Chapter 4 - Kathleen
She finally told me about her stepfather. His name was Roland. Sandra had married him when Diane was four. Kathleen was Roland's daughter from his first marriage. Diane's biological father had left before she was even born. Roland legally adopted Diane — but he never once let anyone forget she wasn't really his.
"He loved Kathleen," Diane said. "She was beautiful to him. Blonde, pale, delicate. Everywhere we went, people said she looked just like him." She picked at the edge of the photo. "And then there was me."
My stomach tightened. "What did he say about you?"
"That I looked common. That my hair was ugly. That my nose was too wide."
"Your mother allowed that?"
Diane gave me a sad look. "My mother participated."
I glanced toward the house. Sandra was visible through the kitchen window, holding Willow.
"When I was eleven, Mom started straightening my hair. At thirteen she let me lighten it. By sixteen I was blonde."
"And the contacts?"
"High school."
"The surgery?"
"Mom paid for it."
I couldn't speak. Diane wiped her face. "She told me I'd thank her someday."
"Did you?"
"For a while."
That answer hurt more than I expected. "Who was Kathleen?"
Diane stared at the photograph. "My sister."
"You told me Paige was your only sister."
"I know."
May you like
"What happened to Kathleen?"
"She died when I was nine."
