The Perfect Mistress by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

Herfather’s voice remained calm. “You see that she is out of control. I just need to leave until she calms down.”
    Lauren stood shaking, the keys clutched tightly in her hands.
    â€œDo not give him the keys,” her mother growled, tears streaming down her face.
    Vernon held his hands out. “Baby, give Daddy the keys.”
    Slowly, Lauren extended her hand. She had expected her mother to slap them out of her hand. But her mother was spent. Her hair all over her face. Her mascara dripping down her cheeks.
    â€œSorry, Mama, this is best, believe me,” Lauren said as she slowly handed her father the keys.
    â€œThank you, baby.” He took the keys, then kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll see you later.”
    As he headed toward the door Lauren had a sinking feeling he would never be back.

L auren wanted to go home. She wanted to go home, bad. Miss Callie had been acting strange all day, alternating between bouts of happiness, anger, and utter despair. She’d heard Miss Callie fighting with her father early that morning. He’d been staying with her for the past three days.
    Ever since the big fight, her dad hadn’t come home. Her mother cried the whole time, and Lauren felt helpless. Her mother hadn’t spoken to her, blaming Lauren for giving her father the keys, for keeping secrets, for everything. She hadn’t even come out this morning to wish Lauren a happy birthday. That’s why Lauren had been so excited when her father had shown up and told her to ditch school and come hang out with him.
    But after an hour at the mall, her dad had seemed tired and upset and told her that he just wanted to go back to Miss Callie’s and take a nap, then take her out for ice cream and cake later.
    But later never came because midway through his nap, the front door opened and Miss Callie came in. Lauren was in Miss Callie’s guest bedroom watching TV, but she could hear everything.
    â€œWhat are you doing home? I thought you had to work,” she heard her father say.
    â€œI couldn’t stay at work,” Callie said, crying.
    Lauren hadn’t heard much after that. Just a lot of arguing and fighting. Not here, too, Lauren thought.
    She figured sooner or later they’d wrap up their argument. And Lauren and her dad could go for ice cream. Twenty minutes later, her father opened the door to the guest room.
    â€œSweetie, come on, let’s go,” he said.
    â€œNo, you’re not leaving yet!” Miss Callie called out.
    He sighed as he looked at Lauren. “I’m sorry. Just wait right here for a minute.” He closed the bedroom door again.
    â€œI told you I don’t want to do this with you,” she heard her father say.
    Lauren cracked the door so she could peer out to see and hear what they were arguing about.
    â€œYou’re here with me. You said we were going to be together!” Miss Callie cried.
    â€œI can’t do this,” Vernon replied. “I miss my wife. I love my wife.” He spoke like he was just coming to that realization.
    â€œIf you love her so much, what are you doing here with me?”
    â€œExactly,” Vernon said. “I can’t keep hurting her like this. She’s a good woman. She doesn’t deserve this.”
    â€œWhat am I, then?” Callie snapped. “And what do I deserve?”
    â€œYou’re a good woman, too. You’re just not the woman for me.”
    â€œSo what the hell have you been doing all of this time with me? Stringing me along?”
    Her father’s back was to her, but Lauren could tell by theway his shoulders sank that he was tired. “Look, you knew how the game was played. You knew I was married. You knew I was never leaving my wife.”
    â€œYeah, that’s what your mouth said. But your body always said something different,” she said.
    â€œOkay. I am sorry. I know that it was hard for me to walk away from you. You flash that