The invitation came in the mail two days later. Thick cream envelope, gold foil seal, my name handwritten in elegant black ink. Elena Thompson + Guest. I knew what it was before I even opened it.
The Hamptons Charity Gala. The one Alexander had mentioned. The one I'd already said yes to in a coffee shop booth while rain dripped off my coat and his thumb traced circles on the back of my hand.
I carried the envelope to the kitchen island, set it down like it might bite. Sophia was at the table doing homework, tongue poking out the side of her mouth while she colored in a diagram of a whale's blubber layer. Marcus was still at the office, had been since six that morning. Another late night.
I slid my finger under the flap. The card inside was heavy, embossed. Black tie. Live auction. Keynote speaker: Alexander Voss, CEO of VossTech.
My stomach flipped.
Sophia looked up. "What's that, Mom?"
"Just an invitation. For a fancy party next weekend."
Her eyes lit up. "Can I come? I have my sparkly dress!"
I laughed, even though my throat felt tight. "This one's grown-ups only, baby. But maybe we can do something fun that weekend. Just us."
She pouted for a second, then shrugged. "Okay. But you have to wear something pretty. Like a princess."
"I'll try."
She went back to her coloring. I stared at the card.
Alexander's name stared back.
I hadn't seen him since the coffee shop. We'd texted short messages, careful ones. Good morning. How's your day? Thinking of you. Nothing that crossed lines. Nothing that felt safe either.
I pulled out my phone. Opened our thread.
His last message from yesterday: Still on for Saturday? Can't wait to see you again, I'll be the one watching the door.
I hadn't replied yet.
My thumb hovered.
Sophia's pencil scratched across the paper. The fridge hummed. Outside, horns blared on the street below.
I typed: I got the invitation today. I'll be there.
Sent.
The three dots appeared almost instantly.
Good. Wear the red dress if you still have it. The one from the pictures.
I swallowed. He remembered the red dress. The one I wore to our senior prom, the one he'd unzipped in the back of his truck after, laughing and whispering how beautiful I looked under the moonlight.
I still had it. Hanging in the back of the closet like a secret.
I typed back: Maybe, and you think it will still fit even if I had it?
His reply: I'll take maybe. Cos to me you never change, just some See you soon, El.
I locked the phone, set it face-down on the counter.
Sophia finished her whale and held it up. "Look! I added sparkles to the blowhole. Whales need to look fancy too."
I smiled, real this time. "It's perfect. You're an artist."
She beamed. "Can we hang it on the fridge?"
"Of course."
We taped it up together. Her small hand over mine. When we stepped back, the sparkly whale sat right next to Marcus's dry-cleaning receipt and my charity schedule.
Normal life.
Except nothing felt normal anymore.
That night, after Sophia was asleep, I opened the closet. Pushed past coats and dresses I never wore. There it was "the red gown". Silk. Low back. The zipper still worked perfectly.
I held it against me in front of the full-length mirror. The color looked good against my skin. Too good.
I imagined walking into the gala in it. Imagined Alexander's eyes finding me across the room. Imagined what might happen if I let him get close again.
My reflection stared back—same woman who'd cried in the car after her anniversary dinner, same woman who'd held a stranger's hand in a coffee shop and felt more seen than she had in years.
I hung the dress back up.
But I didn't push it to the very back this time.
I left it where I could see it. Cos I needed to check if it still fit well.
Saturday was coming.
And I was running out of reasons to pretend I wasn't going.