The Bad Twin by Shelia Goss Read Free Book Online Page B

surprised look on his face after she kissed him. “Not that I’m complaining, but I’m surprised you kissed me out in public.”
    “I couldn’t resist,” Rose said and squeezed his butt before getting in her car. “You’re just so irresistible.”
    “You are something else. Call me later.”
    “I will.” She blew him a kiss and headed down the freeway toward her beachfront house.
    Her phone rang and she picked up thinking it was Lance calling her from his cell phone. “Hi Dear.”
    “This is your mother.”
    Rose startled blurted out, “Hi Mom. I thought you were somebody else.”
    “Somebody else, like your dear husband?”
    “Yes. Who else?” she lied.
    “Just checking. You don’t think I know anything, but I know you guys don’t have a real marriage.”
    Rose was stuck behind a slow moving car, and couldn’t get over because of the cars speeding by her. “Do we have to get into this right now? By the way, I’m doing lovely and how are you Mom?” Rose said, trying to change the subject.
    “Don’t get smart with me young lady. I might be old, but I can still break you down a peg or two. I’m not one of your adoring fans,” Pearle stated.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Have you talked to your sister?”
    The traffic suddenly stopped. Rose blurted, “Darn.”
    “What did you say?”
    “Nothing. Uh. No. I haven’t. I went to see her a couple of weeks ago, but we haven’t talked since. Why?”
    “That’s your sister for God’s sake. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you girls. Lord knows I taught you better than this.”
    “I tried talking to her, even after she lied on me to the press.”
    “I read the article and your sister didn’t lie. It doesn’t make it right for her to air the family business like she did, but the article is truthful.”
    Rose shocked at Pearle’s comments asked, “How could you take her side? She told them about David and everything.”
    Pearle got silent. For a moment, Rose thought they had lost their connection. Pearle broke the silence and said, “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I feel like it’s my entire fault.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I shouldn’t have made you girls so competitive growing up. I tried to shower you both with lots of love and attention. I tried to teach you the importance of family.”
    Rose decided to take a side road.  To avoid missing her exit, she had to cut someone off. The angry motorist blew his horn at her. Rose said, “We’re just going through some things right now. We’ll work them out.”
    Rose heard Pearle sniffle. Pearle said, “I don’t know about that. You really hurt Violet. You shouldn’t have done what you did.”
    “I didn’t mean to hurt her. It just happened.”
    “Dear. I don’t blame you. I blame myself, because I should have stopped you from doing things to your sister when I first noticed it.”
    “Mom. What are you saying?”
    “You have always taken your sister for granted and treated her any kind of way and she’s taken the fall for you so many times. Your father and I didn’t put our foot down with you young lady and now look at what’s happened.”
    Rose didn’t know if she should be angry or sad that Pearle was defending Violet. She was used to her husband taking up for Violet, but Pearle had always been on her side or so she thought. Upset, Rose said, “Maybe we should talk later, because I don’t want you to run your blood pressure up.”
    Pearle responded, “I’m fine. I should have said something years ago. You need to stop being self-centered thinking that the world revolves around you.”
    “It’s not my fault. You guys gave me everything I ever wanted.  As a celebrity, I’m so used to getting practically anything I want. What’s wrong with wanting things to go my way?” Rose asked.
    Pearle let out a sad moan and shouted, “Lord help me. My child is lost.”
    “Mama, why are you saying all of this to me? Why now?”
    “Because child. If I don’t tell