My old reflex took over.
“What?”
She pointed at her hair.
“Is that gray?”
Graham laughed.
Bad decision.
Marissa spun toward him.
“You knew?”
“Mari, there may be more than…”
“Finish that sentence and there will be no wedding.”
Henry burst out laughing.
“Is that gray?”
I felt like I could finally let my guard down.
Her birthmark was right there.
And for once, it hadn’t been the first thing anyone needed to discuss.
“Where do you want the vanity?” Henry asked.
Marissa considered the question.
“Our apartment.”
Her birthmark was right there.
So that evening, we loaded the vanity into Henry’s SUV and drove it over to Marissa and Graham’s apartment. Then all four of us wrestled it upstairs.
Halfway through the doorway, Marissa snapped, “Dad, rotate it before you destroy the wall.”
Henry froze.
Marissa did too.
She usually called him Henry.
“Dad, rotate it before you destroy the wall.”
Neither acknowledged it.
Henry simply smiled and turned the vanity.
***
Later, as we were leaving, I looked back.
Marissa sat at the mirror removing an earring.
Graham stood behind her brushing his teeth.
He glanced toward her reflection.
Marissa caught him.
“Stop staring at me, weirdo.”
Marissa sat at the mirror removing an earring.
Graham spoke around his toothbrush.
“I’m brushing my teeth.”
“Suspiciously.”
He flicked a drop of water at her.
Marissa yelped.
