Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

A ndrea unlocked her front door, feeling the weight of the evening's events lingering in her mind. Casino Night had been a mix of excitement and tension, especially with Amy's presence and her usual antics. She stepped inside, kicked off her heels, and paused when she noticed Amy's car pull into the driveway before she could shut her door. She had half expected Amy to already be there, somewhere in her house making herself at home.

She watched Amy get out of her car with a bottle of wine in her hands and head towards her.

"Amy?" Andrea said, getting her sister's attention.

"Hey, I thought we'd continue our party." She held up the wine. "With a sleepover."

Andrea remembered hearing her sister scream at Brad and sighed. No doubt this was her way of avoiding telling her the truth of what was going on between her and her husband. Another game her sister played.

"Sure, come on in." She made way for Amy to step past her.

Less than fifteen minutes later, they were seated on the deck under the dim lights, the bottle of wine opened and two glasses filled to the brim. Amy had changed out of her flashy dress and into a pair of Andrea's pajamas, looking uncharacteristically disheveled. Andrea had on her favorite pair of cotton shorts and a tank top.

She'd turned on the fire pit and rested her feet on the edge of the table near the flames to warm them. The last few days of rain had cooled the evenings off.

She poured some chips into a bowl and nibbled on them. She hadn't gotten to eat a full dinner because she'd been working the casino tables.

"What's going on?" Andrea asked after a few moments of silence, concern etching her features as she waited for her sister to open up. Did Amy know she and Dean had witnessed the fight?

Amy took a long sip of wine, her eyes red-rimmed and glassy. "Brad and I had a fight. A big one. I…I just needed to get away."

Andrea felt a pang of sympathy she wasn't used to feeling towards her sister. Amy had never opened up to her, never hinted that her life was anything but perfect, which told Andrea that this time it was serious.

"What happened?" she asked.

Amy stared into the fire pit, the flames casting flickering shadows on her face. "He doesn't want kids, Andrea. I do. I've always wanted a family, but he won't even consider it. And he…he cheats. All the time. He doesn't even try to hide it anymore."

Andrea's heart clenched. "Amy, I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

Tears welled up in Amy's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. "I'm just so tired. I put on this act, you know? Pretending everything is perfect. But it's not. My life is a mess. I've tried everything to make this work. We even went to counseling."

Andrea reached out, squeezing her sister's hand. "Why don't you leave him? You deserve better than this."

Amy let out a bitter laugh. "It's not that simple. I signed a prenuptial agreement. If I leave him, I get nothing. I don't have a career like you, a job, or even skills that I can fall back on. I don't have anything except"—she shrugged—"being an expensive piece of eye candy."

They sat in silence for a moment, the crackling of the fire the only sound between them. Andrea took a deep breath, trying to think of the right words to say. "You're stronger than you think. You can rebuild. Money isn't everything. You can start over, find someone who truly loves you and wants the same things you do. Besides, you have a very useful skill. You've thrown some of the best charity events around."

Amy's tears flowed freely now, and she didn't bother wiping them away. "I don't even know where to start outside of him. I feel so trapped. All I know how to do is spend money or to get others to donate it for one of the causes Brad has assigned me."

Andrea pulled her sister into a hug, holding her tightly. "You start by believing in yourself and quit tearing down others to make you feel better."

Amy stiffened slightly but didn't pull away. "What do you mean?" There was a hint of aggression, but Andrea overlooked it.

She took a deep breath and decided it was time to be honest. "Your attitude, Amy. It's hurtful. I've never felt like I had a sister who accepted me as I was. You were never the kind of sister who would do my hair, show me how to do my makeup, teach me how to talk to boys. We didn't enjoy music together or have fun with one another. I can't remember a time when we laughed or stayed up all night talking." Even doing it now felt odd. "It always felt like you were in competition with me."

Amy's eyes widened, and she looked away, clearly taken aback. "I didn't realize you felt that way."

"Well, I did. I still do," Andrea said, her voice softening. "I've spent so much time feeling like I wasn't good enough, like I had to prove something. But we're sisters. We should be supporting each other, not tearing each other down."

"I was jealous of you," Amy said after a moment of silence. "When we were young, everyone gave so much attention to you, the baby. I felt left out, like I wasn't important anymore. And that jealousy just…snowballed from there."

