A Variety of Siblings

A slightly older and curvier version of Bridget glared with intense eyes at her. Beverly Baccaro hadn't found her younger sister's holiday greeting to be all that cheery. Instead, the most uptight of all the Fallon women saw it as mocking the current situation.

"Oh, I see. This is just another joke to you, isn't it? Or is this exactly what you wanted?" Beverly challenged with a sneer.

At two years older than herself, Bridget had dealt with Bev's angry outbursts since her earliest memories. With a father working odd hours on cases and a mother often **** to extend her shifts at the formerly overworked, cramped hospital, the girls usually had the house to themselves. And while Bridget used that freedom to live an adventurous life, Beverly saw her role as the woman-in-charge during her mother's absences. A role that usually conflicted with Bridget's preference for fun. Add Tinsley from next door to the mix, and Beverly's blood boiled.

In her younger years, Bridget could be found matching each verbal attack with a counter. However, as she grew older, the doctor found that patience and quietness often worked better for defusing their sisterly disagreements. So Bridget let the questions fly by unanswered.

"Not going to answer, huh? Of course, why would you when you got exactly what you wanted, right? Because Bridget always has to be the center of attention. She craves the spotlight. Even if it's at the expense of her sister's name getting dragged through the mud. We all know that's what she wanted, didn't we?"

Brandy rolled her eyes so that she ended up looking at Fawn. Sean watched as his grandfather scratched his chin, and his grandmother stood still, not so much as even flinching. Theo Day checked his watch while his wife opened her purse. No one responded either way to his aunt's accusations.

"See? They know. They know that you were always jealous that I dated him. But do they know how many times you watched us together? Oh, you called those times accidents, but you just had to interject yourself into our private moments. Did you hope that he'd ask you to join us? Or was that when you two decided to betray me? Did you fuck him back then? Did you?!"

Sean's eyes bugged out when he realized what Aunt Beverly meant by private moments. Apparently, that was a new revelation to his grandfather as well. Strangely, his grandmother didn't seem at all surprised. Based on Brandy's chuckle, Sean guessed rightly that his older aunt had made a commotion over this issue back when it happened.

"Or have you been waiting years for the right moment? I bet you craved what you saw as much as you crave the spotlight. So, when did you step out on your wonderful husband? Did you plan this whole trip as a cover story for your illicit affair?" Beverly's anger grew as her sister refused to take the bait. "Happy-Go-Lucky Harvey and Bedsheets Bridget. What a perfect match!"

Beverly waited for the reply that didn't come before peering around her family members. "And where exactly is your actual husband? Did he kick you to the curb once he saw the light?"

Suddenly, Sean scanned the ballroom in concern. This would be the worst moment for his dad to arrive. Does Aunt Bev know something? Is Dad pissed off about those articles? While scanning the room, Sean noticed Lauren, his mom's old cheermate, watching from afar. He doubted that she could hear anything, but she could probably tell that an argument was going down based on the body language.

"Are you done, Bev?" Bridget questioned coldly and quietly.

Having grown used to his mom's silence, her quiet words jerked Sean up in his seat as if she had screamed them.

"I'm far from finish--"

"No, are you done playing the victim as always?" Bridget challenged. "Because that's what you do. Yes, your name was mentioned, but only as the victim, just like you like it. And it was mentioned in what is clearly bullshit tabloid gossip. No one but a fool takes The Stinging Truth seriously."

"We both know that gossip has a certain amount of truth to it. Especially when it comes to your exploits," Beverly reminded with a sneer.

"Yet, I don't clearly revel in it as you do. Because I'm the one whose city will either read that trash or hear about it second-hand. I'm the one whose colleagues and patients will stop and wonder about it to the point that it affects my career. So, it's me, not you, who's getting hurt by this nonsense...but it's always Beverly, not Bridget, who's the victim when it comes to him."

"I warned you! But, oh no, stubborn Bridget didn't listen. No, she always knows better. Well, look what not staying away from him got you."

"Warned me?" Bridget chuckled. "Hardly. No, you spent all Christmas Day bitching and moaning about my going to Harvey's cabin. There wasn't a warning in there. It was about how I was betraying my family by choosing his side in a fight that dates back twenty-five years."

"That's because you always take his side. I'm the one that he cheated on!" Beverly half-shrieked. Always the sister most worried about her public reputation, she'd kept her griping to a conversational sound level. That wouldn't last for long.

