That's Her Dad?

Lanie

I took a deep breath and stared in the mirror, turning one way and then the other. Was the black eyeliner too much?

Yes. Too loud. I was going to work at a high school, not to a nightclub.

Grabbing a makeup wipe, I went to rub it off, then remembered it was liquid and would smear all over the place.

“Shit,” I murmured, dropping the wipe in the bathroom trash.

Heart racing, I adjusted the little strands of hair around my ears and frowned. The look would just have to do. At least I was dressed somewhat conservatively in a button-up and wool sweater.

Checking the time, I grabbed my purse and keys from the hook by the front door and locked my ground-floor apartment behind me. There was still plenty of time to get to work, but with my nerves making me shake, I knew I’d be more comfortable once I got into my office.

This was the day. In less than an hour, I had my first parent-teacher conference.

Hopefully, I’d make it through the meeting without vomiting.

I’d had plenty of pa