Why a Popular Boy Brought My Daughter Home Five Minutes Before Midnight – America Focus PART 2
I knew what she meant before she said it.
“Nothing’s missing,” I said.
She looked down. “Do you think Dad would recognize me now?”
Iris glanced up. “Sorry. Bad topic.”
“No,” I said. “Tonight is about dancing and pictures.”
“I just wonder sometimes,” she whispered. “If he ever thinks about me on big days.”
“He made his choice, Iris.”
“Nothing’s missing.”
She nodded because she had heard that sentence her whole life.
“He didn’t want the responsibility,” she said. “I know the drill, Mom.”
“That’s his loss, my darling.”
The lie came out smoothly because old lies knew the shape of my mouth.
***
The doorbell rang.
Iris jumped up. “He’s here!”
“I’ll stall him for two minutes while you get your shoes on.”
“I know the drill, Mom.”
“Don’t interrogate him.”
“No promises.”
***
Ryan stood on our porch in a tux, holding flowers.
“Good evening, Ms. Jane.”
“Just Jane is fine. Come in.”
“I promise I’ll have her home by midnight,” he said.
“Eleven fifty-nine. At midnight, I start calling hospitals.”
“Good evening, Ms. Jane.”
He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Then Iris came down the stairs.
Ryan forgot how to speak.
“Wow,” he said softly. “You look beautiful.”
Iris blushed. “You look very… tuxedo. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
For a few minutes, everything felt normal.
I took too many pictures, and Ryan opened the car door for her.
I watched until their taillights disappeared.
Everything felt normal.
***
Hours later, my phone buzzed.
“Mom! You’re never going to believe what just happened!”
I smiled while replying.
“What? Is everything okay?”
Her reply came fast.
“I’ll tell you when I get home. It’s… crazy.”
“Good crazy or bad crazy, Iris? Are you safe?”
Her reply came fast.
***
By midnight, I had worn a path between the couch and the window.
At 12:07, headlights swept across the curtains, and I opened the door before they reached the porch.
“Iris?”
She came in first, eyes bright and wild.
“Mom, something happened tonight, and I don’t even know how to explain it.”
“Are you hurt?”