"Damn right we do!" Brandy injected, unable to stay out of the fray. Twelve and ten years younger than her sisters, she always hated being left out of their fights. "We take Harvey's side because you're a bitch."

"Stay out of this, Brandy. You were only a little girl who didn't understand the real side to the man you worshipped," Beverly hissed.

"Oh, I knew what happened. Harvey--Yes, Harvey, that's his name, so use it! I'm sick of you treating him as He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. So where were we? Oh, Harvey cheated on you. It happens, it sucks, so big fucking deal."

"It's a big deal to me! He broke my heart," Beverly replied, her angry tone faltering at the end as another emotion threatened to break free. "But you always have to act like an immature brat."

"Then maybe you should've been mature enough to deal with that heartbreak. Did you? Nope, you ran away. Wouldn't even speak to Harvey, no matter how much we begged you to," Brandy reminded, flicking her eyes at Bridget. They handled the pass-off as only sisters could.

"The mature thing to do would've been to analyze the situation and talk to your boyfriend," Bridget stated. "You, of all people, knew that she had a major crush on Harvey and resented you for dating him."

"Soooo, it shouldn't have been all that far-fetched to figure out what she did," Brandy jumped back in.

"It wasn't like that!" Bev snapped.

"Yes, it was. She waited for a time and place to make her move. Freshman year at college usually will break a long-distance relationship because of the loneliness. She used that to her advantage at the costume party. A drunk, lonely Harvey was a perfect setup to dupe him into thinking that his girlfriend made a surprise appearance. Of course, he fell for it, as it's what he wanted you to do. But you could never be that spontaneous," Bridget explained.

"He should've known!" Bev screeched

"Bitch, please...sorry," Brandy apologized to her mother. "She dyed her hair blonde, for fuck's sake!"

Sean hurriedly looked around to see if anyone heard. They did. Gabriela gave a small wave as Rachel slapped her hand down. Nearby, Miranda Rusk watched with a covered mouth, shaking her head in disbelief.

"**** is not an excuse...for anything! But you always use it as one. Because Brandy can never admit that she's the family fuc--"

"Enough! That's enough, Beverly," Pepper declared, finally stepping in. "You've had your say about the matter in the tabloids. Brandy's life choices have nothing to do with it. And she is not the family screwup, you hear?"

Brandy turned toward Fawn with a surprised face. Her mom just defended her to Bev. And it would make a shocking turn in the next few seconds.

"Brandy is also correct...on one point." Pepper held in a smile as her husband chuckled at her dramatic pause. "Your kid sister is correct in pointing out that you should've talked to Harvey all those years ago. Clearly, the lack of closure over your failed relationship has festered for nearly twenty-five years. Bev, I'm sorry I didn't see this coming and not push you harder to talk to Harvey. And, Bee, I'm sorry that your sister has taken her anger out on you."

"Mom!" Beverly exclaimed, shocked that her mother didn't take her side. "Of course, you take her side. She's your favorite."

"What?! Are you insane?" Bridget gasped before scoffing at her older sister's claim. "You've always been Mom's favorite. The perfect daughter, who never, ever gets in trouble and kept everything neat around our house."

"Well, you're the one that Mom pushed to be a doctor!"

"You freaked out at the sight of blood!"

Sean glanced over at Brandy as her two sisters bickered over who was his grandmother's favorite. His aunt made eye contact with him, shrugged, then replied to his unspoken question.

"I'm cool being Dad's favorite."

"Now, Dee, you know I don't have a favorite," Seamus replied. However, Fawn's nodding head at Sean keyed him into the truth. As if he didn't already know it. Seamus caught the interaction and merely shook his head.

Sensing an opportunity, Mrs. Day stepped in to play peacemaker. It's something she often did in the past. Although in those days, a much younger Bridget would run next door for her, or Virginia would march the opposite way because of the screaming. She and her husband had politely ignored the current family bickering while fussing over their grandson, Nate, and Barney.

"I don't think that Sean should have to hear all this family baggage," Virginia declared. She moved to stand behind his wheelchair. "Perhaps it would be better if I took him by his friends."

"No! I think Sean needs to hear how his mother acted at his age," Beverly stated.

"Beverly, that's enough! Or do you want me to do the same to Gino and Brynn?" Pepper challenged, sliding in front of Sean to literally shield him.

Geez, it's not like Mom hasn't already shared way too much information over the last two days.

"What does Bev have to hide?" Brandy scoffed before a new thought hit her. "No, what does she have to hide?" she asked excitedly.

