The suite was quickly filling with onlookers from around the floor, who heard the commotion. Susan carefully punched 911 as her gaze shifted back to the now motionless figure of her boss lying on the carpet behind his desk.
Buzz flew by her and brushed past Valerie. When he took in the scene, he rushed over to Reginald, attempting to grab hold of the taller man’s arms. “Sir, you’ve got to stop this! Sir!” But the silver-haired man was no match for Reginald. He was tossed off, just as Tracy had been.
And Reggie continued stomping. They could hear Frank’s bones as they cracked under Reggie’s boots.
Tracy was screaming for help now. “Susan, call an ambulance! Somebody call an ambulance—now, now, now! Oh, my God! He’s killing him!” She tried again to grab Reginald.
“Tracy—get—the hell—away—from me!” yelled Reginald between blows. “How dare you—come in here—and try to—help him?” The words were forced through clenched teeth.
“Daddy!” Olivia’s screech bounced off the walls. “Daddy, stop it! You’re gonna kill him! Look what you’re doing to him! Look!” She pointed at Frank’s unrecognizable face. “Stop, goddamn it! Stop it now!” Her hands flew to her head in shock. Pure shock.
It was then that Reginald’s foot stilled. He spun his head around to look at them…through the red fog. His chest was heaving. He couldn’t see a thing.
There was no movement from Frank.
Buzz seized the opportunity to reach once again for Reginald’s arms, and this time there was no resistance. Reginald’s chest continued to heave in rage; his eyes blazed as, unconsciously, he allowed himself to be led from the office.
Tracy and Olivia rushed to kneel beside Frank. His face, like a death mask, looked up at them. His nose appeared to be nonexistent, as they stared at him in horror. His entire head seemed to be oozing blood and his shirt had been torn, exposing a ghastly tear in his upper chest that was white on the inside.
“Did somebody call an ambulance?” Olivia said frantically, looking at Valerie, who was clutching the door jam. “Holy shit, Val. He looks like he’s dead.”
“Susan, did you call the police?” asked Tracy, racing toward the door.
“Yes,” replied Susan, treating Tracy to a bitter glare. This was all her fault—the slut! “They’re on the way.”
Chapter 35
Orlando, Florida
Denise pulled out a light-blue crayon from the box and colored in her daddy’s tie. She was trying hard to remember exactly the way her daddy wore it. She was scared she was forgetting her daddy, so she decided to draw pictures of him to keep him remembered. When he finally came home, she would surprise him with them, and he would scoop her up and kiss her and call her his little angel!
She wished daddy would hurry up and come back home. How come he was staying gone so long? Didn’t he say that she wouldn’t have to miss him too long? Denise knew that her new mommy was mad all the time because Daddy was gone so long…And she missed her old mommy.
Her old mommy used to watch cartoons with her in the nighttime and tuck her in bed with one of her favorite bedtime stories. The new Mommy didn’t do that anymore. The new Mommy was mean...really mean. Denise wished she could go stay with her Aunt Helen until her dad came back, because Aunt Helen didn’t like the new Mommy either. Denise heard them arguing all the time about her.
She changed crayons again to color in her daddy’s dark hair. It was supposed to be a picture of all three of them, but when she thought about drawing Mommy, Denise got mad. She didn’t want to put her mommy in the picture, so she drew herself in her daddy’s lap, with a big smile that stretched all the way across her face.
When her picture was done, Denise realized that she had to go to the bathroom. Lately, she had made a habit of holding it, in order to avoid going out into the hall and making any of the noise that always made the new Mommy mean to her.
Taking one little step at a time, Denise went to the door and slowly turned the knob to open it. Peeking out into the hall, she listened for the new Mommy. She heard shuffling coming from the kitchen downstairs and was relieved to see the new Mommy was down there, instead of being in her room down the hall.
Being careful not to put her feet down too hard on the plush carpet, Denise sprinted across the hall and dashed into the bathroom. With her heart pounding in her chest, she rushed to finish and wash her hands.
On her way back to her room, she glanced down and saw her mommy curled into a round thing on the floor just outside the kitchen. Denise wondered why the new Mommy was lying on the floor like that, but she didn’t dare go down there, so she continued on to her room. She knew what could happen if the new Mommy saw her out of her room or heard any of the noise that made her so mad.
She would beat her up again.
•
Renee had just finished washing the dishes when she remembered that she hadn’t yet checked the mail that day. That’s been happening a lot lately, she thought. She was forgetting almost everything. Drying her hands, she opened the front door and ran out to check the mailbox.
In the days since Thanksgiving, Renee’s disposition had gotten progressively worse. Every morning, she woke up telling herself that this would be the day Reginald would call to say he was coming home, or this was the day that he would simply show up. However, it had been weeks since he’d promised to try to fly in for a few days, and when he called, she heard the detachment in his voice. He was no longer focused on her.
It was slowly killing Renee.
