Free THE GREAT PRETENDER by Millenia Black Page B

matter-of-factly. “She probably had another fight with Sean. You know she acts like this when they fight.”
    “Speaking of pizza, how come you didn’t leave any for me?” asked Tracy, joining Valerie on the sofa.
    “Well, I didn’t know when you’d be coming home tonight,” replied Valerie with mock innocence.
    Tracy’s hands itched to wring her neck. W hen in the hell did she become so forward? Tracy asked herself.
    “Look, I want to talk to you two about your dad going back to his old schedule.”
    “Yeah?” Valerie asked with interest. “What about it?”
    “I want to know how you feel about it.”
    “What do you mean? I’m glad Daddy’ll be staying home now! We’ll be a normal family and go on vacation like we always talked about.”
    “I know you’re okay with it, but—”
    “But you’re not,” said Valerie, cutting her off. “Mom, I hope you don’t mess this up and make him change his mind!”
    “What in the world are you talking about? Make him change his mind? Why on Earth would I do that?”
    “Oh, I don’t know, Mom,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe you’re used to not having him around anymore, or something.”
    Tracy fumed. “Okay, cut the bull, little girl, and say what you mean!” she demanded, staring a hole through her youngest daughter. “I’ve had it with your lip! What are you implying? And don’t you dare forget who gave birth to whom here.”
    “I don’t mean anything, Mom,” answered Valerie. She stared down toward the rug. She didn’t want to push her mother too far—not yet, anyway. “I’m just happy that Daddy will be home now, and I hope nothing comes up that would make him change his mind. That’s all. I don’t mean anything.” Valerie turned her attention to the TV set.
    Tracy rose from the sofa and blocked Valerie’s view of the television. She treated her daughter to one of the infamous glares that always put both she and Olivia in their places. “I already spoke to your father about that insolent tongue you’ve developed, so we’ll see just how long you’ll be happy to have him home, young lady.” With that, Tracy left the room.
    Oh, Mom, thought Valerie. We’ll see just how happy you’ll be to have Daddy home.
    Rising from the sofa, she went upstairs to her room. Locking the door behind her, she fell onto the bed and reached for the bedside telephone.
    Valerie called her cousin Deborah.
    “Yeah, Debbie,” she half-whispered into the receiver. Although she had her own phone line, Valerie couldn’t risk being overheard.
    “Okay,” Debbie replied. “So you want me to follow Aunt Tracy?”
    “Yeah, tomorrow night.”
    “What makes you think she’s seeing someone, anyway? And why do you think she’ll be going to see him tomorrow?”
    “Look, Deb, I know my mom,” replied Valerie. “She runs out of here almost every night when Daddy’s in Orlando, and nobody’s ever up long enough to know when she comes back. Plus, a couple of times we’ve caught her coming in at like seven or eight o’clock in the morning, trying to pretend she got up early and went out. She’s doing it all right. Trust me. And she’s stupid enough to think nobody’s figured it out,” she said with arrogance. “Just come at around seven tomorrow, because she never leaves before that. I think she waits for Daddy to call before she goes.”
    “Okay, I’ll be there,” said Debbie, doubtful. “But I’ll kill you if I waste my time following Aunt Tracy to a friend’s or to a club or some place innocent like that.” Hesitating, she added, “Why are you care, anyway, Valerie?”
    “Please just be here, Debbie. I just want to know.”
    “Okay. See you tomorrow,” said Deborah, reluctantly.
    “Bye.”
    Valerie hung up smiling. T his is the perfect way to find out who this mystery man is. How come I never thought of this before?
     
    • 
     
    After her shower , Tracy settled into bed and dialed Frank’s number. Considering the fact that he