The Stepsister Read Online Free Page B

ignoring his joke. “Well, see you later. Come after nine, okay?”
    She stood up and replaced the receiver, tried to straighten her hair, frowning into the full-length mirror on the closet door, and then hurried downstairs to the dining room. Jessie has barely said five words to me in the three days she’s been here, she thought. Emily couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She had looked forward to having a new sister. But so far she and Jessie were just two strangers who happened to share a room.
    â€œSorry, I’m late,” she said, scooting into her place. Mr. Wallner was already half finished with his plate of macaroni. He always sat down and started to eat whether anyone was at the table or not.
    Across from him Nancy yawned loudly. “Sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I was up studying till nearly two last night.”
    â€œYou really are working hard this year,” Mrs. Wallner said, passing the bowl of macaroni to Emily.
    â€œYou should get your beauty sleep,” Mr. Wallner said. It must have been meant as a joke, because he stopped chewing for a moment to laugh. He looked disappointed that no one else at the table saw the humor of it. “Pass the salt and pepper,” he muttered.
    â€œIs it too bland?” Mrs. Wallner asked.
    â€œNo. It’s fine,” he replied, using both hands to cover his food with salt and pepper at the same time.
    Rich, silent as usual, sat staring into his plate, occasionally lifting a macaroni noodle or two to his mouth.
    â€œWhere’s Jessie?” Nancy asked.
    â€œI think she’s upstairs in the bathroom,” Emily said, reaching for the salad bowl.
    â€œDid you brush your hair today?” Mrs. Wallner asked, making a disapproving face at Emily.
    â€œI have to wash it tonight,” Emily said, annoyed. Her mother knew she didn’t like to talk about her hair.
    â€œCome on, Rich. Dig into that macaroni,” Mr. Wallner said, pouring more pepper on his. “It’s delicious.”
    â€œI’m not very hungry,” Rich said sullenly.
    â€œYou’re never hungry,” Mr. Wallner grumbled. “That’s why you look like a macaroni noodle.”
    â€œHey, why are you always putting me down?” Rich shouted, immediately angry.
    â€œI wasn’t putting you down. That was a compliment,” Mr. Wallner said, smiling at Rich.
    â€œYou can shove your compliments!” Rich cried, angrily tossing his fork down onto his plate and storming out of the room.
    â€œHey, come back here,” Mr. Wallner called after him, startled and obviously upset. “I was just teasing you!” He turned to Emily’s mother. “What’s with that kid?”
    â€œThirteen is a really hard age,” Mrs. Wallner said, suddenly looking very tired.
    â€œI’ll make it a lot harder for him,” Mr. Wallner said. But it wasn’t a threat. Everyone could see that he was very upset by Rich’s angry reaction. He reached for the salad bowl and piled a heap of lettuce on his plate. “I’m getting sick and tired of him running away anytime anybody says anything to him.”
    â€œHe’s very sensitive,” Mrs. Wallner said softly.
    â€œDon’t defend him.”
    â€œI wasn’t defending him. I was just explaining—”
    â€œWell, don’t explain either.” Mr. Wallner angrily forked lettuce into his mouth.
    â€œSorry I’m late. I got hung up,” Jessie said, hurrying into the room. Her blond hair sparkled under the dining-room lights. She was wearing gray wool slacks and a long, pale green sweater.
    â€œHey—my sweater!” Emily cried.
    â€œWhat?” Jessie scooted her chair in and gave Emily a confused look.
    â€œThat’s my sweater. You’re wearing my sweater,” Emily insisted, sounding angrier than she had intended.
    â€œNo, it isn’t,” Jessie said, spooning a small helping of macaroni onto