straight face. As in don’t smile.”
“But…yeah. Okay. I won’t smile.” She kept smiling.
Dani sighed. “Practice on me now.”
“Okay. Here’s my not smiling face.” It lasted for two
seconds before the grin was back.
“Jesus.”
“Well, what’s wrong with smiling? Most people are happy
when they get married!”
“I think it would help your cause if your parents could take
you seriously.”
“Even serious people smile.”
“Good gravy.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll try not to smile. I’ll talk to you later, then.
Thank you again.”
Before Dani could give Emily another lecture about
thanking her, Emily waved and sauntered off down the
sidewalk in the direction she’d parked. They’d arrived
separately to the courthouse for their eleven fifteen
appointment, so Dani turned and walked the other direction.
Of course, they’d parked in completely opposite areas. It was
like a metaphor for their two lives. Except, to make that
complete, they’d have to drive both cars and get into a head-on
collision. Yes, that would be far, far more accurate.
Dani suddenly wondered if Emily would be okay. She said
she would, but would she really? A guy running for senator
and an artist lady didn’t seem like the type to physically lash
out, but who knew? Suddenly, Dani felt bad about letting
Emily go off by herself, but what could she have done? If she
went with her, she would only have made things worse. Smiles
or not, Emily was a big girl, and she could take care of herself.