“Yes, ma’am,” Ralph replied. “I mean, yes, Mrs. Bennett.”
Ralph blushed with embarrassment.
Clarissa turned to Michael.
“Michael, my dear boy. It’s so good to see you after all this time. Six months is a long time,” Clarissa said sweetly.
I noticed that Ralph rolled his eyes.
“I know, Mom. I’m happy to see you too,” Michael said with a sigh.
“And you, you better call me later,” Clarissa said, pointing a finger at me.
I nodded and pointed toward the SUV.
Ralph opened the back passenger door, and Clarissa got inside.
“Hey, Dad,” Michael said. “It’s great to see you. I’m sorry about Mom. You know how she gets. By the way, what do you have to resolve?”
“Oh, son. It’s nothing. It’s just a bank account that I need to transfer to your mom’s name.”
“That sounds easy enough,” Michael said. “My friend is inside. She’s the singer I’ve been telling you about.”
“That’s why I’m here. You said she was great.”
Michael and I walked into the club after waving goodbye to Clarissa.
“Jesus Christ, Dad! I thought she was going to beat the shit out of you.”
“Tell me about it.” I paused. “She’s up to something. She’s trying to wear me down.”
Michael shrugged.
What are you up to, Clarissa? Why tell me now, after all these years?
CHAPTER 2
CLARISSA
25 YEARS AGO
My mom called me over for breakfast. It was roughly 10:00 a.m. I had just come back from my daily run. I loved exercising every day. It made me feel energetic and allowed me to relieve the daily stresses of life, mainly from my parents.
My dream of becoming an actress had been in my mind for years, and now that I had finished high school, I felt ready for this big adventure.
I walked into the small kitchen and sat down. I looked down at the plate.
Just rice and beans again,I thought.
“Eat,” my mother said. “You need to eat.”
I looked around the walls of the kitchen. They were a pale yellow. They made me want to vomit more often than not.
“Mom, I don’t want to eat rice and beans anymore,” I whined.
My mom stood in front of the sink, washing the dishes. She was looking out the old window toward the backyard trees.
She turned to me. “You know, be glad you have something to eat. Your father is looking for a job, and we’re living off the little savings we have left,” she said.
