Splashes of red wine — straight onto her white dress.

“Oh!” — she gasped, wiping the fabric. “How clumsy…”

I immediately suggested:

“There’s a mirror and napkins in the bathroom. Go check, maybe it will come out.”

She went in. I followed — and after making sure she was inside the stall, I quietly locked the door from outside.

Returning to the guests, I calmly said:

“Mom went home, she wasn’t feeling well. She asked not to be disturbed.”