“You just did, Sweetheart,” sobbed Paula from the back door. “I was worried about you girls, but you’re miles ahead of me. I’m sorry, Steve, for making a big deal out of something that was only a problem in my head. Let’s get that dessert out before my mother shows up looking for us.”
As the others enjoyed their dessert, Gwen revealed the schedule for the following day. “Amber O’Leary called a few minutes ago. She wants us to travel to the capitol tomorrow and plan on spending the night. She wants to get all of our measurements, including Steve’s. Amber plans on having at least two new gowns for each of us girls for the Ball. She has the designs pretty well done but they need to be sure of our sizes, and then make the clothes. The hope is that her people will have at least one outfit done for us to try on Saturday, just so she knows she’s in the right ballpark with cuts, colors, accessories and make up. Steve’s tuxedos will be coordinated with my gowns, which should look incredible.”
“Aunt Diane, could you work with Steve and me on a dance we can do at the ball?” asked Kate. “I don’t want to be the ugly step-sister that sits around like a bump on a log. It would be cool if he and I had a special dance, if it’s okay with Steve.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Kate. Each of you should have a number that you can do at the dance that will be your own. We don’t have much time and since you all have the same partner, you won’t be able to practice together. Are you willing to work a lot of over time for this, Steve?” questioned Diane.
“Football is over so I have a lot more time now. If long hours holding the Anderson bombshells in my arms and dancing with them will help humanity, I’ll give it my best shot. That’s the kind of sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
A bit later, Gwen’s grandmother asked Steve to carry some dishes out to her car. “While I have you out here, I have a favor to ask. Paula’s daughters are beautiful, confident young women. I don’t have to tell you that. I’m worried about Diane’s daughter. Stephanie is a lot like how Gwen used to be; only even more reserved. I watched her look at you with Gwen, Lisa, and Kate. She’s feeling pretty lonely, ugly, unloved, unnoticed, and ignored. I can tell. I tried to get Diane to talk to you about it, but she felt it was unfair to you.
“Could you make it a point to notice Stephanie more and to make her feel more involved in everyday life, at least when you’re around her? God knows that I don’t need another granddaughter falling head-over-heels for you, but it doesn’t seem to be hurting Gwen or her sisters, even a little bit. I’m not asking you to romance Stephanie or anything, but a few little actions on your part could make a big difference to her. Would you do that for the grandmother of your little harem, or whatever it is you have going with my granddaughters? It’s hard to believe that I’m asking you to bring another granddaughter under your spell, but I worry about her.”
“Ma’am, I don’t know that I can be much help, but I promise that I’ll make an extra effort to include Stephanie in things when she’s around. I apologize for ignoring her. There’s no excuse for rude behavior. I’ll do my best.”
“Young man, if I were forty years younger, you’d be in trouble! No wonder Paula’s girls love you so much,” praised Caroline as she hugged Steve and kissed his cheek.
“Pretty much what we suspected, isn’t it, Sis?” observed Kate to Gwen as they came down the walk. “Grandma, it looks like you’ve joined the Steve Hammer Fan Club. Can you tell us what flimsy excuse you used to hug and kiss our guy?”
It was a little later that evening when Steve and his uncle were saying goodbye that Steve asked Diane, “Would it be okay if Stephanie and I worked on a dance we can do together? I hope to see her at a lot of affairs the next few years and I’d like to fool people into thinking I know what I’m doing. Since she lives with you, it shouldn’t take too much scheduling. She could even fill in for one of the other girls if they couldn’t make a practice. That way, I’d still be able to work on my steps. That is, if Stephanie’s okay with it. What do you say, Steph? Will you help me learn a dance or two?”
Gwen and Lisa broke into huge grins while Kate’s jaw dropped. Diane worked to keep a straight face as the women turned to look at Stephanie. She sat with the ‘deer in the headlights’ look for a few seconds.
“Well, I’d be glad to help you learn the dances, and it’d be cool if we had one we could do together. I’m not beautiful or big chested, but I can dance pretty good. I’ll be able to help you out now and then with their dances as long as mom lets me watch you work with them,” conceded Stephanie before another thought came to her. “Will I get to kiss and hug you all the time like Kate does?”
Steve was pleased with Stephanie’s response, but surprised at her last question. “Don’t you have any mirrors in your house, Diane? I thought I just heard Steph say she wasn’t beautiful. Maybe she needs eye glasses? As far as hugging and kissing me like Kate does, I’m all for it, but Gwen may be jealous. Your folks might have an objection as well. Ask them.”
“Stephanie, you’re like a sister to us and you can hug and kiss that guy as much as you dare. I don’t blame you. He’s hard to resist! How about you, Aunt Diane? Are you willing to allow Stephanie to make a spectacle of herself like Kate does when Steve’s around?”
“That’s a tough question, Gwen,” responded Diane with a smile. “Stephanie has to promise to not steal Steve away from you and to not be quite as exuberant as Kate. Other than that, she’s free to torment him anyway she chooses.”
“Are you kidding?” demanded Kate. “Stephanie doesn’t have the nerve to kiss and hug Steve. She’ll probably shake his hand or something. And I don’t make a spectacle of myself, do I?”
Steve strode over to where Stephanie was seated on the couch, leaned down and easily plucked her from her perch. He held her up and gently spun her around and set her back down, only to have Stephanie jump back into his arms and hug him fiercely.
“I like when you call me ‘Steph’. Thanks for asking me to dance and for making me feel like a regular part of the family,” whispered Stephanie as she hugged Steve before loudly declaring. “Let me the first one to give you a goodbye kiss!”
With that, Stephanie gave Steve a resounding kiss on his cheek. Then she smiled at everyone and kissed him on the other cheek. Then she laid her head against his chest and clung to him.
“Stephanie, we all need to say goodbye to Steve,” laughed Lisa. “Whose idea was it to introduce another beautiful girl into this mess, anyway? You have to let the guy go so the rest of us can say goodbye properly.”
“I didn’t know how strong he feels and how good he smells!” admitted Stephanie to the laughter of her family. “I’m going to love dancing with him. Thanks, Gwen!”