?Enough nonsense, Caitlin. I?ll have a car pick you up at one-thirty. That?s plenty of time to get ready. Wear something nice. We?ll be meeting with the designer after the show and you need to be presentable.?
Caitlin rolled her eyes. ?Fine,? sighing into the phone receiver. ?Is Dad going to be there?? She was met with a very long pause and she was sure her mother was attempting to keep her tone under control.
?No, Caitlin. He?s working.?
?Good.?
?Caitlin,? her mother responded, a reproving tone to her voice. ?Let?s not get into that mess today. Especially after you left last night without a word.?
The brunette sighed, ignoring the sliver of guilt that tried to wedge itself into her heart. ?See you this afternoon, mom.? They exchanged rather stiff goodbye?s and hung up the phone. Caitlin frowned for a long minute, not moving from her place at the kitchen stove. It was a struggle anytime she got together with her parents. The tension from how Caitlin left over a year ago still hung between them, creating a vast chasm that would likely never be fixed.
Lest she dwell too deeply on the reasoning, Cait shook her head and set about getting ready. She stopped by the bathroom and turned on the shower, then went to her room to find an appropriate dress. Her nice, expensive pieces were in garment bags at the back of her tiny closet. The first dress she came into contact with was a knee-length, floral print V-neck with capped sleeves. It would do. Then she hurried around the room collecting various things to pair with the dress: rings, bangles, a clutch and some pink peep-toe heels.
Caitlin showered quickly, styled her hair and got dressed with only a few minutes to spare. She wasn?t quite as practiced with putting herself together as her mother. Then again, her mother probably had a stylist do her hair and makeup for her.
The drive to the venue was silent. Other than a polite greeting while opening the door for her, the driver remained eyes-forward and close-lipped the entire time. At the pavilion, it didn?t take Caitlin more than half a minute to spot her mother.
Evelyn Ross waited by a fountain looking regal as ever. Perfect hair, perfect make-up, expertly poised. They wouldn?t match one bit, a fact that pleased Caitlin deep down. Evelyn?s dress was more appropriate for winter with darker colors and black heels.
?It?s a little early to wear such bright colors, don?t you think?? But the elder Ross was smiling at her daughter nonetheless.
Cait shrugged, offering a much smaller smile to her mother. ?I never was one for rules.?
?Well, you do look beautiful.? They embraced briefly. ?Shall we go find our seats??
~~~
Fashion was boring. Supremely boring. Caitlin wasn?t even paying attention to the models as they stalked down the stage--which they were right next to. Of course her mother would have seats this close. It would make her feel important and they probably cost a fortune. Her gaze was fixed on a photographer straight across from her on the other side of the catwalk, only vaguely aware of the blur of legs and fabric that passed between them.
?Are you evening listening??
A hand on her wrist broke Caitlin?s reverie. ?No,? she answered honestly, glancing down while pulling her arm away from Evelyn?s soft touch. ?Sorry, what did you say??
Evelyn frowned. ?I asked why you didn?t introduce us to your date yesterday.?
Aside from the glaring, obvious reason of not wanting to talk to them? Her gaze lifted to meet the soft, brown eyes of her mother. ?It?s a little early to be introducing my...friend,? she tripped over the word, ?to my parents right now. Still just getting to know each other.?
?He looked a little old for you.?
She rolled her eyes. ?Mom, it?s not like that. Not yet, anyway.?
?But you want it to be??
?Are you serious right now?? Caitlin cut a hard look across to her mother. ?It was our second date. I have no idea what?s going to happen. But if it gets serious, I?ll let you know. Okay??
?Be sure you make a wise decision this time around, Caitlin.?
The young brunette stared incredulously at her mother, who in turn refused to meet her gaze. Apparently the conversation was over.
Caitlin rolled her eyes. ?Fine,? sighing into the phone receiver. ?Is Dad going to be there?? She was met with a very long pause and she was sure her mother was attempting to keep her tone under control.
?No, Caitlin. He?s working.?
?Good.?
?Caitlin,? her mother responded, a reproving tone to her voice. ?Let?s not get into that mess today. Especially after you left last night without a word.?
The brunette sighed, ignoring the sliver of guilt that tried to wedge itself into her heart. ?See you this afternoon, mom.? They exchanged rather stiff goodbye?s and hung up the phone. Caitlin frowned for a long minute, not moving from her place at the kitchen stove. It was a struggle anytime she got together with her parents. The tension from how Caitlin left over a year ago still hung between them, creating a vast chasm that would likely never be fixed.
Lest she dwell too deeply on the reasoning, Cait shook her head and set about getting ready. She stopped by the bathroom and turned on the shower, then went to her room to find an appropriate dress. Her nice, expensive pieces were in garment bags at the back of her tiny closet. The first dress she came into contact with was a knee-length, floral print V-neck with capped sleeves. It would do. Then she hurried around the room collecting various things to pair with the dress: rings, bangles, a clutch and some pink peep-toe heels.
Caitlin showered quickly, styled her hair and got dressed with only a few minutes to spare. She wasn?t quite as practiced with putting herself together as her mother. Then again, her mother probably had a stylist do her hair and makeup for her.
The drive to the venue was silent. Other than a polite greeting while opening the door for her, the driver remained eyes-forward and close-lipped the entire time. At the pavilion, it didn?t take Caitlin more than half a minute to spot her mother.
Evelyn Ross waited by a fountain looking regal as ever. Perfect hair, perfect make-up, expertly poised. They wouldn?t match one bit, a fact that pleased Caitlin deep down. Evelyn?s dress was more appropriate for winter with darker colors and black heels.
?It?s a little early to wear such bright colors, don?t you think?? But the elder Ross was smiling at her daughter nonetheless.
Cait shrugged, offering a much smaller smile to her mother. ?I never was one for rules.?
?Well, you do look beautiful.? They embraced briefly. ?Shall we go find our seats??
~~~
Fashion was boring. Supremely boring. Caitlin wasn?t even paying attention to the models as they stalked down the stage--which they were right next to. Of course her mother would have seats this close. It would make her feel important and they probably cost a fortune. Her gaze was fixed on a photographer straight across from her on the other side of the catwalk, only vaguely aware of the blur of legs and fabric that passed between them.
?Are you evening listening??
A hand on her wrist broke Caitlin?s reverie. ?No,? she answered honestly, glancing down while pulling her arm away from Evelyn?s soft touch. ?Sorry, what did you say??
Evelyn frowned. ?I asked why you didn?t introduce us to your date yesterday.?
Aside from the glaring, obvious reason of not wanting to talk to them? Her gaze lifted to meet the soft, brown eyes of her mother. ?It?s a little early to be introducing my...friend,? she tripped over the word, ?to my parents right now. Still just getting to know each other.?
?He looked a little old for you.?
She rolled her eyes. ?Mom, it?s not like that. Not yet, anyway.?
?But you want it to be??
?Are you serious right now?? Caitlin cut a hard look across to her mother. ?It was our second date. I have no idea what?s going to happen. But if it gets serious, I?ll let you know. Okay??
?Be sure you make a wise decision this time around, Caitlin.?
The young brunette stared incredulously at her mother, who in turn refused to meet her gaze. Apparently the conversation was over.