Page 51 of Like You Know
“Amaya! Thank God you’re here. I need help deciding on a gown. My boobs look great in this one.” She held up a sparkly red number, then switched to the other dress—a lacy blue one. “But this one brings out the color in my eyes, I think. But then, I was thinking ...” She mumbled something I couldn’t hear as she skipped over to her bed. It was covered in dresses every color of the rainbow, making it impossible to see what the sheets even looked like underneath.
I shoved some of the dresses aside so I could sit. I used to hang out in my parents’ bedroom all the time as a kid. I loved jumping on their big bed, or sitting in the middle and watching Mom get ready for some fancy event. She’d let me play dress-up sometimes, and Dad would come in wearing his tux and dance with me, my feet on the tops of his, before they went out. I hadn’t been in this room in years. It was a little strange to think about—a room in my house I’d avoided for that long.
“What’s this for?” I asked.
“A party tomorrow night. It’s black tie.”
“Not buying a new gown for it?” She usually did. Vivian was never seen in the same outfit twice.
She shrugged and dug around in the pile. “My wardrobe feels like a boutique anyway, so I figured I’d pick one I already have. But now I’m having so much trouble deciding ...” She propped her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should just go out and get something new. Wanna go shopping?”
I laughed. “I’m sure we can find something.”
We started going through the dresses together. I ended up in a vintage eighties number with massive shoulders while Mom tried on dress after dress. Some of them didn’t fit anymore and some were too dated, but we found a few options that we had fun styling with the accessories she had.
A shimmery silver fabric near the corner of the bed caught my eye, and I dug it out.
“Oh, that one’s too short for black tie.” Mom waved it off.
I held it up, inspecting it. It was strapless with a corseted top and looked as if it would hit about mid-thigh. The fabric was stunning, the shape perfect for Mom’s delicate shoulders. She was right though; it was too short for black tie.
“I have an idea.” I jumped up and went to her wardrobe, digging through her clothes until I found what I was looking for. I handed the silver dress and the other item I’d found to my mom and ordered her to put them on. She gave me a skeptical look but started to remove the dress she was currently in.
I ran to my room and grabbed a clutch I knew would be perfect.
By the time I came back, Mom had the silver dress on and was stepping into the midnight-blue tulle A-line skirt I’d pulled out. The skirt was knee-length.
“I don’t think this works, baby.” Mom frowned down at herself.
I held up a finger and went in search of the perfect shoes and accessories. With everything gathered, I turned Mom’s back to the mirror and dropped to my knees. I pulled the skirt down and tucked it in under the hem of the dress, then gestured for Mom to try on a pair of silver heels. After she put in some earrings and I secured her necklace, I swiveled her to face the mirror.
She gasped and turned a shocked look at me. I grinned at her in the mirror, satisfied with myself.
With the midnight-blue skirt tucked underneath the silver dress, it suddenly looked like a fit-and-flare floor-length gown. The silver shoes with jeweled detail matched the silver of the dress and went great with the jeweled blue clutch I’d grabbed. A sapphire choker and earrings completed the look.
“I can sew the skirt onto the bottom of the dress,” I explained as I gathered her hair up. “It won’t take me long. But I think you should wear your hair—”
I lost my grip on her locks as she turned to pull me into a hug. “It’s perfect!” She bounced on her toes for a moment, then held me out at arm’s length and looked at me as if she’d just made some amazing discovery. She’d been doing that a lot lately—gaping at me as if she couldn’t quite believe what I’d turned into. “I’m so proud of you, Amaya. You’re amazing.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I ducked my head and started tidying up some of the mess we’d made. Her affection still made me uncomfortable, but at least I wasn’t running out of the room anymore. Progress, or whatever.
“Are you going to do fashion design at college? Or something else?” Mom asked, taking everything off and placing it in a neat pile.
I shrugged. “Not sure yet. I’ve applied to a bunch of colleges but ...”
“What?” she prodded as she pulled on yoga pants and a T-shirt.
“I’m thinking about taking a gap year.”
“Oh?” She started putting the dresses back on their hangers. We floated around each other, keeping our hands busy while I mustered up the courage to say what I wanted to say.
Fuck it. “I think I want to travel for a while first.”
“That’s a great idea!”
“I want to spend some time in Sri Lanka. Do you think Uncle Inesh and Aunt Ravima would want to see me?”
Mom paused with her back to me, her hands on the hanger she’d just returned to its spot on the rod.