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While there was nothing wrong with being a secretary, she wanted more for her sister. So much more. She didn’t need a bachelor’s degree to answer phones, schedule appointments and shuffle papers.
Reilly moved around the counter to where Reese stood in the center of the apartment’s living area. “My degree is in business management, if you’ve forgotten. I’ll be helping out his business. And maybe even with some of the other club businesses, if they’ll let me.”
A business that had done fine for decades without her. But Reese kept that to herself.
That burn now seared her throat. She wouldn’t throw up. She couldn’t. Nothing remained in her stomach.
She was completely empty.
Reese wanted to argue with her, force Reilly to see reality. But she knew her sister. She had raised her. Helped make her who she was. She knew if she tried to convince Reilly to leave, her sister would dig in her heels.
The same as Reese would do when pushed.
“Not everyone wants to be you, Reese. Not everyone wants to be married to their job. And only live for success. News flash: money isn’t everything.”
Where was that coming from? Had Reilly forgotten the struggles they had lived? How hard Reese worked to make sure they ate, had clothes, got an education? “Without it, you have nothing.”
Sadness colored Reilly’s face. “Sister, you are so damn smart but right now, you are very wrong. You can have a lot of things and not have money.” She shrugged. “Family.”
“I’m your family,” Reese whispered. Not this club. Desperation clawed up her throat.
“You’ve been taking care of me my whole life, sis. Since I was born. Your whole life. That was unfair to you and I’m sorry you were forced to do that. I’m sorry our father decided a drunk wife and two daughters was an unwanted burden. I’m sorry our mother gave up on life and left it to you to take care of me. But Reese...” She inhaled loudly. “Let me go. Let me do this. Let me find my own path like you did. Of course I’ll make mistakes. Hopefully, not one as bad as Billy. But I need to make them. That bubble you want me to live in? I’m bursting it.”
“Reilly, just come back with me and we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Reilly shook her head. “I’m staying and I’ll figure it out. Being in Manning Grove, I’ll be closer to you than when I was living outside of Philly. I know you love me and want what’s best for me. I also want what’s best for you, too. Working yourself into an early grave and coming home to an empty house night after night? That’s not what’s best for you.”
“I work hard to—”
Reilly cut her off. “Did you tell him about Minnie?”
Reese’s heart skipped a beat.
Minnie.
Reilly’s unexpected question deflated her drive to argue. To get her sister to realize staying here, with this club, in Manning Grove, wasn’t what was best for her.
Her sister had always called their mother Minnie—never Mom—because it was a shortened version of the title Reese gave her: Minimum Mom. The woman had done the very minimum to keep her daughters alive. And when they were older, not even that.
“I told him some, but not all of it. And I kept my name for her to myself, as you should.”
“Why?”
“It’s no one’s business.” No one needed to know where they came from and how they got to where they were. No one needed to judge them for something out of their control.
“Anyone hearing it would simply think Minnie was her first name. Nothing more.”
“Maybe. But that time in our life is over. No point revisiting or reliving it.”
“You’re right,” Reilly agreed. “We both have a future to think about.”
There it was. Bringing up their mother wasn’t off topic. Reilly was trying to make a point. “You have a future to think about. Mine is already in motion, Reilly. I worked hard to get where I am and I’m not giving it up.”
“No one said you had to give up anything, sis. But your future isn’t set in stone. You’re allowed to let it be fluid, flexible. Let people in. Grow your tribe. Not every man is like Billy or Allen. Or even our father.” She sighed and grabbed both of Reese’s hands, clasping them tightly to her chest. “Stop denying yourself. That detour Deacon took you on during the club run? You can also do that in life, you know. I know you have a set path but sometimes a detour is necessary.”
Reese pulled her sister into a tight hug and murmured, “When did you get to be so wise?”
“I learned from my very wise, but stubborn, sister,” Reilly whispered. “The one I’ve looked up to my whole life. She’s shown me what to strive for. But she’s also shown me what I don’t want. I don’t want to be so caught up in my own success I can’t see anything beyond it.”