"Happy New Year, Aunt Ginny, Uncle Theo," a familiar voice greeted, sliding into the spot that Mrs. Day had occupied.

Sean heard the Days wish the newcomer well, along with a couple of cheek kisses. Then, a head lowered down next to his.

"Let's get you out of here," Peyton said, coming to her little brother's rescue. Then, sensing her brother wanted to stay, she added, "This won't last long. Grandma is about to shut it down."

Sean reluctantly nodded. Mom and Aunt Brandy were now too preoccupied with prying Aunt Bev's skeletons out of Grandma to notice him leave. However, Fawn did, saying goodbye with a slight wave.

Any desire to stay behind to listen vanished as Sean and Peyton passed Uncle Giancarlo, Beverly's husband, who was walking toward the Fallons. They both wondered if he stayed back on his own, Bev's orders, or was clueless about where and what his wife went to do.

"Do you want to go find Gino and Brynn?" Sean asked, peering behind him to see his sister.

The teenager's eyebrows raised as he saw his older sister's dress. It was far sexier than what she usually wore for these events. Slate blue in color, the satin dress fell to the bottom of Peyton's ankles but featured a thigh-high slit, an open back, and cami straps that left a lot of her chest exposed. For the second time on this trip, Sean wondered whether Lana had started influencing Peyton's outfits. For the first time, he also pondered his mom's influence.

In short, this was a different style for his sister, and she looked damn good in it.

"Jana texted me right before we came down. Gino is being fussy about his tux."

"He's wearing a tuxedo?!" Sean questioned, snapping out of his appraisal of his sister.

"You know, Aunt Bev. Nothing is good enough for her precious boy," Peyton snickered, glancing back to see that their grandmother had squashed the bickering.

"Shit, I thought only guys like Mr. Diamond did that," Sean remarked before asking about Peyton's comment. "Wait, you said we?"

"I rushed down here early after getting Barney's warning about Mom and Aunt Bev. Lana needed a few more minutes, but she should be here by now."

As if a director called action, Lana Stratton made her grand entrance on that cue. It was one hell of an entrance, too. People parted as the buxom ginger strutted through the main ballroom doors, heading toward the grand staircase. Reaching the top, Lana perfectly flung her red locks over her shoulder while posing for maximum effect.

Peyton sighed at her best friend's exhibitionist performance. Below the annoyed blonde, Sean could barely breathe. Not only did his first crush's dress leave him breathless, it also sent all the blood rushing to his penis. Why? For Lana Stratton went all-out for tonight.

Strangely, the teal color selection went well with her ginger hair. What also went well with her natural gifts was the stretchy fabric of the two-piece dress. Yes, two pieces. The bottom featured a tight, mermaid-style dress that reached the floor while flaunting her curvy ass. Above her exposed mid-riff, the strapless top struggled to hold in Lana's large breasts. The large bow that held in those glorious globes offered the tantalizing prospect of exposure for a young man or woman who had the courage to pull the tie.

"Breathe," Peyton ordered her brother with a nudge.

That caused Sean to gasp for air as he watched Lana slowly lower one leg down the stairs. She used the handrail for effect and as a prop for each slow, sultry step. One brave man stepped forward to offer his hand, but Lana politely waved it off. Instead, she motioned toward Sean as if to say that he was her destination.

Peyton's eye roll now turned to a headshake.

Sean watched as Lana sashayed toward the sibling pair. Her hips worked in conjunction with those jiggling tits to cause considerable pain in the teenager's groin. Unable to stop from checking, Sean glanced down. Yep, it's a big ole tent. I guess those new pills...Who am I kidding? This rock-hard dick has nothing to do with my new pills and everything to do with Lana.

Realizing that Lana had been watching him before he looked down, Sean raised his head as the sexy redhead neared. His heart momentarily stopped with embarrassment as he knew she saw him check his dick. Yet, the new, slightly more confident Sean decided to embrace his reaction as Lana's face actually blushed at the size of the tent, out in the open of the ballroom. Naturally, she recovered swiftly.

"See something you like?" the temptress purred.

"Lan," Peyton growled before lightly slapping Sean's head. "Can't you control yourself?" she hissed.

Lana laughed as her BFF tossed a small clutch onto Sean's lap.

"Use my purse to cover yourself," Peyton ordered.

Sean groaned. As if the purse in his lap wouldn't draw more attention to his predicament.