Shuffling through the three or four envelopes that she’d pulled from the mailbox, Renee took Reginald’s usual seat at the dining table, as she did every night to read the mail. When she came upon a rose-colored envelope with a sophisticated foil label in the upper left-hand corner, Renee’s hands stilled. It was from Reggie! The names on the label read TRACY & REGINALD BROOKS.
Renee wasted no time in grabbing the letter opener and dragging it through the top of the thick envelope. As she opened the two-page letter, her heart fluttered in anxiety. Blowing a deep breath, she began reading…
Dear Renee,
I hope this letter finds you and my little angel well. I am writing to confess something that I should have told you a long time ago—before leaving Orlando. The time has come for me to be 100% truthful about my intentions toward you and Denise. Things cannot go on as they have been. I have not been fair to you…I can barely even write this because I feel so ashamed of creating this situation and lying to you, and to my wife and family. My wife, Tracy, is sitting here with me as I write this letter, since I have quite a bit of cleaning up to do with her as well as with you. It’s important that she be a part of this.
The explanations that I gave you before I left for Miami need to be clarified, since I must shamefully admit that it was only half the truth, and the other half a complete lie. First, I must take this opportunity to beg your forgiveness, although I could understand it if you never wanted to see my face again. I truly would understand. I actually wouldn’t even know how to tell you the truth if I couldn’t do it on paper. I guess that makes me a coward. Nonetheless, the truth is this...My wife and I have never been separated and our daughter Valerie is not sick, as I told you. I invented that situation to keep from telling you the truth, once I realized that I no longer belonged in Orlando.
The words on the page blurred as tears filled Renee’s eyes. She was shaking as she wiped them away, but she quickly read on...
The truth is that I love my wife and kids, and they have suffered tremendously due to my absence in the last ten years. I made a mistake in thinking that it was okay to pretend to be someone I wasn’t. I wasn’t a free man when I met and started a life with you, and I wasn’t a faithful husband whenever I came home to my family. I’ve realized that my mistakes were very immature and self-centered…So now I’m committed to doing all that I can to make it up to everyone concerned.
Tracy and I have decided that we can give our life together another chance. She now knows about D
enise and agrees to accept her as my daughter. You see, Renee, I’m not totally dishonorable. I love Denise, and I know that my obligations to you both are very real. But of course, I cannot return to Orlando to live.
I know that you will be very hurt and very angry when you get this letter, but I also know that you are a strong woman. Please apologize to your family for me. I know that they’ll be equally as angry and grieved by this.
I’ll be in touch once you’ve had a chance to absorb this letter. Please believe that taking care of Denise and having her know me as her father is my number one priority right now. I have a responsibility to both of you, and I intend to fulfill it. When next we speak, I pray that we can find a common ground on which to share responsibilities regarding Denise.
Again, I’m so very sorry for entering your life and giving you false hope, when there actually could never have been a future for you with me. I have no doubt, however, that you’ll meet a man who deserves you, and will also be extremely lucky to have you.
If you feel you’re ready to speak to me before I phone, please feel free to call me so we can begin making arrangements regarding Denise. I guess you already have the phone number to the house.
With the deepest regret,
Reginald
Renee quickly flipped the cream-colored pages over to see if there was anything more. Perhaps a note saying it was a joke. She slowly rose from the table, in a trance, and moved toward the entryway. Her body began shaking from sobs that could not find their way to her mouth. Tears stung her eyes and soaked her face as she clung to the column of the doorway. She was trembling violently now, and thought she would faint.
She didn’t know how, but somehow she sank to the tile, curling into a fetal position, trying to squash the ache in her chest.
What would her family say?
That’s what the dreams had been about! Her face crumpled as emotions knifed her.
Lips trembling, a small sound escaped her then, like a wounded animal about to be put out of its misery.
Then a slow whine squeaked out and she began to rock slowly back and forth to the rhythm of the pain surging through her. Her stomach hollowed out, her head began to tighten. Her whine turned into a series of choked moans. And then sobs.
Renee remembered the piercing words from the cream-colored page: I love my wife and kids…Tracy and I have decided that we can give our life together another chance…Taking care of Denise and having her know me as her father is my number one priority right now…
And she wept bitterly, staring unseeingly at the whimsical design of the kitchen tile.
•
More than an hour later, Renee wearily pulled herself to a sitting position and leaned against the column of the kitchen entryway.
Something had broken.
She reached up to push her hair out of her face, but her hand froze in midair.
Reginald wasn’t coming back. He was not coming back! All he wanted now was to talk about his future with Denise.
How could she explain this away? How could she live knowing that her Reginald was never coming home, never going to hold her or sleep in the same bed with her or make love to her again? How could she stand that their life together was over? She’d never recover from the humiliation.
Her life was over.
It was all over.
Renee squeezed her eyes shut...and summoned death.
Chapter 36
Miami, Florida
Reginald was arrested and charged with assault and battery. Accepting the statement of Franklin’s secretary, Susan Dooley, UPS executives decided against pressing charges of their own against him.
