Page 28 of Preacher Man

“Don’t call him that! You know he’s trying to be better.”

“Rita, if Dwayne was trying then why isn’t he paying the rent? He lives there. Why isn’t he buying groceries? He doesn’t even have a job.”

“Look I didn’t ring for a fucking lecture. Goddammit, Ruby, can’t you just be a normal sister for once? We all can’t be a perfect saint as you, can we?”

“He doesn’t need to be perfect, he just needs to contribute instead of expecting handouts.”

“He’s really trying this time, he promised, sis.”

Sure. Right. Hey look, flying bacon.

“Why don’t you move back here, Rita? You can live with me until you’re on your feet again.” Ruby was thinking of the money she’d save. She had no desire to live with her sister and she felt some self-reproach over that thought, but if only she could get Rita out here again everything would be okay, she could help her get clean, she’d be away from that deadbeat drug addict boyfriend at least, who was half of the problem.

“No way we like it in Greenwood, you know Dwayne has his family here and there’s talk of his cousin hiring him soon. Nice of them, right? We had dinner with his cousins the other night, real swank place, sis.” Right. Of course. Pigs would fly first before that waste of air got a job. Ruby was close to bursting out laughing, but that would only piss her sister off.

“How is---”

“So, about the money?” She interrupted. “I need it, Rube. Like for real, do you want me to be thrown out?”

“Why can’t you go and live with Dwayne’s family, if they’re such great people?”

“Fucks sake! Why do you have to be like this? No wonder we don’t come to see you, Ruby. You just sound bitter now, you need your own life, really you do, instead of trying to run mine all the time.”

“Trying to run your life? Are you fucking kidding with that bullshit? I don’t hear from you until you want something. Well, I’m sick of it. The bank of Ruby is closed.”

Fuming, feeling it rattle through her brain as she’d listened to the impudence of her sister to dare sound annoyed for what, Ruby not opening her wallet and making the money walk to her? Goddamn entitled people made her sick, blood-related or not. She was done.

Ruby was busting her ass trying to find a second job to support herSISTERand the sister in question was standing with her thumb up her own ass just waiting for handouts.

Enough.

Enough now.

“You know I need help.” Rita changed her tactic instantly and here came the sickly whine Ruby always fell for because she hated that Rita had basically been raised with no motherly love at all.

“Yes, you do. I agree. Get into a program. I can take---”

“I told you no! God's sake, you never quit, do you? I’m so fucking sick of this. All I want is a real sister.”

“You want a bank, you mean. You want a never-ending money tree. I am your sister, always have been, Rita. I raised you as best as I could and you’re never satisfied, never once do you say thank you, or please, or sorry. It's all want-want-want with you. I have my own problems you know, my own bills, how am I meant to pay my own and look after you at the same time?”

“Ruby…please.”

“I’ve offered you a solution,you can live here with me and I’ll give you all the support I can. It’s up to you if you take that help. But I can’t send any more money this month, Rita. It’s impossible. I can’t give what I don’t have.”

“That’s bullshit!” Here came the nasty. “You have savings! You are little miss do-right, you always were. You’d even save your pocket money from that golden boy brother of yours when we were kids. Oh no, Ruby can’t spend it on candy, she had to put it away."

“And you always stole it.” Ruby reminded her quietly. She’d been jealous of Jamie even then when he was no more than a teenager himself.

He’d liked Ruby then. On certain days, she missed her brother. Her belly clenched with pain and hunger, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

Times had changed drastically once their father went to jail this last time and Jamie had taken over for him, they barely talked anymore. He'd had the chance of his own life, instead decided to wear their father's criminal shoes on for size. From the little amount of information, she had heard he was doing well at it.

“You never let me forget it. We were kids.”

“Stealing is stealing. Can I talk to---”

“No, you can’t. I gotta go, Dwayne is home. If you can send that money, Ruby, send a text, don’t call, you know how it annoys Dwayne if he’s sleeping.”

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