Not So Snow White by Donna Kauffman Page A

trying to protect her, which is admirable," Tess continued, "and I know you only have he r best interests at heart. But she's already who she is, to some degree, anyway, and if you want her to have success on court, then maybe instead of trying to extinguish her fire, you should begin to think how best to harness all that energy so she can be the success everyone seems to think she'll be."
    "That's exactly what I'm trying to do."
    "But you're going about it the wrong way. You want to contain it, control it, modulate it. It doesn't work that way."
    "Sure it does. It's called maturing, growing up."
    "In a sense," she said agreeably, surprising him. "If she were floundering that would be one thing, but it sounds like she has a strong mental game already. Why don't you give her some credit that maybe she's already harnessing it, already directing it in a healthy way."
    "By slamming her rackets and shooting tirades to the line judges?"
    Tess just grinned.
    Max rolled his eyes. "It's not something to be proud of."
    "Oh, I don't know. Venting my wrath on a hapless racket or two was exactly what I needed to get over a bad shot or bad line call so I could return my focus to the point at hand, and my opponent across the net. If I kept it inside, it would have distracted me for who knows how many points, and just like that it'd be game, set, match to my opponent."
    Which was exactly, almost verbatim, what Gaby had told him. Though he'd be damned before he shared that information. More ammunition Tess Hamilton did not need. "Other players manage to find a way to contain themselves and still stay focused. She's young. She can learn to do that. And it will help her all the way around, on the court, and off. It just seems to me—"
    "It seems to me that you haven't a clue what makes your siste r tick. Obviously you're a very contained sort who doesn't understand us more emotional types."
    What the hell did that mean ? He found himself somewhat put out by her rash assessment. Like he was a tight ass or something. Gaby's words from earlier in the week echoed through his mind. Well, they were both wrong. He was far from being that guy. He could be very spontaneous if properly motivated. Just not with his temper. Or with scheduling. Or, okay ever, really, if he were honest. But that was because he had to be a good role model for Gabrielle. He was all she had. Otherwise he'd be a lot more… Jesus. Maybe they were right. He really was not liking this conversation.
    "She is who she is, Max. Yes, for some people, tossing a racket is a bad thing. For some players, that's when they lose focus, not regain it. But for a very few of us, it works in the opposite way."
    "That doesn't make it right," he insisted. "For her, anyway."
    Tess's smile shifted, became less friendly. "You're embarrassed. That's what this is all about, isn't it? It's not about shaping Gaby's temperament so she handles her life better, it's about modifying her behavior so she what, acts like a lady at all times? So she doesn't make you look bad?" There was an obvious edge in her tone and it pricked at him.
    "I'd like to think of it as instilling the principles of good sportsmanship. You don't just get to act like a spoiled brat, on court or off, and claim it's what you have to do to keep your head in the game. She needs to grow up and learn to handle the life she's stepping into. And, if you'll beg my absolute pardon, perhaps you should have, as well."
    He set his glass down on the closest flat surface and turned to Aurora while he still held on to some semblance of control over his temper. No one pushed his buttons that easily. Except for his sister. Which made his decision about all this quite easy, as it turned out. "I very much appreciate what you're trying to do for Gaby. But I think perhaps this entire idea was a mistake. I'm really sorry you've gone to all this trouble, but I'm going to look elsewhere for the help I think she needs."
    "You're going to do what, then?" Tess