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Being an attractive female was nice, granted, and Coll had no problem enjoying it. She knew she was pretty, and appreciated her good genes. But Gail...Gail advertised sex. Tonight she was wearing a dress that barely cleared her ass. The dress was so low cut her lacy white bra showed, not to mention half her boobage. Two years ago, she’d gotten implants, and the new boobs stuck out at an angle that defied God and nature.
Maybe Gail, who was no longer as young as she’d been when she was the Hot Young Thing, was afraid of losing Dad.
Not that he was such a prize.
At the moment, he was goofing around with Savannah’s hair, pulling a strand, then pretending he wasn’t when she turned around to see. Both of them were smiling and laughing, and Gail would occasionally look at them and smile, her red-painted lips a bit ghoulish in the natural light.
“Hey, Yogi!” Colleen said, using the nickname her sister loved. “Ready to kick some patootie? Hi, Dad. Gail.”
“Why are you in a candy store shirt?” Savannah asked.
“Oh, they’re short a player, so I’m on their team today. It’s okay. I’m still rooting for us.” She winked at her sister.
“How are you, Colleen?” her dad said, glancing over her shoulder. “Marian! Good to see you!” Yes. Schmooze the mayor.
Gail tossed her shiny red hair. “Listen, Colleen,” she said, her voice already tight. “About Savvi playing...” Gail was the only one who used Savannah’s sappy nickname, and insisted that it end in ani,preferably topped with a heart. “This is her last game. We’ll be focusing on cheerleading from here on out.”
Savannah looked at the ground.
“Oh, yeah?” Colleen said. “Do you like cheerleading, hon?”
“I guess,” Savannah muttered.
Colleen gave her father a sharp look. He returned it blankly.
“Cheering will be a better sport for you, sweetie pie!” Gail said. “You look really pretty in that little outfit, too. Stand up straight, Savvi. It makes you look perky.”
“Well, you look great in catcher’s gear, too, Savannah,” Colleen said. “Very kick-ass.”
Gail narrowed her eyes, then looked away in distaste, as if Colleen were a shmooshed porcupine rotting on the side of the road. Colleen narrowed back. But now wasn’t the time to argue, not in front of Savannah, not in front of the crowd, which was thick tonight with tourists and townies alike.
Motherhood obviously hadn’t given Gail the type of daughter she’d thought she’d preordered. She’d wanted a gorgeous little doll, a girly-girl who loved clothes and nail polish and long hair...ironically, a little girl like Colleen had been. Not a sturdy tomboy who’d asked for a poster of Jorge Posada for her last birthday.
“Okay, Dad, Mother Gail,” Colleen said, earning another glare. “See you later! Come on, Savannah, let’s go.”
“Go get ’em, tiger,” Dad said, and Savannah grinned over her shoulder. “I’ll be watching!”
Colleen felt the familiar pang. She should be more like Connor, who’d given up on Dad long ago.
“Collie, I don’t know if I should be a cheerleader,” Savannah said mournfully. “Some of the girls are mean.”
“How are they mean?”
Her sister swallowed. “They just are. The way they look at me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Someone said I was fat, and no one talked to me at tryouts.”
Colleen’s jaw clamped tight. “You’re not fat, sweetheart. You’re strong.”
“I’m chubby.”
“Honey, people come in all shapes and sizes.”
“I wish I looked like you.”
The words were stated with such hopelessness that Colleen stopped and dropped to her knees. “Savannah, you’re wonderful. Do you know that? You’re so funny and smart and I love being with you. I always have. You also happen to be absolutely adorable. You’re my favorite person in the whole world.” She smiled. “Don’t tell Connor, he’ll get jealous.”
Savannah smiled, but her eyes stayed sad.
“And Dad’s crazy about you. No one wants you to be anything but exactly who you are.”
