better get going soon. The car is ready. And also, Laura is awake, and she’ll be coming with you.”

I had no clue who Laura was, but Kaavi frowned.

“Laura? Is that really necessary? She can go some other time, no?”

“No. She’ll come with you now. She’s already downstairs. Hurry up or you’ll be late.”

“Everything okay?” Tehani asked. She’d appeared behind her mother, even though I didn’t notice her when Mrs. Fonseka barged in.

“Just trying to get Kaavi to hurry up and go for her fitting,” Mrs. Fonseka muttered. She didn’t give me a second look as she stormed out of the room. Obviously, she didn’t leave her meeting and rush upstairs just to tell Kaavi that she was running late. She wanted to check up on me. And judging from this Laura person joining us, it appeared that she didn’t want me to be alone with Kaavi either.

“Amaya, have you seen Kaavi’s dress yet?” Tehani asked.

“Um, no. Not yet.”

Kaavi was busy at her dresser, applying lipstick and spritzing on some perfume.

“Do you want to see it? Kaavs won’t mind, will you?”

Kaavi barely glanced in our direction.

“No, no, go on ahead. Just hurry up or Amma will be on my case again.”

“Come on.”

I followed Tehani out of the room. I didn’t really want to see the dress, but I supposed it would have been a strange thing to refuse. When I was with Spencer, I used to be one of those girls who would occasionally sneak in a bridal magazine when I bought groceries. No big deal, just a little guilty pleasure for when, someday in the abstract future, I would be a bride too. I’d thought about how I’d love a mermaid or a sheath, never a ball gown, and wondered whether lace would look classic or outdated. But that was me in a different life. I didn’t even know that girl anymore.

Tehani didn’t lead me far. Just two doors away to one of the many guest rooms that were never used.

Tehani unlocked the door, rolling her eyes a little.

“My mother wants this kept under lock and key, can you believe it? I think she’s worried that a maid will wander in here by mistake and ruin it or something.”

She moved away, allowing me to step inside first.

I remember there being a bed in here, but that had been moved out, and the rest of the furniture was covered in white sheets—probably because the room remained unused. But a dress form had been set up right in the center, swathed in chiffon and tulle and silk.