Leading Lady

CHAPTER 13

The next morning, Valentina wasted no time going to her mother to tell her about her encounter with Lucille. Much to her dismay, Clarice looked at her and shook her head disapprovingly.

"Don't you think that after the fiasco at your birthday party, you should let all this die down?" Clarice asked her from the foot of her bed. She was still in her nightgown and robe. "Why would Lucille say something like that to you?"

"Because apparently I'm the only one who can see right through her little nice girl act," Valentina snapped.

"Valentina, honey," Clarice sighed.

"No, don't 'honey' me, mom," Valentina told her, "It's astonishes me that you don't believe me. Why would I lie about something like this? Do you think I have nothing better to do than to make up a lie just to screw with some girl? I guess it really shouldn't surprise me, I'm sure you'd believe me if I wasn't adopted."

Clarice gasped, "Valentina! How could you say something like that?"

"Hurts, doesn't it?" she retorted, "I assure you it doesn't hurt as much as having you take the side of a stranger."

Valentina turned and left her mother's bedroom. Clarice took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She was beginning to wonder if bringing Lucille to work at the house had been a good idea. This was getting too problematic. Clarice brought a hand up to her throat. She felt parched.

But she wasn't craving water.

Sutton Apartment

Sarah and Jesse helped Harrison and Ines bring in the groceries.

"Thanks for helping us, this is much faster," Ines said as they put the bags down in the kitchen.

"No need to thank us," Sarah told them.

"You kids going anywhere fun?" Harrison asked them with a wink. Jesse's cheeks turned red.

"Dad..."

"We want to go catch the matinee of that new romantic-comedy that opened last week," Sarah told them with a grin.

"I'm so glad you both are getting along so well," Ines said happily. "You make the cutest couple!"

"Mom!"

"Oh Jesse, don't be silly," Ines said to her son, "It's more than obvious you two are dating."

Sarah chuckled and put her arm around Jesse's.

"What's the point in denying, huh?" Sarah said to him. Jesse smiled sheepishly, feeling awkward to be talking to his parents about his love life. All of a sudden Sarah's phone dinged as Jesse helped his parents take everything out of the grocery bags. Sarah saw it was an email and when she opened it her eyes widened. She looked up at everyone with excitement.

"Oh my God, you guys!" she exclaimed. Everyone stopped to look at her.

"What is it, is everything ok?" Ines asked with concern. Sarah quickly nodded.

"Yes! It's an email from the director of that indie movie I did," she said happily. "He's written to say our film was accepted and is going to premier at the Springwood International Movie Festival!"

"Wow, Sarah, that's amazing!" Jesse exclaimed and hugged her.

"Oh, sweetheart, congratulations," Ines told her, "Is this festival good?"

"It's the biggest one in our city!" Sarah replied jumping up and down, "I can't believe it!"

"That's the best news we've heard in quite a while. Congratulations, kiddo!" Harrison grinned. "This is a cause for celebration!"