My MIL Ordered Me a Dress Four Sizes Too Small for Her Party, Saying, ‘It’s Time for You to Lose Weight’ – Karma Didn’t Take Long to Catch up with Her - Page 7

Below it was my actual current dress size.

Then underneath was a later modification.

Four sizes smaller.

Authorized by Clara.

My stomach tightened.

Then I saw the typed instruction beside it.

DO NOT SUBSTITUTE LARGER.

I read it twice.
Simon spoke quietly.

“I called the boutique two days ago because I wanted to exchange your dress.”

I turned toward him.

“You did?”

“Yes.”

The coordinator scrolled farther down.

“There’s something else you should probably see.”

She opened another file Clara had attached to the orders.

“Your mother-in-law wanted every woman’s clothing coordinated according to where she intended them to stand in the family portrait.”

I looked at Simon.

Then back at the screen.

It wasn’t another dress order.

It was a diagram.

At the top were the words:

FORMAL FAMILY PORTRAIT.

Every family member’s name had been arranged into rows.

Beside several women’s names were handwritten notes.

JACKET CLOSED.

KEEP SEATED.

TURN LEFT.

SLEEVES DOWN.

Then I found mine.

JENNIFER — BACK EDGE. SIMON FRONT.

I stared at the screen.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

Clara hadn’t simply wanted me to lose weight.

She had prepared a backup plan in case I didn’t.

Hide me at the edge.

Put Simon in front.

Make me less visible.

Behind us, Clara’s voice cut through the hallway.

“What exactly are you showing her?”

Simon turned.