“I wouldn’t say that. Melanie did all the work.”

“You’ll be helping us set something right.” Aggie pulls my ponytail out from the neck of the dress with care. “Thank you for taking the dress. It means a lot to Ren that you did. We never had children. But you, dear Ruthie Maree, are the closest we ever got. You and Theodore. We’re going to leave the door unlocked tonight. In case he comes back.”

I exhale and nod. I pull my hair tie out and my hair tumbles around my shoulders. “Shall we go?”

“We’ll be along shortly. You go ahead.”

It’s eerie, walking through Providence in my miraculous swan princess dress. The air buzzes with the sound of electric mobility scooters. Weaving side to side, the residents dodge the tortoises. I open the rec center doors, switch on the sparkling lights and mirror ball, and the walls fracture into every color, spinning around us. My phone has a text from Mel: Running a bit late, just hit play on the playlist. I do, and the first song is an old one. I hear voices whoop in excitement.

My residents stream in, dressed to the nines. Some have dates. Some have brought their families. I get to hug each one hello, but also goodbye. When they find out I’m leaving, they’ll say it’s a shame. Once they find out I’m running away to try to recapture the heart of the tattooed boy who cleaned the gutters shirtless for the Parlonis, they’ll give me full endorsement.

“I have never in my life seen anything so beautiful,” Mrs. Whittaker tells me in the doorway. I can’t tell if she means the glittering room, or my dress. “If only I had a date. I bet you can’t tell looking at me, but once upon a time, I had plenty of options.”

“Three boyfriends at the same time. Yes, you told me. And I’m in awe. I’m hopefully about to get just one boyfriend, but he’s a special one.” Electric, dazzling, beautiful Theodore Prescott. Please hold on for me. I’ll be there soon.

It’s only when the room is mostly crowded that I notice the Parlonis are nowhere to be seen. I’m just walking to the door when they step in, and they are hand in hand. Now that I am in love, I understand everything.

The Parlonis are not sisters.

How have I never noticed the way they look at each other? The hands folded together, the times I’ve walked in to find them leaning together on the couch? They walk in together, backs remarkably straight, heads held high.

Renata looks around at the room, eyes defiant. I know now what their old wound was: they couldn’t go to the prom with each other, and it’s been carried around on their relationship like a scar.

If they were expecting a scene, they don’t get it. If they were expecting judgment or disgust, there is none. The Parlonis are glanced at and then forgotten in favor of the refreshments. I walk over to them as they halt underneath the mirror ball that has somehow transformed the entire world tonight.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Renata used the word gullible earlier to describe me and I feel it now. “Didn’t you trust me?”

“She finally gets it.” Renata smiles, and in this light she looks about twenty years old. “My beloved wins yet another bet.” She lifts Aggie’s hand to her mouth and kisses it. “I owe you twenty dollars.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask again.

Renata replies. “Your father is a reverend. At first we didn’t say, because I didn’t want to find out that you’re a jerk. And it’s just easier. People have assumed we’re sisters our whole lives. But not anymore.” Renata looks around the room. “This feels like what I thought it would. Even if I’m old.”

I smooth down a feather on my dress. “But you know I’m not a jerk. I really did think you were sisters. Did Teddy know?”

Aggie says, “He knew the first day.” Both smile. “We weren’t trying to keep a secret deliberately. We’ve just lived this way for a long time. It hasn’t been …” She can’t think of the word. I think it hasn’t been easy.

Renata gives me a look. “It’s our business. But times have changed. And your prom was just in time.”

“You should get married.” I hope I haven’t overstepped as they carefully exchange looks. Then they smile.

“You’re starting to get it,” Renata tells me. There’s approval in her eyes. “You’re starting to realize that life is too short. You’ve got to find that person you love.”

“I think I lost him.”

Aggie speaks. “Then find him.”

