THE GREAT PRETENDER (36 page)

Tracy stiffened. Unconsciously, her back lifted from the chair. “Olivia?” She said her name as a warning, but it came out as a question.
She wouldn’t,
thought Tracy, feeling the air in her stomach dip.

“Knowing all the facts will put you in a better position to really help us, Doctor, right?” Olivia kept her eyes on Dr. Berenger, as if no one else was in the room.

Before he could respond, she continued. “Let’s see…So far you know that Daddy’s been unfaithful and has another child as a result. You also know that I’ve been pregnant, and I’ll be up-front about that…I had an abortion because the timing wasn’t right. I’m
not
ashamed of it. I was in a crap relationship, so I did what I felt was best for my life, and I took counsel from my
mother,
thinking she was the only person I could trust.” Her voice hardened. “Unfortunately, I was wrong. And what a way to find out. She’s apparently no longer the same person she was when Daddy was away most of the time…”

She swung her eyes to Reginald. “Why didn’t I tell my father about it? Or anyone else?” she said, glancing briefly at Valerie, who was gaping at her in shock. “It was a private and painful time for me, and my father hasn’t been a part of those times for years. He’s right—he doesn’t know me, and I don’t tell virtual strangers such private details about my life. My father only comes around and
acts as if
he’s the perfect husband and loving father we want him to be.”

Reginald said, “Okay, I think that’s enough. I know how you feel about me—we all do. What I need to know now is this: What can be done about it? Are you saying that, ultimately, you can
never
get past this and pardon me for not being there for you over the years? Despite my willingness to make up for it now?”

Olivia raised a hand. “Wait a sec. I’m not finished. We’ll get to the fixing part in a minute. Let’s continue being
open
and
honest
until the doctor has it all on the table.”

“Olivia.” This time, it was a warning. Tracy’s heart was racing. Her fingers tightened on the leather handbag in her lap.

“He knows about you”—she pointed at Reginald—“and he knows about me,” she said, pointing toward herself. “But what about Mom and Val?” she said, pointing to them cheerfully, as if she were discussing their favorite things. “Who wants to go first? Be open and honest about the issues. Mom? Or you, Val?”

“Olivia, stop this!” Valerie said forcefully. “What’s
wrong
with you? What are you trying to prove with all this?”

“Come, now, Valerie, tell them about your…you know, the problem. It’s time for honesty—the doctor wants to help us.”

Tracy’s eyes closed briefly. Was she just going to sit there like a bump on a log and let her own child do this to her? “Olivia, stop it.” Her voice was calm. “This isn’t going to help anything. I think Doctor Berenger’s right—you just want to hurt your father. And why? Because he loves you and wants to make up for lost time? It’s really not necessary, Liv.”

“And you, too, Mom,” continued Olivia, ignoring Tracy. “Why don’t you tell your own secrets? Be honest about—”

Tracy shot from her chair and moved toward her. “Olivia! Stop it!
Now
!”

Reginald stood, too, his face full of confusion.

“—Uncle Frank,” Olivia continued quickly. “Why not tell the doctor about your affair with—”

Tracy’s fist slammed into her daughter’s face. Olivia’s head flew back, hitting the high backing of the chair.
Thwack
!

“Oh, no! Mrs. Brooks, please!” exclaimed Dr. Berenger, jumping out of his chair.

Olivia’s hand flew to her mouth.
She felt blood
.

Tracy’s fist was about to land another blow, but Dr. Berenger grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Mrs. Brooks, please!” he said again, moving to stand in front of her.

Tracy’s eyes never left Olivia’s, pinning her with a violent glare. When Dr. Berenger seemed sure she would strike no more, he let go of her arms and said, “Are you okay?”

“Of course she’s not okay,” said Olivia in a gleeful voice. “Her husband just found out that she’s been having an affair with his
best friend.
How could she be okay? But that’s what
honesty
is all about.” She drew in her lower lip and swallowed blood. The lip began to swell.

Then, for the first time, Olivia’s eyes flew to her father.

In a fog, Tracy pictured Reginald standing by his chair, staring at her back as she stood, glaring down at Olivia.

She heard Valerie jump from her seat. “
Uncle Frank
?
Mom, you were sleeping with
Uncle Frank
?
Oh, my God.” She covered her mouth with her hand, swinging around to look at her father.

“Tracy?” Reginald’s voice was eerily calm. “Tracy, turn around.”

Her chest heaved and her eyes shifted briefly from Olivia. She felt like jumping out the window, fleeing the stifling humiliation that was quickly sucking all the oxygen from the room.

He knew
.

They all knew.

The room was dead silent.

Reginald was staring at the back of Tracy’s head.

A searing heat began creeping through his neck.

He knew it was true
. Tracy’s silence was louder than a supersonic boom.

As she slowly turned around, the image of her head became a blur. Reggie began seeing a red hue…and the heat was now in his eyes, seeping up into his forehead.

Tears instantly stung the backs of his eyelids as this reality ravaged his psyche. Suddenly, as he stood there, everyone staring at him, he began to see images.