Within an hour, Tracy arrived at the police station, prepared to post his bail.
Franklin had been rushed to the hospital and his condition was listed as critical but stable, which had worked in Reginald’s favor as far as criminal charges were concerned. He had barely escaped attempted manslaughter.
Olivia and Valerie had insisted on staying with Frank until they could be assured he would be all right, that he would live. Despite all that had happened, he was still their Uncle Frank; the Uncle Frank who had been there for them as children and had watched them grow up, the Uncle Frank who never came to the house without a gift or small trinket, the Uncle Frank who had really been like a father to them both for as long as they could remember.
•
Tracy slowed the Jeep as she sped along I-95, heading home. She knew she would crash if she didn’t slow down. She was crying so much, the tears were blurring her vision. Reaching for the glove compartment, she pulled out her box of Kleenex and wiped her nose and face.
Reginald was gone. He was leaving her. She had actually lost him.
When he was released from the jail, she saw the face of a heartbroken man. Gone was the raging anger of a few hours before, when he had beaten Frank to a pulp. Tracy still could not get her mind around what happened.
She and their attorney, Richard Love, had rushed over to his side. “Reggie, are you okay?” She’d said urgently. “Rich did his best to get you out of there as soon as possible.”
“Get away from me.” Reginald’s face had been like granite as the desk sergeant handed him a see-through plastic bag with his few belongings. “I am not talking to you right now.” He turned to Richard then, and the pair walked off and left Tracy standing in front of the desk sergeant.
Outside, Tracy rushed after them. “Reggie, we have to talk now. Let’s just go home and—”
Reginald kept walking toward the parking lot, ignoring her.
Richard touched her shoulder. “Just give him time. Whatever it was that occurred, it’s probably just best to give him space to cool off. You can try tomorrow, when you’ve both had time to calm yourselves and think things over.” He paused. “In the interim, let’s hope Mr. Bevins doesn’t hold a grudge. From what you’ve told me, he’s pretty banged up and could have permanent impairments.” Then he turned, following Reginald into the parking lot.
She watched them get into Richard’s Range Rover and drive off.
Now as Tracy remembered the harsh look on Reginald’s face, the scorn in his eyes, she gave up trying to drive altogether and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. And just sat there, crying.
What have I done to my life?
Chapter 37
Orlando, Florida
Her mommy was back! Her old mommy!
Denise raced through Toys ‘R’ Us, picking up all her favorite toys. Her mom had said that they were going away on a long trip and she could take all the toys and games she wanted.
“Where are we going again, Mommy?” she asked when they were back in the car.
Renee smiled sweetly. “I told you, honey, first we’re stopping at Grandma’s and then we’re going far away, where your Daddy can’t find us.”
“But why don’t we want him to find us, again? I miss Daddy,” said Denise, her face becoming sad.
Still smiling, Renee laughed. “Don’t worry, Gumdrop. When we go away, I bet your daddy will be so upset that he’ll forget everything else and come after us. Then he’ll realize how much we mean to him, and he’ll never leave us again. Just remember that this is our little secret, Gumdrop, okay? So don’t say anything to Grandma. If we tell anybody, Daddy won’t come after us.”
Her mommy was even calling her Gumdrop again! Denise’s eyes brightened as she said, “Daddy will come get us and never leave again, right? And he’ll always bring me ice cream, right?”
“That’s right, honey. Daddy will do whatever we want.” Renee kept smiling.
Denise brushed the glistening hair of her new Tropical Barbie and smiled. “I hope he finds us quick so I can stop missing him. See, Mommy, I was always right about Daddy. He can keep his promises, and he promised I won’t have to miss him too long.”
Pain flickered in Renee’s eyes as she tried to remain focused on the road. “I miss Daddy, too, honey…But Daddy doesn’t visit us anymore, and we have to teach him a lesson.” Her
face hardened. “A brutal one.”
•
Beatrice Jameson was watching The Price is Right when Renee arrived with Denise.
Renee’s smiling face made Bea’s heart flip with joy. Things were back to normal again. She knew that smile. God had answered her prayers, and Renee had found her way out of that dire phase. Even her granddaughter seemed happy again. Gone was the heartbreaking gloominess in Denise’s eyes. Beatrice praised God.
Renee went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. “Mom, I’m gonna need you to watch her for me for a little while. I have a couple errands to run and I can do them faster if I’m by myself.” The last thing Renee needed was to alarm Denise and make her start asking any more questions.
“Sure, dear. You go ahead. Denise and I will be fine.” Bea turned to her granddaughter. “Denise, are you hungry, baby? Grandma can make some hot dogs! I know how much you love hot dogs with ketchup and relish.”
Denise jumped up and down, tightly holding her Barbie. “Yeah, hot dogs with lots of ketchup and lots of relish, too! Can Mommy have some, too, when she comes back?”
“Sure, honey. We’ll save some for her, if she wants.”
“Okay, Ma, I’ll be back in a while,” said Renee, leaving.
THE GREAT PRETENDER Page 26