Chapter 188: She's Had Practice

She's everything Gabriel said she'd be. Her eyes are a dark blue, just like mine. There are wrinkles surrounding them; laughter lines. She's had a good life. She has blusher on her cheeks, but it's faint. Her hair is up in a sophisticated updo that was probably done at the hairdressers, or at least I'd have had to get a hairdresser to do my hair if I ever wanted it to look like that. Then again, I grew up without her. I didn't have a mother to teach me how to do my hair. Perhaps her mother taught her. I almost blurt it out. It's on the tip of my tongue.

"Clarisse."

Her voice is unflustered. She's wearing a simple blue blouse with a black pencil skirt and a pair of heels.

"I'm so glad you came."