His eyes shifted guiltily from hers.
Lexi felt sick to her stomach. “Just as I thought,” she mocked bitterly. “You saw me on TV, and now you think you can weasel your way back into my life to cash in on my newfound success. But you’re sadly mistaken. If you think you’re gettingonered cent out of me, think again!”
“Baby girl—”
“Don’t youdarecall me that! I’m not your baby girl. And if youevertry to contact me again, I’ll take out a restraining order against you. Stay the hell away from me!”
As she spun around and hurried across the parking lot toward her car, he called after her, “Ask your mama why I left. She knows!”
Lexi hurled herself into her car and slammed the door. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would explode. She was supposed to meet her friends for lunch, but as she raced out of the parking lot, she had only one destination in mind.
She found her mother sitting in her favorite armchair in the living room, surrounded by a thick, noxious cloud of smoke as she puffed away on a cigarette. On the television, a rerun ofThe Golden Girlsblared loudly. As Blanche launched into a spirited discussion of one of her sexual escapades, Carlene cackled and slapped her thigh.
Lexi strode purposefully into the room and shut off the television.
Carlene protested, “Hey, I was watching—”
“We need to talk, Ma.” Brimming with fury, Lexi paced up and down the floor.
Her mother watched her for a moment, then took a long drag on her cigarette and shot a stream of smoke from the corner of her mouth. “How’d your book signing go?”
“Great,” Lexi snapped. “By the way, so nice of you to show up.”
Carlene arched a brow. “Why should I go to your book signing? I don’t need an autographed book from you—you’re my daughter.”
“Exactly! I’m your daughter, and justonceit would be nice if you could show a little support.”
“Is that what’s got you so upset? Because I didn’t come to your damn book signing?”
“No, Ma,” Lexi jeered. “I didn’t expect you to come, so how can I be upset that you didn’t?”
Carlene’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t take that tone with—”
“However,” Lexi rudely cut her off, “it might interest you to know that whileyoucouldn’t be bothered to show up, someone else did.”
“Who?”
Lexi looked her in the eye. “My father.”
She watched as the color slowly leached out of her mother’s face. Carlene’s hand trembled as she tapped her cigarette into an ashtray on the table beside her, muttering darkly, “What didhewant?”
“What do youthink,Ma? He wanted money. He saw me on Michael’s show, so he figured he’d come hit me up for cash now that I’m supposedly rich and famous.” A nasty, mocking smile twisted her mouth. “Isn’t that what he used to do, Ma? Wait until me, Colby and Summer were at school, and then sneak over and hit you up for money?”
Carlene was toking furiously on her cigarette. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Oh, yes, I do!” Lexi shouted angrily. “I knew every time he’d been at the apartment. The cash in our rainy day jar would be gone, and you were always in an especially foul mood after you’d seen him.” She shook her head in grim disgust. “I used to wonder why he never stuck around long enough to see his own children. And I used to wonder why on earth you’d give him money after everything he’d done to you. It was almost like he was blackmailing you.”
“You need to leave this alone,” Carlene warned in a strained voice.
“Leavewhatalone? The dark secret that’s been eating away at you for as long as I can remember? Isthatwhat I should leave alone? Well, I can’t!”
“Don’t you have better things to worry about?” Carlene sneered. “Like keeping that man of yours in check?”
Taken aback, Lexi stared at her. She hadn’t told her mother about Quentin because she hadn’t wanted to subject herself to a bitter diatribe about cheating men.
“You thought I wouldn’t find out?” Carlene taunted, a mocking gleam in her eyes. “Last Sunday in church I overheard Quentin’s mama telling the pastor’s wife that her prayers had been answered, because Quentin had finally realized he was in love with his best friend from college.” Carlene smirked. “Obviously she wasn’t talking about Michael, so the only other best friend she could be referring to wasyou.I left before they caught me eavesdropping, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already planning your damn wedding.”
Lexi swallowed hard, but said nothing. She didn’t expect her mother to understand the powerful connection she and Quentin shared. She didn’t expect Carlene to admit that maybe, just maybe, Lexi had lucked out and found the real deal: a man who truly loved her and wanted to be with her.
