Sometimes our closest loved ones are the cruelest. I never imagined anybody being that harsh to a youngster. Our daughter\u2019s outfit was damaged the morning before the school pageant. Knowing who did it and why hurt more than the harm.<\/p>\n
As I removed the final batch of chocolate chip cookies, the wonderful smell filled our modest suburban house. The kitchen timer rang. Laughter filled the hallway as my girls planned their school pageant attire on the carpet.<\/p>\n
Six years after marrying David, those sounds still made my heart throb. The best part of blended families is seeing Sophie and Liza, my daughter and his daughter from prior marriages, grow inseparable.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom! May we have cookies?\u201d Sophie called from above.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly if you\u2019ve finished your homework!\u201d Shouting, I replied.<\/p>\n
As both 15-year-old girls laughed in the kitchen, thunderous footsteps rolled down the stairs.<\/p>\n
Liza cried, \u201cWe\u2019re starving,\u201d grasping for a cookie. Sophie had blonde waves from me, but her black curls mirrored her father\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad\u2019s going to be late again, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Sophie inquired from a bar seat.<\/p>\n
I handed milk cups their way and nodded. Budget meeting. He advised against waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hi, did you notice the flyer? For Spring Pageant?\u201d Liza inquired, beaming. \u201cWe should totally do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie paused. \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Come on! We could match outfits and everything \u201cLiza said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who\u2019s going to make these matching dresses?\u201d I raised an eyebrow, knowing I\u2019d offer.<\/p>\n
I saw their similar begging faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Mom?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re great at sewing,\u201d Sophie added.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Elina?\u201d Liza concurred. She never called me \u201cMom,\u201d but her pronunciation was kind.<\/p>\n
How could I refuse their faces?<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I chuckled. \u201cBut you\u2019re both helping with the design.\u201d<\/p>\n
David fell asleep beside me, and I muttered, \u201cThe girls want to join the Spring Pageant. Together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pulling me close. That\u2019s wonderful. By the way, mom phoned. She requests Sunday supper for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted. \u201cWendy invited all of us?\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the darkness, I sensed his hesitancy. \u201cWell, she asked about Liza specifically, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d I interrupted. We\u2019ll go. Her last remark was weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
David sighed. \u201cElina, I\u2019ve spoken to her often. What more can I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Squeezing his hand. \u201cWe just keep showing her that we\u2019re a family\u2026 all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunday supper at Wendy\u2019s huge colonial home required moderation. That day too.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiza, darling, I got you something,\u201d she said after we completed her delicious pot roast. She gave her granddaughter a little jewelry box.<\/p>\n
A lovely silver bracelet with a heart pendant was inside. \u201cWow, thanks, Grandma!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie sat silently next her, mournful eyes on her empty plate. I felt a familiar chest heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe girls have exciting news,\u201d I shouted. \u201cThey\u2019re both entering the Spring Pageant at school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow lovely,\u201d Wendy said, smiling less. \u201cLiza, you\u2019ll shine onstage. Grace from your late mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleared his throat. \u201cBoth girls will be wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy dismissively responded \u201cOf course,\u201d then looked at Liza. \u201cAre you wearing the blue dress we saw at the mall last month?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cActually,\u201d I said, \u201cI\u2019m creating their dresses. Matching.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy raised her eyebrows. \u201cMatching? But Liza should shine. She looks good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d David cautioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Just suggesting certain ladies are inherently better at these things. It\u2019s genes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie shifted her chair. Please pardon me. I need the restroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
After she departed, I leaned forward. We discussed this, Wendy. Both girls need equal treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEqual treatment?\u201d She chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m not mean to Elina. Realistic me. Your daughter Sophie. Not David\u2019s. Why lie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re family,\u201d David insisted. \u201cAll of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily is blood,\u201d Wendy said. \u201cWishful thinking won\u2019t alter it. Sophie\u2019s not my grandchild. She never will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, can you please\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid, it\u2019s okay.\u201d I gently interrupted him, turning toward the stairs. \u201cLet\u2019s just go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
I went to grab the females.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I remained up late making light blue satin gowns with hand-embroidered flowers on the bodices for weeks. The girls tried them on, twirled in the mirror, planning their hair and makeup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the most beautiful dresses ever!\u201d Sophie ran her fingertips over the beautiful lace trim during their last fitting and exclaimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cElina, you\u2019re a genius!\u201d Liza checked her mirror and agreed.<\/p>\n
I grinned, fatigued but pleased. \u201cYou\u2019re both going to steal the show.\u201d<\/p>\n
