CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Friday night, the lights are bright. I can see my breath when I let the air out of my lungs. I’m bundled in layers of clothes. I’m warm. Life is good. Vianna, Natalie, and I huddle close in the stands, drinking our hot chocolate. Alicia brought a thermos full of the sweet creamy liquid. My dad even decorated our paper cups, mine and Alicia’s. He drew a picture of me and him on mine: my dad’s handing me a flower, a perfect orange hibiscus. On the other side of the cup he wrote I love you baby girl. Most! Alicia’s cup has a simple heart with a U in the middle. Finally he’s paying attention to both of us.
Titans lead 21–0 at the half. I feel sorry for the other team. Two of their best players are out with injuries. Jack won’t play the second half. The JV will receive the playing time they’re always hungering for because of the lead. Alicia invited the stepmonsters and their husbands to the game. The men love the action. Their wives, not so much. The stepmonsters look miserable bundled up in their winter gear.
As instructed, at halftime the three of us walk past the stepmonsters on the east side of the stadium. Vianna, Natalie, and I are linked together—because Rule Number Nine: Together we are stronger. We hold each other up, Vianna on my right and Natalie on my left. If a tornado blew through, its force wouldn’t knock us over. We have strength together that even the elements can’t break.
Annabelle Moo-Moo jumps when she sees Natalie, not in fear but with excitement. Annabelle runs to her sister and grabs her leg. “Nattie! I miss you so much. I told my teacher what happened and she said you saved my life! You are the best big sister in the whole world. Will you please come to show and tell? Will you please?”
Natalie looks at her father and Stephanie for approval. Her dad grins and Stephanie nods her head. Natalie picks up her little sister and holds on tight. Natalie kisses her cheek with loud, huge smacks. “I would love to come to your show and tell.”
Wendy rolls her eyes like the stupid teenagers she’s always accusing us of being.
Stephanie doesn’t miss this look of annoyance. “Really, Wendy? Enough is enough.”
Wendy huffs. “What, now you’re siding with them?”
“Better than who you’re siding with.” Looks like Stephanie’s had enough. And she might know something the rest of us don’t.
Wendy’s eyes bulge. “Don’t go there.”
Stephanie stands. “I’m cold and I’m not having fun. Peter, you should stay, but me and Annabelle are gonna head home.” Stephanie pats Natalie’s shoulder.
Peter stands. “I’m ready to go.”
Natalie’s dad shakes Vianna’s father’s hand. “Buddy, we’ve really messed up.” Before Peter leaves, he stops in front of Natalie. He hugs Natalie tight. Natalie holds on to her father. She can’t stop smiling. Annabelle plunges in and hugs their legs. Natalie picks her up on one side and their dad grabs the other side. Annabelle wraps an arm around each of them for the cutest group hug ever, which I capture with the camera from my new smartphone. That will be posted very soon.
Wendy stands and demands that her husband leave, too. “I’m so over this. Whose stupid idea was this, anyway? Football annoys me almost as much as…” she doesn’t finish her sentence. Instead she glares at Vianna.
Vianna’s dad follows Wendy without saying anything to anyone, including his daughter.
Alicia winks at me, and then whispers, “At least part of it is better.”
That doesn’t make me feel much better. I want all of us to be happy, not just two of us. The Contract of Three is just that: three, not two. Three.