12
“THE GUY IS A TOTAL WOMANIZER,” Corrie tells me. “He’s got mistresses in every state. Everyone in the industry knows about him. ”
My stomach drops. I feel sick.
“There was even a lawsuit or two. And more payouts than you can wave your hand at. That’s the main reason the guy’s divorced. Apparently, the ex-wife made out with a lot of money. Has he asked your mom to sign a prenup?”
“Yes, well that’s standard, isn’t it?”
Corrie shakes her head. “Not really.”
“Are you really sure?” I ask, not wanting to believe a word. If she’s putting me on, I will kill her. Corrie likes to mess with people occasionally, and she sometimes goes too far.
“Positive,” she says. “The man’s a legend. I’m not messing with you, Kayla. I wouldn’t do that.”
God, my poor mother. This is going to destroy her.
Corrie takes me in her arms. “I’m sorry. I like your mom. She doesn’t deserve this.”
I pull from her. “What am I going to do?”
She winces. “I don’t know… but we should do something. She can’t marry him.”
I glance over at my mother. She’s standing close to Mark, an arm entwined in his. He’s busy charming yet another woman, our old neighbor, Matilda. Matilda used to babysit Sarah and I all the time. She might be about eighty-years old, but she cannot escape his charms. She’s smiling wide, and so is my mom.
I’m going to need to speak to her, to tell her the truth. I hate this.
* * *
She twirls for me.The silky black fabric sways and shines under the warm lights of the lingerie store. “What do you think of this one?”
Seeing my mother in a teddy is not my idea of a fun Monday afternoon, but the woman loves shopping and that’s where she’s happiest. I figured I might as well pick her happy place to drop the bad news. Although, sheiswearing a teddy intended for a sexy night with him.
She looks amazing. She always does. “It looks great, Mom. They all do. Listen…”
I can’t do this.
She stares at her reflection, a smile on her face. She’s glowing. “It’s expensive, but it’ll be worth it.”
I need to tell her before she wastes more money. “Listen, Mom… I need to talk to you about something important.”
She turns to me. She’s not perfect, but through all the years, my mother has always listened. “Is it Oscar?” she asks. “Is it Matt? I saw you two talking at the party. Is he treating you badly again? Because if he is—”
“No, it’s not them…” My heart sinks. “It’s Mark.”
Her eyes grow wide. “What about Mark?”
Just like I was taught as a child, when we went to the lake every summer, I jump right in. “Corrie knows him. He and Jacob run in the same circles, both being lawyers and all. And it’s not good, Mom. It’s not good at all.”
Her face falls. She suddenly looks so fragile and delicate, her skin alabaster white against the stark black of her negligee. “What do you mean?”
“She says he’s a known womanizer. Apparently, there’s been sexual harassment suits brought against him. It’s the reason he got divorced. He has mistresses in every state.”
“And you believe this ridiculous dribble?” she sneers. “You know Corrie… she likes to play games. Remember that time she set you up with that ridiculous magician… told you he was a dentist, and asked him to play tricks on you.”
I smile at the memory. “That was funny and harmless. Corrie is playful, but not mean.”
“How about that whole scheme she came up with to make Maeve’s fiancé jealous? She broke those two up. Now Maeve is with that fisherman.”
