The Perfect Mistress by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Author:Reshonda Tate Billingsley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Relationships, Romance, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Love Stories
ISBN: 9781476715049
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2016-07-04T23:00:00+00:00

Years ago, Lauren swore that her mother would no longer make her cry, and for the most part, she had held true to that promise. But on the way home, her emotions were betraying her. She couldn’t hold back the river of tears. This visit had drained the life from her.

Lauren had asked the doctor what caused her mother’s meltdown, but no one could tell her anything. She hadn’t stuck around to find out why her mother had passed out.

Lauren usually bore the brunt of her mother’s fiery temper. But today the vitriol was on a whole other level. Despite her love for her mother, Lauren could take only so much.

As she was driving, Lauren could no longer control the waterworks. Then she saw her brother’s phone number pop up on her caller ID. She quickly pushed DECLINE. Julian called back two more times and then sent a text:

I know you’re sending me to voice mail. Answer the phone.

Although Lauren had no desire to speak to him, she pulled over to the side of the road so that she wasn’t driving down the freeway screaming at her brother. And she had no doubt that this conversation would end in a screaming match.

“What do you want?” she said when he picked up.

“What the hell did you do?” he yelled at her.

How typical, to blame her. “Look, Julian, don’t start with me.”

“What happened today? Mama is hysterical. The nurse called me. They can’t calm her down. You got her worked up, then didn’t bother to stick around.”

“You know what?” Lauren yelled right back. “I’m taking a page from your book. Not bothering to stick around.”

“Don’t go there with me.”

“No, you know what, Julian? Let’s go there. I’m tired. This woman hates me. She’s hated me for years and I have put up with it. I have endured. Meanwhile, you use the distance as an excuse to distance yourself from us.”

“What would you suggest I do, Lauren?” Julian huffed.

“Be there for her. Come see her. Hell, move her there with you. She hates me and she doesn’t hesitate to let it be known. I’m sick and tired of it!”

“Our mother is sick, Lauren. Cut her some slack.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Lauren cried, the tears flowing full stream now. “I see the disease literally sucking the life from her. I see the sadness in her eyes. And I put on a brave front even though it’s painfully obvious my mother is going to die hating me.”

This brought him up short. Several seconds passed before he said, “So, is that what this is all about? You’re upset because she’s mad at you for betraying her?”

Lauren told herself not to participate in this old game. “I know exactly what I did to her. Neither of you will ever let me forget.”

“Look, Lauren, I don’t want to fight with you. I’m just really worried about Mama.”

“Move. Her. There.”

“I’ve already explained,” Julian replied. “You know we can’t do that. I have a family.”

And I don’t and never will, she thought to herself.

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