Read Online The Perfect Mistress by Reshonda Tate Billingsley - Free Book Online

mother find peace with that?
    â€œDon’t look at me that way,” her mother said. “You’ve dealt with it for this long.”
    â€œYeah, and I was looking forward to leaving with Lauren.”
    Her mother waggled a finger at her, as though she knew better. “And now you look forward to my new grandbaby.” She clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to tell your father. He’s going to be so excited.”
    Joyce couldn’t take any more of this. She stood and grabbed her purse so she could leave before her father got home. If her mother was thrilled about this news, her father would be overjoyed, and right about now, she didn’t know how she’d muster up any enthusiasm about the child growing inside her.

L auren watched her brother throw his belongings in a duffel bag. She wanted to ask if he was going to bother folding anything up. But the way he was ramming everything into the bag, she knew that she had to choose her words carefully.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked, her voice soft.
    â€œI will be when I get out of this place,” he growled.
    â€œIs it really that bad?”
    He spun around on her. “Pregnant?” he snapped. “She’s pregnant. Yeah, I’d say it’s pretty bad.”
    Lauren was trying to see the bright side of that. “It might be cool to have a little brother or sister.”
    Julian looked at her like that was the dumbest thing she’d ever said. “Whatever. She can stay here and be tied to him the rest of her life. Let him keep dogging her out.”
    â€œDaddy loves Mama,” Lauren said defensively.
    â€œYeah, if that’s what love is, they can keep it.” He zipped the bag up.
    She hated that his last day in town before he left for the army was ending up like this. They were supposed to be happy, celebrating. In fact, that’s what they had been doing before this day took a turn for the worse.
    Her mother had cooked a big farewell dinner for Julian,who was leaving in the morning. They were enjoying a rare family dinner when her parents broke the news.
    â€œWe have some news,” her father said.
    Lauren couldn’t help but notice the uneasy expression on her mother’s face. Lauren’s first thought was that they were about to announce they were divorcing, but the giant smile on her father’s face quickly caused her to dismiss that idea.
    â€œYou two are going to have a little brother or sister,” her father proudly announced.
    The news wiped the smile right off Julian’s face and left Lauren stunned.
    A baby?
    If she were younger, Lauren might have been upset because she never wanted to share her status as Daddy’s girl, but the more she thought it about, having a little sibling around might be cool. Julian, on the other hand, had stood up and stormed out.
    â€œWhy are you so mad about it?” she asked. While her father had told her to give Julian time to process the news, Lauren had followed him into his room. “It’s not like you’re going to even be here.”
    â€œDo you see what he does to her?” Julian’s rage was evident. Lauren knew he didn’t really cut for their father, but right now he was acting like he couldn’t stand him. “No, you know the answer. You see it,” he said, narrowing his glare at her, “and you cosign it.”
    Lauren was speechless. How did he know her secret?
    â€œI-I don’t cosign anything,” she replied.
    â€œWhatever, Lauren. Mama may be stupid, but I’m not.”
    â€œDon’t call her that,” Lauren said.
    Julian waved her off. He grabbed another bag and snatchedhis top dresser drawer open. “All Dad has to do is buy you a little gift and you’re just fine with what he does,” Julian said, pulling out underwear, then stuffing it into his bag. “Who cares if it hurts Mama?”
    Those words hurt Lauren. What was she supposed to do? She wanted to