He saw Frank and Tracy talking at the dinner table. Talking at the barbecues. Talking at
The
Ivory Estates
. Talking…touching…

Fucking
.

And the heat was seeping from his ears now.

He remembered Frank’s attitude whenever they would discuss the possibility of Tracy having an affair…

Before anyone could stop him, Reggie fled the room. He rounded the sitting area in a flash and was out the door.

“Mr. Brooks!” Dr. Berenger called out.

But it was too late.

He was gone, leaving the four of them speechless, staring after him.

Tracy watched in horror as Reginald tore out of the office. It was several minutes before she regained control of her motor skills, standing there in shock from all that had just taken place.

Suddenly, without thinking, she grabbed her purse from the chair she had occupied and rushed out the door after him. Olivia and Valerie were right on her heels.

They all ran out, leaving Dr. Berenger staring after them.

H
e flew down the interstate as if demons were after him.

If someone had asked him where he was going, he would not have been able to say. His mind had taken a backseat to his heart.

And in his heart, he knew
exactly
where he was going.

The UPS corporate
office was a great place to work. Though the policies were strictly enforced, Susan Dooley had always enjoyed her job as executive assistant to Franklin Bevins.

However, this morning was not one of her better days. She’d had a fight with her boyfriend, Steven, earlier in the week and had been refusing to see him ever since. It had been only three days since their argument, and already the separation was causing Susan to fall apart. She missed him.

At around twelve thirty, she crossed the hall and tapped on her boss’ door to let him know that she would be leaving early for lunch. She normally went for lunch at one, but today she wanted to catch Steven on his lunch hour and give him a chance to beg her forgiveness.

Just as she’d retrieved her purse and locked the drawer, she saw Mr. Brooks making wide strides toward their suite from the nearby stairwell. He was dressed in black and looked like a sleek panther as he strode through the hall. She was immediately struck by the fierce expression on his face as he blew right past her without even speaking, which was highly out of character. Susan got a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched Mr. Brooks throw open her boss’ door without preamble.

Forgetting about her lunch plans, she unconsciously sat back in her chair in lieu of following him in to find out what the problem was.

Just then, she heard Mr. Brooks say, somewhat calmly, “If you can’t look me in the eye,
right now
, and tell me that you haven’t been sleeping with Tracy,
I am going to kill you.”

Susan saw that Mr. Bevins had been on the telephone when Mr. Brooks arrived, the receiver still at his ear. She read his lips as he spoke into the phone, “Let me get back with you on that later.” Then she watched him slowly replace the receiver.

Uh-oh
,
thought Susan.
He found out about them
. She sent a quick prayer to heaven for her boss. Mr. Brooks outweighed him by at least twenty pounds. She had a feeling the odds were not going to be in his favor any longer.

“Oh, my God
. What do you guys think he’s gonna do?” Olivia was speeding down the interstate toward Ives Dairy Road, Tracy and Valerie in the car with her. Once Tracy had raced down the stairs, she’d come to an abrupt halt when she realized that she had no vehicle in which to chase after Reginald. In a state of panic, she turned to Olivia and demanded that they follow him.

Now her mother sat in silence, her insides undoubtedly twisted like noodles. “Shut up, Olivia, and just drive. What the fuck do you think he’s gonna do?” She spun on her. “Whatever the hell happens, you just make sure you know that
you’re
responsible for it!”

“
I’m
responsible?” Olivia kept her eyes on the road. “We both know that’s not true.” She flew past a line of cars and dangerously cut in front of another as she manipulated her way over to the exit.

Her mind was reeling. The raw pain she in her father’s eyes a few minutes ago haunted her.

Franklin slowly replaced
the receiver and returned Reginald’s glare. “Come on, my friend,” he said, his tone pleasant. “You seem barely able to control your surprise.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “So you finally figured it out, huh?” He snorted. “Quite frankly, I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna have to send you an anonymous letter or something.”

Reginald took threatening steps closer, approaching the desk. His fists clenched and his jaw tightened. He bore down on Franklin as his mind raced through the many ways in which he could stop a human being from breathing.

“Big, bad Reginald Brooks,” said Frank, standing. “For years, I’ve put up with you. For years, I took a back seat to the indestructible Reggie Brooks, who always gets what he wants. I mean, all women did was step over me to get to
you
.” An arrogant smile curled the edges of Frank’s lips, and years of resentment darkened his face. “So after all those years of being second best, of always being the one losing and giving—losing in the name of you—can you really blame me for having a little fun with Tracy?”

Susan watched from
behind as Mr. Brooks stepped farther into the office. She heard Mr. Bevins say, “So you finally figured it out, huh?” A pause. “Quite frankly, I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna have to send you an anonymous letter or something.”

Why is he taunting him?
Susan wondered.
He should be thinking of the best way to get out of that office in one piece!

Just then, Mr. Bevins was saying, “…was step over me to get to
you
.” Another pause. “So after all those years of being second best, of always being the one losing and giving—losing in the name of you—can you really blame me for having a little fun with Tracy?”

Without warning, Mr. Brooks grabbed her boss and flung him up against the glass window behind his desk.