Page 23 of Summer Affair

Amy’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Yes,” she hissed. “It’s for a good cause. Think of all the people we could help,” Amy said, her tone dripping with insincerity.

“Unbelievable,” Andrea muttered. “Even if I could do that, which I can’t, it’s completely inappropriate to ask. Besides, if River Camps is booked, they are booked. It’s not like they can cancel someone else to fit you in. That isn’t how life works. You don’t get everything you want just because you have money.”

Amy’s eyes flashed with irritation. “That’s exactly how life works. You wouldn’t know since you’re stuck in your second-rate job living in this dump.”

“A dump you fought me for. You hired lawyers and took me to court,” she pointed out, then smiled. “And lost. Twice.”

Amy crossed her arms over her chest, one that Andrea knew had been enhanced in the past few years. She’d also had a nose job, a face lift, and so much Botox that she doubted her sister could smile.

She wondered if Amy had as many enhancements to her body as Andrea had tattoos.

“You always think you’re so much better than me. Just because you work at that camp doesn’t mean you’re some saint. You owe me this,” Amy hissed.

“Owe you?” Andrea felt her anger rising again. “I owe you nothing. You’ve done nothing but take from me our entire lives. My boots, my space, and now you want to jeopardize my career?”

Amy crossed her arms defiantly. “You’re just being selfish.”

“No, I’m being reasonable,” Andrea said, her voice shaking with suppressed anger. “And you need to leave. Now.”

“Fine,” Amy spat. “But don’t think this is over.”

“It is for me,” Andrea replied. She opened the door and watched as her sister grabbed up her massive bag. Before she could storm out, Andrea took the bag from her sister’s arms.

One glance inside had her shouting, “I can’t believe you.” She pulled out her grandmother’s silver serving bowl and several other nicknacks Amy had always wanted. “You are a child,” she said as she pulled out a set of hand towels that she’d just purchased last week. “These were five dollars at Target. Go get your own.” She tossed them on her table. “Seriously? What is wrong with you?”

Her sister smiled, a condescending glint in her eye. “They were tacky anyway. Besides, I would never step foot in a Target. I’ll leave all the bargain hunting to people like you.” She jerked her bag out of Andrea’s hands and stormed out of the house.

Andrea slammed the door shut behind her sister and leaned against it. She took several deep breaths to calm herself, but her hands shook. The all-too-familiar ache of frustration and hurt that always accompanied any interaction with Amy swirled in her head and heart.

Why? Why did she still let Amy get to her? Why did it matter? Why the fuck couldn’t she not care?

She grabbed her pre-made dinner and went out to sit on the back deck and eat her meal alone in the quiet of the evening. She would change the locks on her house on her next day off.

Chapter Seven

Dean’s next few days at River Camps were busy, but his mind was constantly on his sister after his last call with his mom. His sister’s illness had caused her physical strain and her ex-husband’s antics were taking their toll on her emotional and mental health. Even he was becoming exhausted from trying to keep up with Luke’s antics.

Thankfully, he could mentally escape into work, but as soon as his shift ended, the worry set in again.

One evening, just as he finished cleaning up after the dinner rush, his phone buzzed.

It was a message from his mother: “Taking Sophia to the hospital.”

His heart sped up as he read the message a few times. His first instinct was to call her, but she was probably already driving and he didn’t want to take her attention away since it was raining heavily.

After shooting her a text saying he was on his way there, he quickly changed out of his work clothes. He drove straight to the hospital, worry gnawing at him with every passing mile. He parked haphazardly in the almost-empty parking lot and rushed into the ER. His mother was pacing in the waiting area and rushed towards him when she saw him.

“What happened?” he asked, breathless.

“She collapsed after dinner,” his mother said, tears brimming in her eyes. “She was so weak, and then she just…collapsed.”

He hugged her tightly and felt her shiver.

“She’ll be okay. They’ll take care of her,” he said as much for himself as his mother. She had to be okay, he told himself over and over again.

They waited for almost an hour before a nurse appeared and informed them that Sophia was stable but needed to stay overnight for observation.