The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery

Author:Susan Mallery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2023-01-06T15:54:33+00:00

Sixteen

Sloane sat curled up in the corner of the sofa in the downstairs living room. It was midafternoon on a weekday and she had the common room to herself. Her mother sat across from her, watching carefully.

“Lunch was lovely,” her mother said, her voice kind. “But there’s a reason you asked me over.”

“We hang out all the time,” Sloane protested. Which was true. Sort of. She and her mom got together every few weeks to catch up. It was easier for it to be the two of them rather than deal with Finley, who could be judgy and difficult.

Or maybe that was the bitterness talking, Sloane admitted to herself. The only real problems in her sister’s life were of Sloane’s making. Sloane might have been born the pretty, talented sister, but Finley was the one who never screwed up.

Molly smiled at her. “Darling, I have all the time in the world, but you have a life to get back to. What did you want to tell me?”

“I slipped.”

Until she spoke the words, she hadn’t been sure whether or not she was going to confess the truth. There was so much judgment when someone relapsed—especially by those who had never been cursed with addiction.

But her mother had never been one of those people. She nodded slowly before saying, “A few weeks ago? When you canceled your day with Aubrey?”

“I couldn’t face her. I still felt sick and I was so disgusted with myself.” She pulled her knees closer to her chest, as if to protect herself from all comers. “It was on my one-year anniversary. I was so stupid. I drank a bottle of vodka, promptly threw it up, then had to face the fact that I’m not healed. I’ll never be healed and now I’m starting over.”

Her mom moved from the chair to the sofa and pulled her close.

“I love you,” she said softly, rubbing Sloane’s back. “No matter what, I love you. This totally sucks, but you’re dealing. You’re sober now. You’re going to meetings. You know what to do.”

“Now you sound like Ellis.”

“He’s a good man who cares about you.”

“I know.” He was better than she deserved. “Thanks for not judging me, Mom. It means a lot.”

“There’s no point in judging. It doesn’t help.”

“Finley would. In a heartbeat.”

Sloane thought about her sister’s recent visit to the house. Well, not a visit exactly. It was more of a brief kidnapping, but she’d wanted to show her sister how well she was doing. Ironic, considering she’d only been a few days sober.

“I didn’t tell Finley when I saw her,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to hear it.”

“She doesn’t need to know.”

Sloane smiled. “Don’t enable me, Mom. It doesn’t help. I need to be honest with everyone and I wasn’t with Finley. I’ll make that right.” Eventually. When she was a little stronger and could handle the disdain.

Her mom moved back on the sofa. “I won’t say anything. It’s not my story to tell. I also think you’re being too hard on yourself.

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