“Renée,” I said lowly, and that was the only greeting I gave.
“What’s this? You’re not even going to pretend you’re happy to see me?” she asked and had the nerve to sound offended.
“Why would I?”
“I’m your mother,” she replied and I almost choked on my own saliva.
“No, you’re not.”
“Oh, don’t be silly! Of course I am. Don’t you think I would remember giving birth to you?”
I tightened my fist and began counting backwards from ten, but it did nothing to cool me down. I could feel my anger rising, and I knew that this was what she wanted. She wanted me to explode and cause a scene. She had always loved the dramatics and if she could drag me down with her, she wouldn’t hesitate.
I would not give her that pleasure, though. No matter how much she knew which buttons to push. I had to remember that I was a different person now. I was not the same girl she had set up with George or sent to the program. I was stronger now. I had love in my life, both from a man that had made vows to me and from a boy who was the apple of my eye. I had my family in them, as well as in my parents, in Sam and Lilly; their kids, and in Becca. These were people that Renée could never take from me. Ever.
“Just because you gave birth to me, it does not mean you’re my mother,” I said through clenched teeth and a forced smile. “My mother’s name is Susan Braun.” I turned my head and looked at the older woman. “I don’t think you’ve had the privilege of meeting her, but she’s a wonderful woman.”
The corner of Renée’s eye twitched and I was actually amazed that her face was still able to do that. “You can’t be serious that you actually believe that the Italian twat is your mother. She did not raise you!”
I wanted to slap her for calling Sue a twat, but I did not swallow the bait. She would not get a rise out of me.
I saw Becca coming our way from the corner of my eye, but I stopped her with a gesture of my hand. This was my fight.
“Neither did you, Renée. Nana did. She, Pops, and Dad were the only thing that made you bearable to me.” I let go of the pretenses completely and decided it was time to let the truth out. “You were a horrible mother. The only reason I even called you my mother was for Dad’s sake. I hated you with every fiber in my body.”
Renée’s face went completely stoic, but then a light lit up her eyes again and it caused a chill to go down my spine.
“I read in the paper that you’d gotten married. With James Masen nonetheless. How did you manage that? Did he knock you up? Is that how you were able to ensnare him? I mean, he couldn’t possibly marry you out of anything but his duty.”
The pedicurist, who had politely enough pretended as if she did not hear the conversation at all, finished up, and I stood up to go to the manicurist instead.
“I’m not you, Renée,” I said calmly as I passed her, and it looked as if she would have an aneurysm.
“And what do you mean by that?” I was dancing on the inside when I realized that the tables had turned. I was finally the one in control.
“Exactly that. I don’t have to pressure a man into marrying me. He went down on one knee all on his own.”
Renée smiled. “Nice try, Jennifer. I saw the child in the paper. I know you have a son.”
I nodded. “That’s true. I do. And the three of us are very happy together. In fact, we’re planning on having another one.” Okay, that one wasn’t true, but Renée didn’t know that. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. We’re celebrating our one year anniversary tomorrow, and I came here to relax, so if you could just leave, that would be great.”
Renée’s mouth fell open and she just stared at me for a few seconds before she blinked and composed herself. She straightened up and exited the facility without a word or backward glance.
I exhaled with relief and only seconds later, Becca hugged me tightly from behind.
“That was awesome, babe! You totally gave her a proverbial bitch slap. It was looong overdue. Although, I am a bit trumped that you haven’t told me about baby number two. I thought we were sisters!”
I laughed out loud and hugged my sissy back. As long as I had people like her in my life, no one, not even Renée could bring me down.
THE END
Dear Reader,
Thank you for enjoying “The Perfect Guy!” It was such a blast to write! I’m so sad it’s over and I imagine you may feel the same way too.
My imagination is all over the place and I will soon have more romance stories to come! But thank you so much for enjoying this novel, which was in the making for a long time. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
- Maria LaCarro
The Perfect Guy: A Romance Novel Page 28