There was so much animosity in her tone. Andrea blinked in surprise. "Jealous? Of me?"

"Yes," Amy admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "You always seemed so happy, so confident. Even when you were just a kid. I wanted that attention, that confidence. I didn't know how to deal with it, so I acted out." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Andrea. I really am."

Andrea's heart softened towards her sister for what seemed like the first time. She reached out and took Amy's hand. "We can't change the past, but we can work on the future. Let's try to be there for each other from now on, okay?"

Amy nodded, a small, hopeful smile forming on her lips. "I'd like that."

"You can stay here as long as you need. We'll figure it out together," Andrea added after a moment of silence.

They stayed like that, sitting close to one another by the fire. They chatted and laughed about stories and the past while the warmth of the flames matched the newfound warmth between them. For the first time in a long time, Andrea felt like they were truly sisters, ready to face whatever challenges came their way, together.

Even though she didn't fully trust Amy not to revert back to her old ways, at least it was a step. She felt like her sister was at least honestly trying. Deep down inside, she did care for her.

Amy nodded against her shoulder, her sobs quieting. "Thank you. For being here for me."

"Sure thing," Andrea said with a sigh.

A week later, Andrea was kicking herself for offering to let Amy stay with her.

Andrea sighed as she walked into her home and stepped over a pile of discarded clothes—her clothes—in the hallway. It was like a tornado had blown through her once tidy space. Amy had not picked up after herself once. Every room had a trail of her sister's mess. So far she hadn't even offered to help pay for anything, let alone contribute to the household chores.

Since she hadn't left the house once, she was borrowing Andrea's clothes and leaving them in heaps everywhere. She'd even ruined a few tops and her favorite yoga pants by spilling chocolate sauce on them.

In the kitchen, Andrea opened the fridge to find it nearly empty. Amy had eaten almost everything in the house. She had expected her sister to be a little more considerate, maybe even go grocery shopping or at least ask if she needed anything. Instead, Amy had taken over the living room, transforming it into her personal theater, staying up late and watching romance movies at full volume.

Andrea's frustration boiled over when she noticed the shattered remains of their grandmother's porcelain vase on the coffee table. It had been a cherished heirloom left to her, and Amy hadn't even bothered to apologize for breaking it. She just shrugged it off, saying it was an accident and leaving the pieces for Andrea to clean up.

The past week had been a whirlwind of chaos and irritation.

She knew Amy was refusing to take any of Brad's phone calls, letting her phone ring incessantly until Andrea was forced to silence it. She had even turned their mother away when she came to visit, claiming she wasn't ready to let anyone else in on her struggles.

As for Dean, Andrea missed their time together terribly. She hadn't been able to have any private moments with him since Amy had moved in. Their plans for quiet dinners and intimate conversations had been replaced by Amy's constant presence and her disruptive behavior.

Andrea dropped her bag on the kitchen counter and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She needed to talk to her sister, to set some boundaries. But every time she tried, Amy brushed her off or changed the subject. It was exhausting, and she felt like she was at her wits' end.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and walked into the living room, where her sister was sprawled on the couch, wearing a pair of Andrea's favorite cotton pajamas with a bowl of popcorn balanced in her lap and another romance movie playing on the television.

"We need to talk," Andrea said firmly, standing in front of the screen to get her sister's attention.

Amy looked up, a hint of annoyance crossing her face. "Can't it wait until after this movie?"

"No, it can't," Andrea replied, crossing her arms. "I've been patient, but this has to stop. You're taking over my home, and it's affecting my personal life."

"What personal life?" Amy asked.

Andrea crossed her arms over her chest. "One that was going pretty great until you moved in."

Amy sat up, setting the popcorn aside. "What do you mean?"

Andrea took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice calm. "You haven't picked up after yourself, you've eaten everything in the house without offering to replace it, you've broken things that mean a lot to me, and you've turned this place into a pig pen. I can't even spend time with…someone special because you're always here, taking up space and making noise all night. I work early in the morning and the lack of sleep is starting to affect my job."

Amy's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, Andrea saw a hint of guilt. "I didn't realize…"

"Well, now you do," Andrea said, her tone a little rough. After all, how could her sister not see what she'd done to the house? Andrea may not be the cleanest person alive, but she had always kept the house clean enough that she didn't trip over things. Now, even walking from one room to the next was a task.

