“Well, after last night, after I got over the amusement at your actress who knows zilch about anything, I started remembering why I liked this place. Same as you, I guess.” Neve shrugged and closed the cabinet door beneath the built-in bookshelf. She glanced around, wincing at the ugly light fixture. “I mean, with some elbow grease and a little money, we could make this place nice again.”

Olivia started to say that Neve had no money and then realized that was another bitchy thing to say. She wasn’t sure why she was so angry at her sister—because Neve supported her father? Because she saw counselors and therapists as the enemy? Because Neve had stayed in a failing marriage until it had damaged her? Because she didn’t seem to give a damn about much in life? Olivia didn’t understand her sister. So she said, very neutrally, “Yeah, we could. It’s something we need to discuss.”

Neve looked at her. “Why don’t you like me?”

Olivia flinched. “What?”

“You don’t like me. You used to like me. Before Scott. Before Marley died. Before Dad screwed up. We used to be close. We’re kind of opposite people, but we liked each other at least.”

“I love you,” Olivia said.

“No, I don’t think you do. I think you don’t love much of anyone anymore. You’re successful with a program that probably works, but you’re full of so much resentment, anger, and disgust for people who are weaker, I’m not sure how you’re still in business, honestly.”

A volley of stinging needles flung her way would have been gentler than her sister’s words. “That’s not true.”

“Maybe not wholly, but it’s at least half-right.”

Olivia shook her head. “I’m successful because I dedicated myself to practices that work. I don’t hate you. I am sometimes annoyed with you because . . . a lot of things.”

“Because I can’t keep a job? Because you have to give us money to make ends meet some months?”

Olivia hadn’t expected Neve to be so blunt, but her sister seemed on a mission. “Okay, fine. Sometimes it bothers me. I send Mom a check each month to help both of you, and you always seem to need more.”

“Maybe Mom can come live with you.”

“What? No.”

“Why not? She’s your mother, too. You’ve been content to let me care for her while you do yoga in Beverly Hills. She’s an inconvenience to you, but she’s one to me, too. I get to care for her by default because I have no power. But if Mom was taken care of, I could start over somewhere new. I’m trapped where I am.”

Olivia looked away, knowing Neve’s words were true. “And where would you go?”