Page 24 of What They Say

Bear nodded once, serious now. “Girl or no girl, you’re family here, Chase. Club loyalty isn’t just about patches and rides. It’s showing up. For the people who matter. Every time there’s a need. You understand?”

Chase met his eyes and felt something settle in his chest. “Yeah. I do.”

The rest of the meal passed with lighter talk—Eddie teasing Bear about his latest half-finished project in the garage, Bear grumbling good-naturedly in return. For the first time in a long while, Chase didn’t feel like he was standing on the outside looking in.

He was home. At least for now.

***

Kath

Kath closed the front door behind her and paused in the hallway, listening. The house was quiet except for the low murmur of the TV in the living room. No thumping music. No male voices. That was something, at least.

She kicked off her boots and padded into the kitchen, stomach already twisting with the familiar mix of exhaustion and dread. The conversation with Chase earlier had left her feeling lighter than she had in weeks, but the second she stepped inside this house, the weight came crashing back down.

Maudie was at the table, surrounded by papers and an open laptop. Her hair was messy, and there were dark circles under her eyes. A half-empty bottle of cheap wine sat beside her.

“Hey,” Kath said carefully.

Maudie didn’t look up. “You’re late.”

“Long shift.” Kath opened the fridge and grabbed a soda. “You eat anything today?”

Silence.

Kath sighed and leaned against the counter. “Look, I know you’re still pissed about the bike. I get it. But I pay my half of everything. Rent’s covered. Groceries are covered. I’m not freeloading.”

Maudie finally looked up. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and something in her expression made Kath’s stomach drop.

“You think this is about the fucking bike?” Maudie’s voice cracked. “Mom left us with almost nine thousand dollars in credit card debt, Kath. Nine thousand. She opened cards in both our names before she took off with that trucker. I’ve been getting the calls. The late notices. The collections threats. I canceled them, so she can’t charge anything else, but I’ve been trying to pay it down while keeping us afloat, and you go blow three grand on a goddamn motorcycle like we’re living some easy life.”

Kath felt the floor tilt under her feet.

“What?” The word came out small.

Maudie laughed, but it sounded broken. “Yeah. Surprise. Mommy dearest didn’t just leave. She made sure we’d be cleaning up her mess for years. I didn’t want to tell you because you’re finally doing okay with the music stuff and the coffee shop and...fuck, I don’t know. I thought I could handle it.”

Kath crossed the room slowly and sank into the chair across from her sister. Her hands were shaking.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know. I thought...I thought you were just mad about the bike. I should’ve asked. I should’ve noticed you were stressed.”

Maudie rubbed her face with both hands. “I’m sorry too. I’ve been a bitch to you. I know I have. I’m just scared. We’re barely keeping our heads above water, and it feels like every time I turn around, something else is trying to drown us.”

The silence that followed wasn’t angry. It was heavy, but honest.

Kath reached across the table and touched her sister’s wrist. “We’ll figure it out. Together. I can pick up more shifts. Maybe talk to Meg about some extra studio work. We’re not Mom. We don’t run.”

Maudie looked at her for a long moment, then gave a tired, crooked smile. “No. We don’t run.”

They ended up ordering cheap pizza and eating it on the couch like they used to when they were younger. They didn’t solve anything—nine thousand dollars’ worth of debt didn’t disappear in one night—but they talked. Really talked. About Mom. About the fear that lived in both of them. About how hard it was to trust that things could be okay.

When Kath finally stood up to head to bed, Maudie caught her hand.

“I’m really glad you got the bike,” she said quietly. “You deserve something that makes you happy.”

Kath swallowed hard. “Thanks, Maudie.”

As she walked down the hall to her room, a small, warm thought settled in her chest.