to come, but she’s not any of those things, and you can see that she idolizes you despite your bitchiness.”
“Well, she shouldn’t. I’m not her sister.”
“Jesus, you’re stubborn. Okay, you’re not her sister. That’s totally fine, but you are someone she just met, and even if you treat her like a stranger, you should at least be cordial.”
Kaylie held her hand out. “Glasses, please.”
“You’re so frustrating!” Danica said and tossed her the glasses. “Well, I tried. I know this whole thing is weird, and hard, and even kinda icky, but we really need to find a way through this, and no matter what you think, you’re my number one sister and you always will be.”
Danica found her family leaving the restaurant.
“There you are!” Lacy said with a wide smile. “Blake said that you were thinking of going into town today. Would you mind if I tagged along?”
“Actually, I thought we’d all go together. We lined up snorkeling lessons for later this afternoon, too. I’m so sorry. I thought I told you this the last time we talked.”
“You did, but given the circumstances with...well...I didn’t want to assume,” Lacy said.
“Don’t be silly. She’ll get over all of this, and I’m looking forward to spending time with you guys.” Danica looked at her father and Madeline. “I hope that wasn’t too presumptuous of me to set this up. Lacy said that you both had talked about wanting to try scuba diving, so I thought this might be a nice introduction to it, without all the risk.”
Madeline squeezed her father’s hand, and her eyes lit up with anticipation.
“That sounds perfect,” her father said. He slung an arm casually around Madeline, and she leaned in to him.
Danica found herself staring at the ease in which they interacted, like they’d been doing it for years. And, she realized with a start, they had been together since Kaylie was at least three. They’d been together longer than he and her mother had been together.
“Kaylie’s not coming, is she?” Her father’s words fell heavy with disappointment.
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“Would you mind if I talked to her?” Lacy asked.
Danica shot a look at Chaz, who shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea.”
“I’ll talk to her,” her father said.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea right now, either,” Danica admitted.
“There’s never going to be a good time for this discussion,” he said. He kissed Madeline’s forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Madeline grabbed his hand as it slid from her shoulder. “You’re a good man, Don. Don’t you doubt that. Be gentle, but be honest.”
He nodded, lowered his eyes, and walked out the doors.
Chapter Five
“You had to go and sic Dad on me?” Kaylie seethed as they rode the jitney bus into town. Every seat was taken, and even though it was early in the day, the smell of perspiration and suntan lotion was already thick. They sat in the rear of the bus, Chaz and Blake in the seats in front of them, and their father, Madeline, and Lacy were forced to sit in the only other available seats, toward the front of the bus.
“Calm down. I didn’t sic him on you. He said he wanted to talk to you. What did he say, anyway?” Danica was glad their father was so far away. She’d be mortified if he heard the venom in Kaylie’s voice, though she couldn’t imagine that she’d gone easy on him out by the pool. When they’d returned, her father looked defeated, as if he’d aged ten years during their ten-minute conversation. Kaylie’s face had been stoic as she’d disappeared into the elevator.
Now she had the same stoic look on her face as she shrugged in response to Danica’s question.
“You won’t tell me?”
“I didn’t listen.” Kaylie turned toward the window, her lips pressed tightly together.
“You’re such a child sometimes,” Danica said. She tapped Chaz on the shoulder. “Swap seats with me?”
Chaz lifted his
Aziz Ansari, Eric Klinenberg