Chapter 2 - Avice Had Seen Vanessa Remove The Belly Before
Avice’s statement had not come from imagination.
Three nights earlier, Vanessa had taken her into a backstage dressing room during another foundation event because Diane insisted the child was “underfoot.”
Avice sat coloring near a garment rack.
Vanessa thought she was asleep.
She wasn’t.
The child saw Vanessa unzip the side of her silver dress.
Then unfasten something beneath it.
A floral padded belly slid away from her body.
Vanessa sighed in relief and placed it on a chair.
Avice stared.
Vanessa noticed too late.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa crouched.
“That’s part of my dress.”
Avice frowned.
“Your baby came off.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“No.”
“It did.”
“You saw padding.”
“Why?”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Because grown-up clothes are complicated.”
Avice remained unconvinced.
Then Diane entered.
Vanessa whispered something to her.
Diane looked at the child and said:
“You will not upset Julian with silly stories.”
That was what frightened Avice.
Not the fake belly itself.
The warning.
She had learned quickly that questions about Vanessa caused adults to become angry.
At the aquarium gala, when the floral strap slipped onto the carpet, Avice recognized it.
Same pattern.
Same padding material.
Same securing tab she had seen in the dressing room.
And this time—
May you like
Grandpa was there.
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