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And sitting next to her, on the loveseat, wearing a light blue suit, was my mother. There were our friends Marcy and Blair and Katie, Taylor’s Aunt Mindy, my next door-neighbor Mrs. Taylor had hung crepe-paper wedding bells from the ceiling, and “Going to the Chapel” was playing on the stereo. I used the bathroom quickly, and after I washed my hands, I tried to brush my hair with my fingers. “Almost everybody’s here,” she said, leading me to the living room. She looked like she should be the bride, not me. She was wearing a pink dress with light green fish swimming along the hem, and she’d done her hair halfway up. But since it was a party, I figured I should. I rang the doorbell, something I never did at Taylor’s house. He said, You look nice, and I said thanks. It was the first time we’d spoken since the day we stopped for peaches. When I’d left the Cousins house, Conrad said I looked nice. I’d put on mascara and blush and pink lip gloss. I was wearing a white sundress and sandals. It reminded me of every birthday party Taylor had ever had.
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Taylor’s mailbox had white balloons strung on it. I recognized Marcy Yoo’s silver Audi and Taylor’s Aunt Mindy’s blue Honda. There were already a bunch of cars parked in front of the house. The invitations they sent out were nicer than my actual wedding invitations. I kept thinking of it as her shower because she and her mom were the ones who were throwing it. It was the day of Taylor’s bridal shower. I didn’t know if it was because of Jere’s bad credit or my lack of credit, but who really cared. I jerked the passenger door open and got in. I didn’t finish the sentence the way I wanted to-We don’t know if I got my way or not, because of your bad credit.