Page 4 of Two Hearts

“Yes, it is. And the worst kind. What we did, we did so you could be who you really were. But maybe I shouldn’t have made it so damn easy for you. Maybe I should have made you stand up to your mother from the start, so you wouldn’t be too afraid to do it now.”

“I’m not afraid—”

“But even so, at least back then you were being yourself. What you’re doing now is pretending to be something you’re not. And no good can come of it, Gracie.” She headed for the door.

“Charlie, if you don’t help me, who will?”

Charlie shrugged. “Swallow your pride, and go talk to your big sister.”

Then she was gone.

Gracie fell backward onto the mountain of clothes and closed her eyes.

Dammit, she hated to go to Hope for help.

All her life, she’d resented her older sister.

For being feminine and petite and perfect.

For being small and beautiful, and for falling into the image of well-mannered heiress almost naturally.

Hope had been waved in Gracie’s face constantly.

“Why can’t you be more like your sister, Grace?

Why don’t you ask your sister to take you shopping next time, Grace?

My goodness, your feet are so big, Grace! Not tiny and cute like your sister’s…”

“Ooooooooooh!”

There was a tap on the door.

Grace leaped to her feet and yanked it open. “Thank God, you came back, Charlie. I knew you… Oh. It’s you.”

Hope stood there in a cute pink sheath that perfectly matched her nails, her shoes and her lips. Her hair was perfect, blond and gorgeous. Her makeup was flawless. Her eyes were big and innocent. “Yeah, it’s me. I was listening in. So what’s this about you coming out of the closet?”

Grace’s eyes widened, then she blinked. “Locker room. Coming out of the locker room. Not the closet. God, Hope, leave it to a little priss like you to think just because I’m a jock I must be gay.”

“I didn’t say I thought that.” Hope came into the room, looked around and frowned in distaste.

Grace scowled and turned away. “You shouldn’t be listening to private conversations,” she said.

“It’s not as if I didn’t already know.”

Grace spun, wide-eyed.

“What, you think I don’t go through your things enough to know what you’re up to? What kind of sister do you think I am?” Hope asked.

Grace gaped at her. “You’ve gone through my things?”

“Monthly.” Hope shrugged. “How else was I supposed to know what was going on with you? It’s not like you talked to me or anything.”

“I—I can’t believe you! You rotten little prissy, short, snotty—”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it all before.” Hope sighed, walked to the window and stared outside. “I saw the yearbook. And I couldn’t believe it was you. So I called the school, got the schedule. I saw the game against U.S.C., you know.”

Grace was stunned into silence. She just stood there, staring as her sister turned to stare at her.

“That shot at the buzzer…I couldn’t even believe that was my kid sister out there. And the whole crowd was on its feet.” She shook her head slowly. “I was…I was so proud of you, Gracie.”

Tears welled up and Grace tried to blink them away, but they kept returning. “You…came to the game?”

Sniffling, Hope nodded. “I got a copy of the DVD, too. It’s hidden in, um, my secret box in the back of the closet. I’d have come to more if I’d known about them. Grace, why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. You know how Mother is about…everything.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess I can’t even nag you on that one. Shoot, she doesn’t know who I really am, either.”

At that, Grace had to smile. “Sure she does. You’re Miss Perfect.”

“Yeah. Miss Perfect.” Hope looked sad for just a moment, but chased the look away fast. “At least she’s stopped pushing men on me now that you’re home and she can target you instead.

And speaking of men, what’s this I hear about some guy you met last night?

Wouldn’t be this Jack McCain character Mom’s been chirping about all morning, would he? ”

Grace’s breath left her in a rush. “Oh, Hope, if you could’ve seen him…” Then she frowned up at her sister. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

“Well…if he sees you tonight, at the party, then he’s not going to give me a second glance.”

“Oh, hell, Grace, you just don’t give yourself any credit at all, do you? Or me, for that matter. I wouldn’t flirt with a guy you liked! Besides, he’s not my type.”

“You’ll change your mind when you meet him.”

“Trust me on this, hon. I won’t.”

Grace sighed. “I don’t know what to wear. How to act, what to say. He’s…he’s like a cut above every other man I’ve ever met, Hope. He’s like…got this air. Command, you know. Confidence and…a quiet strength. And there’s an honesty about him.”

“You do have it bad, don’t you?”

“I just wish I’d paid more attention when Mom was giving us charm lessons and all that garbage.”

Hope looked at the pile of clothes on the bed, pawed through some of them, shook her head. “Well, you’re not going to find anything here. And you’re about a foot too tall for anything I might have.”

“I know,” Grace moaned.

Hope shrugged. “How about I take you shopping?”

Grace blinked, and dabbed at her eyes. “You…you’d do that?”

“Sure. Look, I’ve been jealous of you for being stronger, for going out and doing what you really wanted even if you did have to sneak around to do it.

I didn’t dare even consider…” She gave her head a shake.

“It’s time we bonded, don’t you think? We’re adults now.

And believe me, I’ll be asking you to return the favor before too long.

So let’s go for it. We’ll hit the best shops, and get you a makeover, and some nails, and in between we’ll drink café au lait, and practice holding out our little fingers. Okay?”

Smiling broadly, Grace nodded hard. “Okay.” She squeezed her sister’s hand. “Thank you for this, Hope.”

“Hey, don’t think it means I approve of your little deception. Just that…I understand why you feel you have to go through with it.”

“I can’t imagine how.”

“Just know this, little sister. Eventually the truth has to come out. You can pick the time, and the place, if you’re lucky and don’t wait too long.

But if you don’t, it will. The truth doesn’t stay hidden forever.

No matter what.” She looked very serious, but then she smiled.

“Come on. We’ll get Daddy to let us take the Jag. ”

“I’m driving,” Grace shouted.

“Not if I beat you to the keys, you aren’t!”

They ran into the massive hall, footfalls echoing, laughter ringing.