THE GREAT PRETENDER by Millenia Black Page B

other than our quarrel. What is it?”
    They pulled apart just as Reginald descended the stairs. He was dressed in business-casual beige khakis and a polo shirt that Renee had just ironed. Perfectly groomed, he was striking. He brought the captivating fragrance of Escada down the stairs, and both women flushed at the sight of him.
    Renee gazed up at him, remembering how sweetly he’d made love to her the night before, and how he’d felt inside her. She noticed that Helen shifted her eyes toward the bright, sunny sky on the other side of the living room window.
    Renee had always been aware of her sister’s attraction to Reginald. Whether she was conscious of it or not, his presence made Helen visibly tense. She, like most women Renee knew, found him to be distractingly attractive and damn near irresistible. The man was gorgeous, and Helen had always been attracted.
    “Hello, Helen,” greeted Reginald, as he snapped his watch into place.
    “Hello, Reggie,” said Helen, fixing her gaze on the little girl riding her tricycle across the street. “How have you been?”
    “I’ve been well, thanks.” He went to the closet for his briefcase. “I’m heading to the office for a few hours to tie up some loose ends…I’ll be away a little longer than usual. I’m sure Renee will fill you in.” He glanced up. “By the way, how are the kids doing?”
    “Oh, they’re great.” Helen watched the little girl struggle with her tricycle.
    Renee patted her sister’s hand. “I’ll be right back.” She walked Reginald out.
    In the driveway, Reggie buckled his seat belt and then turned to face Renee, who was leaning in the window, awaiting a kiss. Dropping a light kiss on her mouth, he took her hand and stared into her eyes, saying, “I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay? I’m gonna spend as much time with you and Denise as possible before I leave.”
    “Reggie…I’m worried about how Denise is gonna react to you being gone for so long.”
    “Don’t worry about it—we’ll talk to her together. I hope you know I’d never leave you with that burden. Denise will be fine.” He quickly kissed her hand again before releasing it.
    But I will be alone, she thought, as she watched him disappear around the bend at the end of their block.
    The high-pitched laughter of the children riding their bicycles across the street alerted her that she was standing barefoot on the hot pavement of the driveway. Running inside, she cooled her feet on the fluffy doormat in the entryway. Then, closing the door, she slumped dejectedly into the living room to find that Helen had helped herself to a carton of strawberries and whipped cream.
    When Helen looked up and saw her face, she set the carton down, concerned. “Sis, what’s wrong?” Her initial reason for being there was forgotten.
    Renee needed to unload on someone. She couldn’t keep it to herself; it was overwhelming. Running toward Helen, she burst into tears.
    “Oh, my God, Renee. What is this ? What’s wrong? What happened?” Helen cried, unprepared for this outburst.
    Renee buried her head in her sister’s lap and went into a crying jag the likes of which she knew Helen had never seen. “He’s…married. Helen…he’s married! Oh—my—God!”
    “ Married? ” Helen repeated. “Reggie’s married?” Her head snapped up and she looked to the door, as if Reginald were still standing there. “Married to whom?”
    “Oh, Helen,” sobbed Renee. “Married…all these…years…he’s been married already!”
    “Um…I need you to calm down for me, okay? Just calm down and tell me what happened.” Helen tried to lift Renee’s head from her lap. “What happened?”
    Half an hour later, Renee was finally calm enough to raise her head and focus on her sister. Helen had simply been smoothing her hair and rocking her like an infant. She had never seen Renee like this before. It was unsettling.
    Going into the kitchen for tissue, Renee returned to the airy living room and