David drives us straight past perfectly trimmed hedges toward the entrance. The place resembles a palace with an entire flight of stairs that lead to massive wooden doors. “How well do you know Alessa and James?” I ask Fallon, who’s nudging her e-reader into her purse. “Not well. I rarely see them. I saw Alessa for the second time at my wedding last week. She’s nice though, very sweet. And you’ll fit right in.” “What do you mean?” “You’ll see,” she says, favorably pleased, and rights her emerald dress that hangs off one shoulder as the car pulls to a stop. “Ready to meet your family?” I start to play with my earring. “I’m slightly nervous, but the good kind of nervous. Before we go in, thank you for today. I feel much better wearing new, clean clothes and being able to buy and use all my own lotions.” “It was my pleasure.