She knew Amy had a staff to clean up her own home and run errands such as grocery shopping. Still, they had grown up doing chores and cleaning up after themselves. Amy knew how to clean up after herself. She just refused to do it now.

"I know you're going through a tough time, but we need to find a balance. I'm happy to help you, but you have to respect my space and my life too."

Amy looked down at her hands, silent for a moment. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things harder for you. It's just…I'm not ready to deal with the next steps with Brad."

"From all the calls he's made to you, I'd say he's ready to deal with the next steps. You should call him or, better yet, get dressed and go meet him somewhere public," she suggested. She knew that if her sister left the house, she'd feel better. Hell, at this point, even a shower and clean clothes would make Amy feel more alive.

As if he knew they were talking about him, Amy's phone screen lit up with a picture of Brad.

"Take it," Andrea said, picking up the phone and handing it to Amy. "You never know, maybe he's ready for a change too?"

Amy sighed heavily and then answered the call while Andrea started picking up around the room. By the time the room was halfway cleaned, Amy was in the shower getting ready to go meet Brad.

Score one for her, she thought as she moved to the next room. If all went well, she could text Dean and have him come over for dinner or maybe a sunset walk on the beach.

The moment Amy waltzed out the door, dressed in the expensive dress from the night she showed up at her door, Andrea texted Dean and asked him to come over for dinner.

"I'm leaving work now. I can grab us two meals to go here if you want?"

"Sounds good. You know what I like it," she replied with a smile. After hanging up, she rushed around and finished cleaning up her sister's messes.

By the time Dean walked into her house, everything was back in order and she'd changed into a sexy pair of silk shorts and a practically see-through tank top that she hoped would make him forget all about the meals that he'd brought. At least until way later.

The sex they had the moment she shut the door behind him was some of the best in her life. She didn't remember who made the first move nor did it matter once their naked bodies were tangled on the rug just inside her doorway.

"That was…" Dean sighed.

"Fucking amazing," she finished for him.

He chuckled, his chest rising slightly under her head. Her hair was pooled over his chest and, for just a moment, she closed her eyes and silently wished for more evenings like this.

"I think I have rug burns in places I've never had them before." He laughed.

She lifted up to rest her chin on his chest and looked down at him. "I can rub some lotion on them later." He brushed a strand of her hair away and kissed her. "I'd spend the rest of the night right here, but I'm starving."

She felt his stomach growl and rolled off him to find her clothes.

Since there was a light rain falling, they sat on her sofa and watched the news while they ate.

Almost an hour after Dean arrived, she received a text from her sister saying she wouldn't be back that night.

Which meant Dean could stay as long as she wanted him to. The good news had her sliding over and enjoying him once more.

After, they made their way into her bedroom for another round of fast and furious sex that caused her toes to curl with pleasure. Then they fell fast asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, as Dean drove them to River Camp, she wondered if it would be too weird to invite him to stay with her again that night. Or the next night. The one after that?

The car was filled with the soft hum of the radio, playing a mellow tune that was one of her favorites. She glanced over at Dean, wondering how she knew that it was one of his favorite songs too. When had she learned so much about him? Sure, they'd known each other, well, forever, she supposed. Throughout school, she'd watched him like a hawk. She knew all about the sports he loved. What classes he had liked the most. Every job he'd had growing up. When he'd moved into the small apartment he still lived in. The cars he'd driven. The kind of music and movies he liked. Everything.

Did he know that much about her?

"I can't believe we both ended up working here," Dean said, breaking the comfortable silence.

Andrea chuckled. "I know, right? So many others we went to school with do as well. It's almost like a mini high school reunion every day."

They arrived at the camp and, as they walked towards the dining hall, Andrea realized that they were now officially having summer weather. Even at this early hour, the sun and the heat were already causing a drip of sweat to roll down her back.

They stepped into the cool dining hall, and the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast greeted them. Elle and Aiden were already seated at a corner table, laughing about something.

"Hey, guys!" Andrea said, sliding into a chair beside Elle. Dean took the seat across from her.

"Morning!" Elle beamed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We were just reminiscing about that time in high school when I bet you that you couldn't convince Mrs. Patterson that you had to wear sunglasses in class because you had ‘eye sensitivity.'"

