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Kyle Richards on Sister Kim: I Hope She's 'Sober for the Rest of Her Life'
It's been eight months since Kim Richards went to rehab for alcoholism, and her sister Kyle says they're finally getting their once rocky relationship back on track.
"I spoke to Kim the other day and she was confident and strong," Kyle tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue. "I was like, 'Yes! Let's keep you here.' There are no guarantees, but I'm excited and hopeful."
Growing up, Kyle, 46, idolized Kim, 51, – but the lookalike pair were very often at odds.
"I thought she was so magical," says Kyle. "But on the other side of that, we would fight. Kim would scratch me until she drew blood and I'd bite her and leave marks. I thought it was normal!"
Both sisters signed on to join the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2009, but beneath a glamorous façade, real family drama was unfolding as Kim's alcohol abuse became a much-talked about storyline on the show.
Still, "I didn't want to point out to the world what was going on," says Kyle. "Even if I was angry or frustrated, she's still my sister. It was private. That's how my mom raised us."
And later, when she watched the first season back, the mother of four says she learned a valuable lesson.
"I used to be very angry with Kim about her issues," says Kyle. "We had so many fights over the years. But seeing the show in season 1 opened my eyes a lot. People were like, 'Poor Kim,' and I was like, 'Wait, I thought we were the victims!' It made me realize, alcoholism is a disease and she can't help this. It taught me a lot."
Still, Kim's problems persisted; Kim and Kyle were estranged for nearly a year, during which the former child star was arrested for public intoxication in April.
"I was in shock," Kyle says of the arrest. "It was upsetting and I knew she would be beating herself up about it."
Now, Kyle is cautiously optimistic about a relationship with post-treatment Kim, though she admits, "There are no guarantees for someone who is an alcoholic. I'm always waiting for the end. 'When is this over? When can we put this away and start having fun?' But we can't ever do that. And that's something I've had to learn."
Above all, Kyle hopes her sister's struggles will one day be a thing of the past.
"I just hope Kim will be healthy, happy and sober for the rest of her life," says Kyle. "She's got four amazing kids, she's an incredible mom and she has a lot to look forward to."
Kyle Richards: 'Less Is Better' When It Comes to Plastic Surgery
She lives in a town obsessed with looking young, but Kyle Richards isn't a fan of overdoing it with the nips and tucks.
"I'm one of those people who thinks less is better," Richards tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue. "There are so many people who have so much done to their face. They never look better!"
Still, the mom of four daughters, who says she does "minimal" Botox, admits that being a reality star on a long-running show (six seasons and counting for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ) does have its drawbacks when it comes to getting older.
"It's fun to watch yourself age in high-def," jokes Richards, 46. "I see the changes. It's part of life. We're in a town where we don't want to age, and we're almost expected not to, but what can I do?"
In fact, Richards embraces each year as a testament to her mother, who died at 62 from breast cancer.
"I'm not one of those women who is like, 'Every wrinkle has made me who I am,' but I'm also not the person who doesn't want to age. My mom died young, so for me, every birthday is a reason to celebrate."
Nonetheless, Richards says she'll draw the line when it comes to showing too much skin on television. She says that her costar "Lisa Vanderpump and I always joke, 'Hell no you won't see us in a bikini!' We're not 25!"