Chapter 293
Tris
For a moment, I just stare at the ruined dress, unable to process what I’m seeing. How could this happen? Did it somehow fall into the fireplace on its own? But who would hang it right in front of the fireplace anyway? Nora wouldn’t do that, right? Did someone else move it?
I tug the dress free from the charred garment bag, wincing as bits of blackened silk crumble between my fingers. The entire bottom half is destroyed, and smoke damage has stained the bodice as well. There’s no saving it now.
“Oh no,” I whisper to myself. The gala is in just a few hours. I’m going to have to find another dress, but I don’t really have any clothes here, and I don’t have much time to run home to find something else.
Just then, I hear footsteps in the hallway, and my mother appears in the doorway. Her smile falls as soon as she sees me kneeling on the floor, holding the ruined dress.
“Iris, what on earth-” She stops, taking in the scene. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I came in to check on the dress and found it like this. Half of it was still in the fireplace.
My mother rushes over and examines the damage. “That’s a crying shame. But I think I have something you can wear,” she suggests after a moment. “We’re about the same size.”
She takes my hand and leads me to her bedroom. Her closet is more of a room in itself, with rows upon rows of designer clothing, shoes, and accessories.
“I’ve been saving this for a special occasion,” she says, moving to the back of the closet. She pushes aside several evening gowns and pulls out a garment bag. “I think it might be perfect for tonight.”
She unzips the bag to reveal a stunning royal purple gown. The fabric shimmers subtly in the light, with delicate crystal beading along the bodice that looks like stars scattered across a night sky.
“Oh, Mom,” I breathe, reaching out to touch the velvety fabric. It’s cool and smooth beneath my fingers. “It’s beautiful.”
“I bought it for my fortieth birthday gala,” she explains. “But then I changed my mind and went with something else. I’ve never worn it.” She holds it out to me. “Try it on.”
I take the dress carefully and head to her en–suite bathroom to change. Indeed, it fits like it was made for me, hugging my curves in all the right places. The crystals catch the light with every movement, and the subtle flare around the ankles makes it float when I twirl.
When I step back into the bedroom, my mother gasps. “Oh, Iris,” she whispers, her eyes filling with tears. “You look absolutely stunning.”
I turn to look in the full–length mirror, and for a moment, I hardly recognize myself. It’s perfect–even better than the dress that was ruined.
“It’s like it was made for you,” my mother says, coming to stand behind me. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I’m struck by how similar we look–the same heart–shaped face, the same slender stature, similar golden hair, although hers is much more brilliant than mine. For so many years, I wondered where I got my features from, and now I know. I wonder if I’ll look even more like her once my wolf comes out. If it ever does.
“Thank you,” I say, turning to face her. “Not just for the dress, but for… everything. For welcoming me back into your life, fo loving me as if we never lost all those years.”
My mother’s eyes shine with unshed tears. She cups my face and strokes my cheek with her thumb. “Oh, my darling girl. You never have to thank me for that. You’re my daughter. I’ve loved you every day of your life, even when you weren’t with me.”
I lean into her hand as she murmurs, “I missed so many moments with you. Your first steps, your first day of school, your first heartbreak. I can’t get those back, but I’m here now, and I plan to be here for all the moments to come.”
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C