“I’m so glad she’s not a jerk,” Renata says as they walk to the dance floor. Her shawl slips from her shoulder and I see her tattoo: AGATHA FOREVER. It’s perfect.

Together, they step into an easy waltzing shuffle. Other couples join them, and soon the dance floor is a slow-motion, creaking sway. There are walking frames. Some dancers sit down periodically to rest. It’s the tamest, sweetest little party. I take the box of corsages that Melanie handmade and begin to tie them to frail wrists. Tonight, everyone feels twenty-five.

Tonight is a miracle.

I lean against the wall, just watching, and a woman walks in. She’s tall, powerful, and would be chosen first for a school sport.

“This is actually quite lovely,” Rose Prescott says as she sets down her overnight bag against the wall next to me. “You’ve got a nice taste level. I was just coming up to let you know my father is arriving in the morning. I wanted to go through the audit findings here, seeing as though he’s always going on about how important that is.” Rose isn’t one to say something like, thanks for the invitation.

“Melanie says that you’ll recommend that the site be developed once the tenancies expire.”

“It’s what we do. Surely you’ve realized it. Don’t be looking so accusing,” she adds defensively. “And don’t take your anger at my father’s son out on me.”

“Why don’t you ever call him your brother?”

“Because I don’t want a brother.”

“He loves you so much he’s got a rose tattooed on himself. But you’ve probably never spent enough time with him to notice it. He’s been heartbroken since he was a kid that you don’t want anything to do with him.”

Emotion flares in her eyes. “It’s complicated.”

“Working here, I’ve realized that it doesn’t have to be. And that life goes by quick. One day you and I will look like them.” I nod at the crowd. “I think it’s time we both make peace with a few things.”

“Teddy said he’d be here, didn’t he,” Rose says like she’s making one last pitch to change my mind. “He promised you, I bet.”

No, he didn’t. I’d hoped. “He did. But if he has somewhere more important to be, I understand.” I see a tall man in the doorway and my heart leaps.

But then Rose says, “Oh, there’s my dad.”

Jerry Prescott walks up to us, pulling a carry-on suitcase. “I just got into town, thought I’d come and see what all the fuss is about. This is amazing.”

He turns around us, smiling at the slow-dancing seniors on the dance floor. His gaze does catch on the Parlonis and their romantic clinch, but if he’s surprised he recovers well. “I want to congratulate you on a fantastic year of hard work, Ruthie, despite everything that’s happened.”

“Don’t congratulate me too soon,” I reply glumly. “Rose has bad news.”

“Oh, yes. She briefed me quickly on that.” Jerry’s face grows serious. “Did she tell you that we never believed you were involved? The matter is now with law enforcement. Sylvia is disembarking in Noumea tomorrow morning, and she’s going to be met by police. It looks like she was embezzling from the previous owners of Providence, too. Since she’s been working here for over fifteen years, we’d say a loss of $400,000 is conservative. If only I’d taken a tour with you, like you offered, the day I arrived here, we might have picked it up sooner. Forty little town houses.”

Rose sighs like she’s beaten. “I already know what you’re going to say, so I’ll just agree and say that from now on, I will personally walk every site we ever buy.”

The mirror ball turns, my eyes are dazzled by a starburst, and when they readjust to the dark room, I see a new silhouette in the doorway. It’s another man I don’t recognize. He’s tall and dressed in a suit that looks like it was made for him. He’s got a sharp, edgy haircut, the sides shaved close to his head and some length on top, shining blue-black in the scattered disco ball lights.

It’s Teddy. He’s come back, and—

“He got a haircut.” Both Jerry and Rose gasp in unison.

Teddy spots us now and begins to walk over. The Parlonis see him and begin to make their way over to us, too.

“My, my, don’t you look sharp,” Jerry exclaims, clapping his son hard on the shoulder. “You wouldn’t be out of place in PDC corporate headquarters, would he, Rose?”

Teddy’s eyes are only on me. “I came back. I’m not too late, am I?”