Page 70 of Pierced Pages
“That was sweet of her,” Danielle said.
“It was. And effective.” She glanced around the room and saw that all eyes were on her sister floating around the room. A few people were watching the other bridesmaids dancing together as well. She could see some whispers, but she didn’t care. She only cared about the woman in her arms.
Eventually, the song ended, and Morgan held her arm in the air so Danielle could grab it and do a little twirl. They exited the dance floor and stood together off to the side.
Danielle’s hand slid down Morgan’s arm, sending tingles down to her hand.
“I’m going to run to the restroom.” She squeezed Morgan’s hand. “Be right back.”
Their fingertips slid apart, and Morgan watched as she left. Once Danielle disappeared through the door, Morgan grabbed her champagne glass from her seat at the table.
“I thought you would have enough respect for your sister to not make this evening about yourself.”
The voice behind her was cold and cutting.
Morgan took a sip of champagne and turned to face the owner of the voice. “You mean dancing with my friend?”
“Is that what we’re still calling her?”
“Never mind what I call her,” Morgan said. “Are you asking all of the rest of the people on that dance floor why they’re making this evening about themselves?”
“You know what I mean, Morgan.”
“I do know what you mean,Mother.” The word came out like a hiss, and Morgan didn’t even try to curb the sound.
“She seems like a lovely girl, but this is hardly the place to make a point or whatever it is you think you’re doing.”
Morgan ignored that last statement. She’d stopped trying to make a point to her mother a long time ago, and she certainly wouldn’t use Danielle to do so.
Sure, she’d sort of invited Danielle to make this evening more bearable, but never to make a point.
She waved her champagne glass at the rest of the guests. “Don’t you have an audience to perform for?”
“No one has made a fuss about you bringing a date?—”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure you did last night.”
“—but to make a spectacle is unacceptable.”
“No one is making a spectacle except you,” Morgan said. “And Felicia is happy for me. Encouraging me to pursue something with Danielle. I would think you’d at least have enough regard for your other daughter to respect her wishes on her own wedding day.”
Her mother’s mouth pinched tight while she brewed and stewed, as Morgan always called it. The look of a woman trying to compose herself despite her distaste for her disappointing daughter’s existence.
“We’ll continue this conversation at another time.”
“No, we won’t.” Morgan took a breath, then said what had been unsaid between them for a long time. “I’m not having any conversations with you unless you can accept who I am and not expect me to be the perfect little conservative senator’s daughter. We don’t speak because you can’t do that, and we’re going to continue to not speak because I don’t think you ever will. But if you do, you know how to find me. So go ahead and surprise me if you want, but I’m done until then.”
She didn’t wait for a reply. She was done waiting for anything from her mother.
Morgan took her glass and walked away to wait for Danielle near the bathrooms.
Danielle.
Her spot of comfort in all of this.
A few moments later, Danielle emerged with that wide, warm smile of hers. Her smile faded once she realized Morgan’s expression didn’t match her own.
“Did something happen?”
