From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

Regan laced her thin arms around Eddy’s waist and pressed herself close. She whispered through her tears. “Please don’t leave Aunt Eddy. Please.”

Eddy felt awful.

“Regan, stop that sniveling and go help your sister.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Eddy caressed her cheek in good-bye and Regan left the room.

“You didn’t have to be so mean, Corinne.”

“Do

Regan laced her thin arms around Eddy’s waist and pressed herself close. She whispered through her tears. “Please don’t leave Aunt Eddy. Please.”

Eddy felt awful.

“Regan, stop that sniveling and go help your sister.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Eddy caressed her cheek in good-bye and Regan left the room.

“You didn’t have to be so mean, Corinne.”

“Don’t tell me how to raise my children. When you get your own, you can treat them any way you like. And, I don’t have any money for you or your highfalutin dreams. I told you years ago, you’d make more money down here than you’d ever make uptown. You had the bosoms and the looks, but no, you thought you were too good.”

“No, I didn’t want to become a whore, Corinne.”

“Yet here you are begging help from a whore.”

“I’m here begging help from my sister.” Corinne’s legendary allure had faded; too many men, too much whiskey, too much hardship. Now, instead of features that could’ve launched ships like the fabled Helen of Troy, she looked as tired and worn-out as any other women of her profession. Eddy was saddened by that.

“I have nothing for you. Guess you and your dreams will have to walk there.”

“I guess so.” Eddy thought back on how much she once loved her sister, the giggles they’d shared in their bedroom at night, the way they’d played as girls, and the sense of family their parents always tried to instill. Standing before her now in a ratty, faded green wrapper was a woman she didn’t know and it broke Eddy’s heart. “Good-bye, sister. I’ll write when I get settled.”

“Fine.”

Eddy left.