I reached into my small jewelry box and took out my mother’s worn pearl earrings. They were small and slightly yellowed with age, but they were the only real jewelry I owned. I clipped them onto my ears, the cold metal pinching my lobes.
“You can do this,” I whispered to myself, looking at the wall. “It is just a dress.”
I stepped into the green silk, pulling it up over my shoulders. The zipper went up easily, the fabric fitting snug against my waist.
I walked out of the bedroom, my heels clicking softly on the hardwood floor.
Damon was coming up the stairs, his tie still loose around his neck. He stopped on the third step from the top, his hand gripping the banister. His eyes traveled from my shoes up to my neck, staying there for a long moment.
“Are you seriously wearing that?” he asked. His voice was flat, devoid of any warmth.
“Yes,” I said, smoothing my hands down the skirt. “I bought it last week.”
