The Prince Charming Hoax Read Free

psychiatric bills are out of control. ”
    “ So he wants you to move to New York, get an apartment without him, and pay for everything all by yourself? ”
    “ He said I could stay in the corporate apartment, and he ’ d help me get job interviews for an editorial position at the top women ’ s magazines. I ’ ve already got some freelance writing contacts lined up, but… ”
    “ Unless you get a job like editor-in-chief at Vogue, there ’ s no way you can swing an apartment and living expenses in New York by yourself. Rents for tiny studios start at around two grand. ”
    “ I know that, Roxie, and I ’ m not going. But where am I going? I close on my house in a week, and I ’ ve sold almost all my furniture. And what the hell am I supposed to tell Ali? ”
    “ Move in with me. Ali ’ s going off to school in a couple of months. We ’ ll manage. ”
    Leah didn ’ t answer right away. There was no way she would expose her seventeen-year-old daughter to Roxie ’ s single-adult lifestyle.
    “ Sweetie, I love you for offering. But no, can ’ t do it. We can ’ t cramp your style like that. ”
    “ Look, Leah, let me think some more about it. Right now I ’ ve got to run to an appointment at my office. I ’ ve never met these people before, so I can ’ t be my usual twenty minutes late. I ’ m going to make some calls and get back to you later. Don ’ t worry. You and Ali will not be in the streets. ”
    Leah clicked her phone off, stood up, and stretched. She slipped off her flip-flops and walked to the ocean ’ s edge, letting the waves lap gently over her feet. She noticed activity picking up around her as morning joggers, bikers, power walkers, and casual strollers filled the boardwalk. Leah was jealous, wishing for once she could be a carefree exerciser, enjoying a morning workout.
    Her phone rang. She checked the incoming call screen.
    “ Hi, Ali. ”
    “ Where are you, Mommy? We were supposed to go shopping today. ”
    “ I ’ m at the beach. I ’ m sorry, Baby. I forgot all about it. ”
    “ Would you mind if I go with my friends? Tori and Dana haven ’ t gotten their dresses yet either, and they ’ re going to Surfside Mall. ”
    Leah checked her watch. It was almost nine o ’ clock. “ Are you sure? I can be home in five minutes. It will only take me about a half hour to shower and get ready. We can be there when the mall opens. ”
    “ No, really Mom. I can go with them. ”
    “ Do you have money, in case you find something you like? ”
    “ Yeah. I got paid, so I can cash my check at the mall. ”
    “ All right. I ’ ll pay you back, I promise. ”
    “ I love you. ”
    “ I love you, too, Ali. Good luck shopping. ”
    Leah looked out at the ocean. “ That child is my reason for living, ” she thought. “ If it weren ’ t for Ali… ”
    She shook her head. “ Don ’ t be ridiculous. Doug isn ’ t the first man to fuck you over, but I swear he will be the last. Go home now and figure out what you ’ re going to do. ”
    Leah walked along the water back toward her car. Walking barefoot in the sand was good exercise for her legs. Besides, the beach route safely avoided all those happy people on the boardwalk enjoying their lives.

Chapter 3
    Roxie hung up with Leah and headed out to her car only to be greeted with her own bad news. Her right front tire was flat. She looked around for some construction workers to flag down for assistance, but no one was outside.
    “ Figures, this place is usually crawling with guys ogling me, and now when I need help, no one is around. ”
    Once when she was a teenager with a new driver ’ s license, she asked her mother what to do if she had a flat or breakdown on the road. “ Get out of the car and look pretty, ” her mother answered.
    Looking pretty was not a problem for Roxie. A raven-haired beauty with porcelain skin, she had almond-shaped hazel eyes that flashed with her vibrant personality. She was five feet, six inches tall,