I read books in the library and tried desperately to be invisible during physical education. No one liked me, and I was the butt of every joke.
Despite having shared a womb for nine months, we were as different as night and day. Her extroverted personality hadalways been my shield. Olivia protected me from a world where I didn’t belong.
Our mother passed away when we were young. Her death stunted my emotional growth. Olivia filled her shoes and took me under her wing, growing years older overnight.
The sun licked her tanned cheeks and highlighted her smile. Her hair was darker than mine, leaning toward honey brown. Mine tried to be blond but never quite hit the mark, being too dull. My hairdresser once called it ash, but I wasn’t sure it applied. Like cornflower as a child, the imagery didn’t land. When I visualized ash, I saw the sooty remains of logs in a woodstove. Silver or gray. The color wasn’t at all comparable with what I saw in the mirror.
Once Olivia was within shouting distance, she exclaimed, “You are not going to believe this.” She came to a halt a few feet away, barely out of breath, high color dotting her cheekbones. “I got a phone call from Dennis freaking Hawking.”
She brushed flyaway pieces of hair off her face where they clung to her mouth and eyelashes. She always wore it in a thick braid down her back, but finer strands, the ones that didn’t grow long enough to be included, always danced wildly about.
“I don’t know who that is.” I could guess, but Cormac hadn’t given me particulars, and I was sworn to secrecy.
“He’s the CEO of CineVision Entertainment. Apparently, he has a producer who wants to do an exclusive miniseries about storm chasing.”
She paused for dramatic effect, and I smiled warmly.
“Gale. Are you listening? Storm chasing. The guy has all kinds of ideas. Dennis thinks the Wind Riders are the perfect candidates to be featured on the program. He wants to introduce us to the producer. We meet with him in the morning. Can you believe it?”
Olivia didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed my hands and jumped up and down, squealing with glee before launching into my arms and squeezing the stuffing out of me.
“Camera,” I squeaked as we stumbled backward and nearly fell.
Laughing, she released me but clung to my arm until I was steady on my feet. “Sorry. Sorry. I’m excited. He said he watches our YouTube channel. He loves us. Gale, this is unreal.”
“That’s fantastic news. Have you called the others?”
“Not yet. I raced over to tell you first. Is Dad here? I want to tell him too.”
“No. He ran to the hardware store. The lawn mower is giving him a headache.”
She didn’t care about the lawn mower, too absorbed in her news. “If the producer likes us and decides to sign us… Holy shit. We could have a TV show. Our very own exclusive miniseries.”
Her enthusiasm warmed me inside and out. Olivia’s happiness meant everything. Cormac would be thrilled. “You deserve it. Of course this guy will like you. Who doesn’t?”
“Dennis said he’s watched every episode we’ve posted. He’s obsessed. He can’t wait to meetme. I’m nobody, Gale, but he wants to meet me.” She couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.
“It’s become popular.”
Olivia loved the spotlight. The mere idea of that kind of attention gave me hives. To each his own, I guess.
She cupped her flushed cheeks, wearing a look of awe and disbelief. “I have to make phone calls. I can’t wait around for Dad. Tell him I’ll be here for supper.”
“Sure. What time do you meet this guy tomorrow?”
“Ten, so we need to leave at seven thirty sharp if we’re to make it to Oklahoma City on time. I don’t want traffic to make us late.”
“Good plan. You’ll keep me posted?”
Olivia tilted her head, her focus intensifying. “Keep you posted? What are you talking about? Gale, you’re coming with us.”
My skin prickled. “I’m not a Wind Rider.”
“But you said you would come out with us this year on chases. You promised.”
“I said maybe.” I held up my camera. “To take pictures for potential articles. I’m not doing a television show.”
“But you have to come tomorrow. I need you there.”
