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“Fuck you” was Rodney’s only response before trying to muscle his way inside the house. I pushed him with all of my strength and he tripped down the stairs, landing sprawled on the grass.
Stella slammed the door, and I flipped the deadbolt before she turned, leaning her weight against it, the two sisters crashing together in a hug. I stared at them, unsure what to say.
At Luna’s whimper, I gathered them both into my arms, holding them until they both stopped shaking. Stella didn’t make any sign of protest, both women relaxing into the comfort.
“Is he gone?” Stella asked quietly.
I looked through the peephole. “Yeah.”
“God, Luna, I’m so sorry,” Stella murmured.
“You really knew?” Luna asked, her voice so soft that I knew she had to be terrified of the answer.
“Not at all.” Stella stepped back, staring at the ceiling. “I didn’t want him to feel like he was stealing that reveal from you. I don’t even care that you didn’t tell me; I can totally understand why. I’m just not sure how he knew.”
Luna opened her mouth, closed it again, and looked at me with pleading eyes. I ushered both of them into the kitchen and got the kettle going, sitting everyone down with cups of tea before I explained while Luna stewed in her panic.
I told Stella about the mess Rodney and Kevin had caused at the club, and how that was the only reason he’d found out.
“Luna,” Stella said tentatively. “How long have you been doing this?”
“Since I turned eighteen.”
The anguish on Stella’s face was plain as day. “I feel like such an ass.” She buried her face in her hands. “I wish I could’ve seen into the future. I never should’ve married Rodney. I should’ve made you stay with me and you never would’ve had to do any of this.”
“I left on my own, Stell. You couldn’t have forced me to stay, and I can understand why you thought Rodney was a good choice at the time even if I didn’t like it.” Luna swallowed hard. “I don’t want you to feel bad that I got into sex work because I was escaping Mom. It’s not that bad, and once I got settled in it, I actually kinda like it. I wouldn’t have done it this long if it was terrible. It gave me a lot of financial opportunities to help, with your girls, with Ria’s university, and getting myself stable. It might’ve started as an act of desperation, but that’s not what it became.”
“I hate that I let Rodney manipulate me. I really thought he would make things better.”
Luna sighed. “I mean, he was better than Dad. At the start, anyway. It’s not like you had a decent example of what to look for.”
“That’s the truth.” Stella groaned. “I just wanted some stability in my life. I don’t know why I thought a husband would do that when it obviously didn’t work for any of our parents.”
“Not every choice we make has to make sense,” Luna replied.
“I feel like I should’ve known you were a stripper with how often I saw glitter in your hair.”
Luna choked on her laughter. “I wash my hair so many times after I leave the club, but apparently it’s not enough.”
“Nope.”
“I’d say you should see her on stage, but that might be weird,” I said, trying to lighten the mood further. “She’s honestly a rock star. Everyone adores her, and she basically defies gravity.”
Stella lifted her tear-streaked face. “You really like it?”
“Most of the time, yeah.”
“And it’s not uncomfortable for you?” she asked, turning to me.
I shrugged. “She’s coming home to me, not them. As long as she’s being treated well, that’s all I need to know.”
Luna and Stella lapsed into silence, sipping their teas while the energy slowly settled.
“When does Rodney leave for Alaska?” I asked. Whatever the answer was, it couldn’t be soon enough to get him away from both of them.
“Next week.” Stella laughed. “I can’t wait.” She shook herself like a wet dog. “Okay, I’m sorry to cut this short, but I need to go pick up the girls from their art classes.”
“I have a suggestion.”
