Page 65 of Catching My Dreams

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“I think I’ll end up joining a ballet company,” Olivia replied, but Noah noted the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. His sister was a great dancer, but sometimes, he wondered if it was the path she should follow.

“That’s amazing,” Ella said.

“Riley’s a dancer, too,” Edith chimed in. “She’s slowed down now that college is taking up her time, but she was brilliant.”

Noah winced. His stepmom was about as subtle as an elephant wearing a church bell around its neck. “Olivia’s brilliant as well,” he said pointedly, hoping she’d receive the message.

“Of course she is. I’m just saying that Olivia isn’t the only dancer in the family.”

“Unbelievable,” Olivia muttered, her tone unsurprisingly bitter.

“What about you, Ella? Did you ever do any ballet?” Noah’s dad asked, making a blatant attempt to divert the conversation away from his wife’s inability to shut up about Riley’s ballet skills.

“Um, no,” Ella replied, her wide eyes finding Noah’s.

“Be grateful that you didn’t,” Olivia told her. “Because if you did, I’m sure my mother would list all the ways Riley is better than you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Edith asked.

“It means that you can’t seem to have one conversation about me that you don’t make about Riley,” Noah’s half-sister spat.

“That is not true.” Edith spared an embarrassed glance around the table and cleared her throat. “We can discuss this later.”

“Why don’t we discuss it now?” Olivia gritted out.

“We have guests, Olivia,” Edith sighed. “You’re being rude.”

She scoffed. “Oh, I’m being rude.”

“That’s enough.”

“Five,” Olivia said, the word oddly quiet considering how she’d been close to yelling seconds earlier.

“What?” Noah asked when nobody else did.

“There are five pictures of me in the living room.”

Noah frowned. He knew she was talking about the collage of photographs that was hanging on their living room wall, but he wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything. Until she spoke again.

“Want to know how many there are of Riley?” Olivia asked. “Fifteen.”

Noah closed his eyes. It was no wonder Olivia had grown thorns over the years.

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” Edith finally said. “They’re just photographs.”

“No,” Olivia bit out. “They’re reminders of the fact that Riley has always been and will always be your favorite daughter.”

“Olivia, your mom loves you,” their dad said, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his, but Olivia yanked her hand away from him.

“Maybe, but we all know she loves her darling Riley more.”

“Maybe we should go,” Chris suggested, looking pained.

“No, if anyone should leave, it should be me,” Olivia said, already standing up from the table. “Isn’t that right, Mom?”

“You’re being unreasonable,” Edith said, her cheeks red. “Just sit down, and let’s finish our meal in peace.”

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