The Prince Charming Hoax by Elyse Grant

felt relieved, too. The ride was over, at least for now.
    She pulled the clip from her hair and went back into the bathroom to finish getting ready. She turned the hair dryer on, then off. She thought she heard Ali coming in from school.
    “ Ali, is that you? ” she called out.
    “ Yeah, I ’ m home. ”
    “ Already? ”
    “ It ’ s finals week, Mom, remember? I only have to go in for the exam. ”
    Leah heard Ali scamper upstairs and saw her daughter ’ s reflection as she walked into her bathroom.
    “ How was your English final? ”
    Ali shrugged. “ No big deal. They make these things easy for seniors because it doesn ’ t make a difference anymore. ”
    Leah noticed Ali watching her closely as she applied her makeup.
    “ Where are you going? ” Ali wanted to know.
    “ We ’ re going to our new place. ”
    “ What! Where is it? What does it look like? ”
    “ I don ’ t know yet. ”
    “ Mom, are you crazy? ”
    “ Ali, I ’ ll explain on the way over. Did you eat yet today? I didn ’ t. Fix us a snack, and then we ’ ll go. ”
    Ali ’ s face brightened. “ Sounds like we ’ re going on an adventure. Like when I was a little girl and you ’ d pick me up after school. Remember? Sometimes we ’ d go to the park, and sometimes you took me to a museum. ”
    “ Of course I remember, Ali. I loved taking you special places. Still do. Now get out of here and let me get ready so we can eat and go. ”
    “ Yes, Mom. ” Ali gave her a quick kiss and ran downstairs.
    Leah was finishing her make up when a sudden chill went through her. She wrapped her arms around herself as she felt a wave of dread. Something bad was going to happen to someone she loved. Soon . . . tonight.
    “ Come on, Mom, ” Ali called out. “ I made us pizza bagels. Let ’ s eat so we can go. ”
    Leah hurried downstairs. “ Ali, are you going to work tonight? ” she asked as she sat down at the table across from her daughter.
    “ No, gotta study, though. History final, tomorrow. ”
    “ We won ’ t be back too late. You ’ ll have plenty of time to study. ”
    “ Great. ” Ali grinned. I ’ m glad we ’ re getting to do something together today. You know you ’ re going to miss me when I ’ m gone. ”
    Leah gasped and then choked on the mouthful of food she was chewing.
    “ Mom, are you all right? Drink some water! ”
    Leah regained her composure. “ What do you mean, ‘ when you ’ re gone? ’ ”
    “ Well, I ’ m leaving for Philly right after graduation and then next year, I ’ ll be away at school. What ’ d you think I meant? ”
    Leah tried to throw off her misgivings and forced a smile. “ I ’ m being a silly mom. Let ’ s finish up and get out of here for a while! ”
    * * *
    Leah drove into the circular driveway at The Sands and stopped at the front entrance, where a valet opened her car door and then whisked the car away. She and Ali walked into the lobby of the building and were immediately greeted by the attractive female receptionist seated behind a marble counter to the right of the automatic doors.
    “ Welcome to The Sands. How can I help you? ”
    “ I ’ m Leah Gold, and this is my daughter, Alison Goldman. I believe Roxanne Stein contacted the management this morning regarding an apartment for us. ”
    The receptionist smiled. “ Of course. Please wait one moment while I contact our concierge. ”
    She must have pressed a hidden button because just seconds later, the concierge emerged from behind the office door. “ This is Ms. Gold and her daughter, Ms. Goldman, Mr. Jameson. “
    “ A pleasure to meet you. ” He smiled and bowed slightly in Leah and Ali ’ s direction. “ We have been awaiting your arrival. I am delighted to welcome you as guest residents. Please follow me and I ’ ll show you the way to the penthouse, ” he said.
    They walked through the expansive marble lobby, elegantly furnished with what Jameson referred to as “ period furniture. ” Leah wasn ’ t