Page 15 of Chasing Your Ghost

“Thank you, love,” he replied, passing the plate of taco shells to Riley. “Dig in.”

“Thanks.” She took two shells before passing the plate to an ungrateful Olivia.

“So, Riley,” Hugh said once they were all busy building their dinner. “Is there anything you’d like to do or see in D.C.?”

“I haven’t thought much about what I want to see,” Riley admitted. She hadn’t exactly been doing any travel planning since they’d last spoken. “But the Washington Ballet has open classes for adults that I’d like to go to. Getting there will be a bit of a mission without a car, but they’re surprisingly cheap, so the two hours on the bus and metro will be worth it.”

“Will they let you in with that hair?” Olivia asked as she violently speared a piece of lettuce with her fork.

“I think I’ll be okay,” Riley replied dryly.

“Olivia,” Edith warned.

The girl’s angry mask slipped for a moment, and Riley felt a reluctant stab of pity when she saw the hurt shining in the sixteen-year-old’s eyes. “It was just a question,” she mumbled.

“Riley’s grandmother, Richard’s mom, danced for the New York ballet,” Edith announced to the table. “She was the one who got Riley involved in dancing.”

“Really?” Olivia asked sarcastically, her previous vulnerability gone. “I had no idea. It’s almost as if I haven’t heard that story five hundred times.”

“Oh my god,” Noah muttered, his hands lifting to cover his face.

“Olivia,” Hugh snapped, sounding furious.

“If you can’t act your age, you can leave the table,” Edith told her youngest daughter, and Riley flinched at the harsh, though admittedly fair, words.

Olivia didn’t look up as she spooned salsa onto her otherwise completed tacos, but her hand trembled as she put the spoon back into the bowl. She stared down at her untouched tacos as a tear dropped onto her plate, and Riley had the urge to tell Edith to shut up.

“I’m sure Olivia’s ballet teacher would have a class you could take,” Hugh chipped in once the awkwardness had become unbearable.

Riley’s eyebrows climbed up her forehead, not having expected to have something so big in common with the half-sister who apparently hated her guts. But now that she knew Olivia was a ballet dancer, it made sense. The girl certainly had the slim build for it.

“Oh, that’s a fantastic idea,” Edith practically cheered, not giving her miserable daughter another glance. “Why don’t we give her a call tomorrow morning? She’s a lot closer than D.C., and we’ll probably be able to get a discount with Olivia there too. She also does private lessons if you’re interested in that.”

Riley gnawed on her lip. “It sounds great, but I don’t know. Even with a discount, I’m not sure I can afford it, especially the private lessons.”

“Don’t be silly. We’ll cover your lessons.”

“That’s really not necessary,” Riley argued.

“It’s the least we could do,” Edith pressed. “Miss Markova is a brilliant teacher, and I’d feel better knowing you don’t have to travel so far to and from classes.”

Riley shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I suppose.”

“Then it’s settled,” Hugh said. “I’ll call her tomorrow.”

Riley felt a bit railroaded, but she sent him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“Great,” Olivia grumbled under her breath.

“What’s the problem, Livvy?” Noah asked. “Scared your sister is going to show you up?”

“Don’t be dumb,” Olivia hissed. “There’s no way that purple-haired freak is better than me. And she’s not my sister!”

The word ‘freak’ hit Riley with the force of a punch, bringing back memories of the word being chanted at her on the middle school playground and in a high school cafeteria.

The word usually had rage rising in her chest, but now it had the backs of her eyes burning. It hurt more coming from Olivia than it had from anyone at school.

“Enough,” Edith shouted, her palms hitting the table loudly and rattling the dishes. “Olivia take your dinner up to your room,” she ordered.

---