My deceased father appeared in my dream the night before my birthday and warned, ‘Don’t wear the dress your husband gave you.’ I woke up trembling, because my husband had just given me that dress. And when the seamstress brought it back and I checked the lining, I realized my father hadn’t just visited in a dream, he might have prevented something I hadn’t noticed.

“Well, time to get ready,” he said, glancing at his watch. “We need to be at the Magnolia Grill by 6. Liv, go get yourself ready. We’re running out of time.”

Liv stood and went to the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She leaned against it and shut her eyes for a moment.

Now he would see her in a different dress. How would he react?

She opened the closet, lifted the blue dress from its hanger, and slipped it on. She zipped it carefully, adjusted the folds, and studied herself in the mirror. She looked good, elegant, poised, dignified. She grabbed a small clutch, placing her phone, lipstick, and a tissue inside, drew a deep breath, and stepped out.

Everyone was waiting in the living room. Nikki in a stunning beige dress. Darius in a suit. Mikey in a crisp white shirt and vest. Mark stood by the window, turning as he heard her steps.

His expression shifted. The smile froze. His eyes widened. And for a fraction of a second, Liv glimpsed something that made her blood run cold, a swirl of rage, disbelief, fear.

“What is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp.

“What is what exactly?” Liv stopped in the center of the room, meeting his gaze.

“Why aren’t you wearing that dress? I asked you to. I ordered it specially.”

“I prefer this one,” she said, shrugging, trying to keep her voice calm. “You’re not going to object, are you, Mark?”

Nikki exchanged a glance with Darius. An awkward silence filled the room.

“But we agreed,” Mark started, stepping toward her, his movements tense, barely containing aggression. “Liv, this is your 50th. I spent so much money. Ordered it specially.”

“I’m more comfortable in this one,” she interrupted firmly. “And anyway, Mark, it’s my birthday. I’ll wear whatever I want.”

He stared at her, and she could see the wheels turning in his mind. He didn’t understand. Why wasn’t she in that dress? His entire plan was unraveling.

“Mom’s right, Dad,” Nikki said, sensing the tension. “What does it matter which dress? The important thing is that she looks beautiful.”

Mark clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them, forcing a smile, but it was strained.

“Of course, of course. I’m sorry, Liv. I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

“Everything is perfect as it is,” she replied, her voice carrying a steel it hadn’t had before.

They drove to the restaurant in two cars, Nikki and her family in one, Liv and Mark in the other. He was silent the entire way, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. Liv sat beside him, staring out the window, feeling the tension in the car coil tighter with every mile.

“Do you know something?” he asked suddenly, his voice low.

She turned toward him.

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