Free Lost Daughters by Mary Monroe

and had access to her daddy’s station wagon. Loretta had called her up a couple of hours ago and told her that she needed a ride over to Mel’s place.
    â€œI know there is a shortage of men, but of all the men in this world, why do you want the same one that your mama is involved with?” Mona asked Loretta as soon as she picked her up. “What if you get caught? Your mama would have a fit and you’d get a whuppin’.”
    â€œMy mama is a Kentucky-fried country bumpkin! She’s so clueless!” Loretta snapped. “She wouldn’t know what to do with a luscious, sophisticated man like Mel. Besides, they are just friends anyway.”
    â€œJust friends, my foot! I’ve seen Mel’s SUV parked in front of your buildin’ late at night and early in the mornin’ plenty of times. Is he sleepin’ with your mama or what?”
    â€œWell, yeah, but only to keep her from gettin’ suspicious about him and me.” Loretta got quiet and screwed up her face like she had just sucked on a lemon. “My mama thinks I’m stupid. She gets busy with Mel when she thinks I’m asleep, but him sockin’ it to her don’t mean nothin’. He’s only doin’ her to keep her in the dark and under control. I hate to admit it, but my mama is still kinda pretty, so it’s more fun for him to do her than to masturbate or go after some skank if he gets horny and can’t get to me in time,” Loretta said, patting the side of her hair as she glanced in the rearview mirror. “But Mel is my lover. He’s kinda old, but he’s got a young man’s body. I’m goin’ to get a lot of mileage out of him.”
    â€œWell, since he’s your photographer and manager, you better get as much mileage as you can out of that too,” Mona advised. “I hope he don’t cheat you out none of the money you make modelin’. Or do somethin’ else crooked like some managers do . . .”
    â€œMel only takes ten percent of what I make. A lot of managers take fifteen percent from their models. One of the girls he used to work with, she was just on the cover of a trendy local magazine. He got her the job, and he did all the pictures for that shoot. He will be hookin’ me up like that too.”
    Mona was thoroughly impressed. “Dang! Did that girl have to fuck him to get that job?”
    Loretta gasped and gave Mona a disgusted look. “What’s wrong with you, girl? Who said anything about a model havin’ to fuck to get work—especially one like me? I’m sleepin’ with Mel because I want to!” Loretta was talking so fast she choked on some air. As soon as she cleared her throat, she added, “I don’t have to sleep my way to the top.”
    â€œI’m sorry. You mad at me?” Mona bleated, bowing her head submissively. If she had a tail, she would have tucked it between her legs.
    â€œNo, I’m not mad at you. I just wish your questions made more sense to me.” Loretta clucked, not even trying to hide her impatience. “What’s your point anyway?” she added, snapping her fingers.
    â€œWhat I mean is, ain’t you worried that you fuckin’ Mel might mess up things? What if he gets tired of you? Do you think he’ll still want to work with you then? If you and him so in love, how can y’all work together and keep your hands off one another?”
    â€œWe know how to keep things under control. There are always other people around when we go out on shoots. We get it on in hotels every now and then, but we never show our true feelin’s to one another when we are out in public workin’,” Loretta said. “Right now the best way he can be alone with me is in my mama’s house or at his place.”
    â€œHmmm. You’re the only one of my friends that’s foolin’ around with a man Mel’s age.” Mona gave Loretta a concerned