Aiden snorted. "Who knew that she would totally buy it. You looked like a rock star for a whole day."

Andrea laughed, shaking her head. "That was such a bad idea. I could barely see the board. I enjoyed the twenty dollars I won, though."

Dean grinned. "I remember that. You were squinting so much; I thought you'd permanently wrinkle your forehead."

As they chatted, she enjoyed a small amount of scrambled eggs, a single slice of turkey bacon, and some fresh fruit. Andrea's stomach rumbled as she watched Dean and Aiden chow down on donuts and other pastry items, along with a pile of bacon, sausages, and French toast. If she ate that heavy for breakfast, she'd hit a wall a couple hour later, so she savored her perfectly crispy turkey bacon and fluffy eggs. Dean poured coffee for them both, the rich aroma mingling with the smell of warm toast.

"So, any big plans for the day?" Elle asked, nibbling on a piece of watermelon.

"Just the usual," Andrea replied. "Massages and keeping people relaxed. How about you?"

Elle shrugged. "More planning for the talent show. Who knew that it would be so hard to convince adults that magic tricks are cooler than karaoke?"

Aiden chuckled. "Good luck with that."

They finished their breakfast, continuing to joke about their high school days. It felt good to laugh and enjoy each other's company, a little slice of normalcy amidst the chaos of work and life.

As the group dispersed, Andrea made her way down the pathway to the pool house. The sun was already high in the cloudless sky, the air thick with the promise of a sweltering summer day. She waved to a few campers on her way, their cheerful faces a reminder of why she loved her job.

Andrea entered the cool interior of the pool house and checked her schedule. Her first client was listed as "Mary Jacobs." A small sigh escaped her lips as she recognized the name—her mother's pseudonym. Why and when she'd started using the fake name Andrea couldn't remember.

Still, she braced herself, knowing this session would be anything but relaxing for her.

After making sure the room was ready, she headed back to the locker room and changed into the black scrubs that she and Kara wore when working. They had the camp's logo embroidered on them in bright teal stitching.

Half an hour later, Kara informed her that her mother was there and ready for her.

Her mother was lying on the massage table when Andrea walked into the room, her face turned away from the door. Andrea greeted her warmly.

As Andrea began the massage, kneading the tension from her mother's shoulders, the familiar litany of complaints started.

"I don't understand why you chose this line of work," her mother began, her voice tight. So this was her life. No happy greetings, no how are you doing , just jump right in to tearing her down. "You were always so smart. You could have been a doctor or a lawyer. Something respectable."

Andrea focused on her breathing, trying to stay calm. "I enjoy what I do, Mom. It helps people." She used the heel of her palm to push through a knot in her mother's shoulder.

Her mother sighed dramatically. "You could do so much more. Amy always had ambition. Look at her, managing her life so well."

Andrea bit her tongue, resisting the urge to tell her mother the truth about Amy's situation in the past few days. It wasn't her place to divulge that Amy had spent a week away from Brad, dealing with marriage problems. Instead, she kept working, her hands moving methodically over her mother's back.

"And this place," her mother continued, "it's so…rustic. Why couldn't you work at a high-end spa? Something with a bit of class."

Andrea felt a pang of hurt. She had always known her mother disapproved of her choices, but it stung every time she mentioned it.

"You come here," she pointed out.

"Because you're here," her mother replied quickly.

Andrea wanted to add that she got free massages because of it but decided to keep her mouth shut.

As the session drew to a close, Andrea gently covered her mother with a sheet. "All done," she said softly. "I hope you feel better."

Her mother sat up, adjusting the robe around her shoulders. "Thank you," she said, her tone slightly softer. But the words were hollow, lacking warmth. It was the same tone her mother used when thanking the kid who packed her bags at the grocery store.

Andrea watched as her mother gathered her things and disappeared into the shower room to rinse off.

She tried to ignore the familiar ache in her chest that she always got after a visit from her mother or sister. She had hoped that one day her mother would see the value in her work, in the life she had chosen. But it seemed that day was still far off.

With a sigh, she turned to tidy up the room, pushing aside her feelings. She had other clients to attend to, other people who appreciated her and the work she did. And later, she would meet Dean, who always made her feel valued and understood. That thought brought a small smile to her face as she prepared for the next massage.