The community center near Wendy\u2019s neighborhood hosted the pageant on Saturday morning. David recommended we stay at his mother\u2019s the night before due to the early start.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes sense,\u201d he remarked when I worried. She\u2019s five minutes from the venue. We\u2019d have to depart before daybreak else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the dresses\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll take and protect them. Just one night, Elina.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gave in, calling myself paranoid. Wendy wouldn\u2019t ruin a child\u2019s moment. Would she?<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Friday night, we stayed at Wendy\u2019s rooms. I carefully hung both gowns in the girls\u2019 room closet to prevent wrinkles overnight.<\/p>\n
Wendy asked the girls about school and pageant preparations over dinner, being unusually kind. I relaxed, thinking I\u2019d misjudged her.<\/p>\n
Sophie looked at Wendy after dessert. Grandma, may I try on my dress again? To ensure perfection?\u201d<\/p>\n
Room got quiet. Sophie initially called her \u201cGrandma\u201d explicitly.<\/p>\n
Wendy\u2019s grin tightened. I don\u2019t like that notion. It may yield anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie assured, \u201cI\u2019ll be super careful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said no.\u201d Wendy sounded chilly. However, pageants are about poise and natural beauty, girl. Not all females have it\u2026\u201d She hung the punishment.<\/p>\n
Sophie scrunched up before calming down. You\u2019re correct. Better wait till tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie muttered, \u201cShe hates me, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d as I tucked the girls up.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, sweetie,\u201d I lied. \u201cShe just\u2026 doesn\u2019t know how to be a grandmother to both of you yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been six years, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Morning bustle began at 7 a.m. with showers, food, hair, etc. Everyone rushed to get ready by nine. The girls ran to the dressing room as we arrived, while David unloaded the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Sophie came out crying as I fixed my earring.<\/p>\n
\u201cMOM?? My clothing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Heart fell. \u201cWhat happened, sweetie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s RUINED.\u201d<\/p>\n
I raced to the girls\u2019 room. Liza stood stunned with her exquisite outfit. Sophie\u2019s dress was on the table. A rip went down the side seam, a dark stain ruined the bodice, and worst of all, a burned area across the embroidered flowers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my God\u2026 what happened?\u201d Trembling, I picked it up and muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Sophie wailed. I saw it in the closet last night and it seemed fine. When I pulled it out of the bag to dress, it looked like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
A quiet throat-clearing from the doorway made me turn around. Wendy watched us in impeccable style.<\/p>\n
She remarked, \u201cSuch a shame,\u201d with fake sorrow. Not all things are meant to be. Might be a sign.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA sign of what?\u201d I snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat some females aren\u2019t stageworthy. Worry not, Sophie. Look at Liza gleam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind his mother was David. What\u2019s up? The show begins in 5 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liza rushed forward with a determined look before I could respond. \u201cI think Grandma ruined Sophie\u2019s dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d David regarded them all. \u201cMom, did you..?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d Wendy laughed. \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw you,\u201d Liza replies. Last night. You entered thinking we were sleeping. You stole Sophie\u2019s outfit. You were ironing, I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy\u2019s face stiffened as the room became quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiza, darling, you must have been dreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t.\u201d Liza spoke steadily. To everyone\u2019s surprise, she unfastened her dress behind her back and exited. In her slip and tights, she offered Sophie the blue gown.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, take mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie retreated. \u201cNo, I can\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLiza!\u201d Wendy sputtered. \u201cPut that dress back on immediately!\u201d<\/p>\n
Liza ignored her and helped Sophie dress. No matter who wears it. Both of us belong onstage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t allow this.\u201d<\/p>\n
David eventually spoke. Yes, you will. Or you may tell the pageantgoers why one outfit is ruined and your granddaughter isn\u2019t participating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wendy\u2019s face blanched. \u201cShe is not my granddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, she is,\u201d Liza raged. \u201cAnd if you can\u2019t see that, then maybe I don\u2019t want to be your granddaughter either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Families packed the community center auditorium, excited. I adjusted Sophie\u2019s borrowed outfit backstage as Liza sat in trousers and a shirt.<\/p>\n
Sophie said, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liza shrugged. Additional pageants will occur. There\u2019s one you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie entered on stage with elegance because she knew she was adored. Not everyone, but the most important.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t place first. She finished second to Emma\u2019s custom-tailored gown. Sophie valued her pride more than any award as the girls left the stage with crowns.<\/p>\n
Wendy departed the wedding early via a side entrance without saying goodbye.<\/p>\n
While we ate pizza in our living room, David\u2019s mother texted him, \u201cI hope you\u2019re happy with your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am,\u201d he wrote after showing me. Time to make yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
We didn\u2019t see Wendy again for six months. Finally calling, she requested a visit. She then brought two similar gift packages for Liza and Sophie.<\/p>\n
Not an apology. That wasn\u2019t acceptance. But it began.<\/p>\n
Blood doesn\u2019t bind families. Love does. Children sometimes educate adults what it implies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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