I closed my eyes.
Stacy continued.
“He suggested we find something nicer, just in case. I thought I was helping.”
“I understand.”
“I really didn’t mean to upset you.”
“The gift wasn’t the problem,” I said. “What Zach said when he brought it was.”
I repeated his comments about my stitching and about Stacy providing a proper costume.
Stacy sounded genuinely shocked.
“He didn’t tell me any of that.”
For the first time, I considered that she’d walked into this situation believing she was doing something kind.
That didn’t erase what had happened between her and Zach.
But it meant Halloween wasn’t the competition between two women he’d made it appear to be.
“Emma can keep the dress at your house,” I said. “She likes it.”
“I’d like that.”
Before hanging up, Stacy added, “For what it’s worth, Melanie, Emma looked beautiful in the dress you made.”
I thanked her.
