Bounce by Natasha Friend Page B

Tan?
    There are no boys present, so the sweater twins feel free to say things like, “My boobs look like torpedoes in this,” and “Crap. I think I just got my period,” while Phoebe gets shifted from one lap to another, so no one will get wrinkled.
    Now Thalia is breaking out the bobby pins. She wants to fix everyone’s hair before we get there. I let her work on my flower crown, and she pokes me in the head a few times, trying to make it tighter. “This would be a lot easier if you had long hair,” she says.
    I look at her and think, You don’t know the half of it.
    For the rest of the ride, I close my eyes and pretend I’m on the beach.
    At the church, we get escorted to a room with fluffy green couches and a big mirror. Eleni stands in front of it while everyone fusses over her. Thalia busts out the hairspray.Phoebe goes to town with the hand cream. “You need to be
soft
, Mommy,” she says, “when Al puts the ring on.”
    â€œThank you, sweetheart.”
    As usual, the sweater twins are fighting.
    â€œPink lipstick? Are you kidding me? She’s wearing earth tones.”
    â€œWell, we’re not doing orange, Clio. We’re not giving the bride orange lips. She’ll look like a freak.”
    While I sit on a fluffy green couch the whole time, watching. Because I don’t belong in here. If I should be anywhere right now, it’s with Birdie, helping him tie his tie or something.
    Then comes a knock at the door. “Ladies?”
    The sweater twins go ballistic. “Oh my God!” They scream, running to block the door. “It’s Al! Hide Mom!”
    â€œYou’re not allowed to see the bride, Al!” Thalia calls out. “It’s bad luck!”
    He laughs. “I won’t come in. I promise. I just need to borrow Evyn for a minute.”
    I go into the hall and lean against the door, staring at him. Birdie with no beard and no glasses, wearing a tux and shoes so shiny you can see yourself in them.
    â€œYou don’t look like you,” I say.
    He smiles. “You don’t look like you, either.” Then, quietly, “You look like your mom.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œYou do. With your hair pinned up like that? You look…you’re beautiful, honey.” His voice cracks when he says this.
    I shake my head.
    Birdie nods.
    We’re both silent, like we can’t find the words.
    Then he reaches into his pocket. “I have something for you. I’ve been wanting to give it to you for a long time. I was just…waiting for the right…”
    He clears his throat and hands me a box, blue with metallic swirls, and I feel goose bumps all over my arms as I open it and take out a necklace.
    â€œThis was hers?”
    Birdie nods. He motions for me to turn around.
    I do, and he fastens the clasp. The pendant rests in the hollow of my neck—a silver teardrop shape.
    â€œShe would want you to have it,” he says.
    I turn again, and Birdie hugs me hard. He scruffs his chin against my scalp, and even though he’s not scruffy anymore it feels good.
    We stay that way for a while, until the minister comes up and puts a hand on my dad’s shoulder.
    â€œAlbert,” he says. “It’s time.”
    Somehow, I make it through the ceremony part.
    I smile. I toss petals like a pro. I stand at attention while Birdie and Eleni promise to love, honor, cherish, and blah, blah, blah. I even watch them kiss, without vomiting.
    But when the minister says, “I’m delighted to introduce toyou…Mr. and Mrs. Albert Linney!” I can’t fake it anymore, because I’m so mad.
    Mrs. Albert Linney.
    There’s only one Mrs. Albert Linney, and that’s my mom—the one whose picture has been hanging over the fireplace all my life, the one whose necklace I’m wearing right now. I don’t care if she’s dead, she’s still a Linney, and Eleni’s