Foreword
Moving through the kitchen toward her bedroom, Joy paused at the sound of voices coming from her mother's room. The huskier tone of a man's voice was heard. Suddenly, Joy knew what it meant. Drawn to the sound, Joy crossed to the bedroom door. It was open a few inches.
She felt a numbness. To know that her mother was a whore was one thing ... but to see it, to be a witness...
Joy caught the doorjamb to steady herself. She wanted to turn and run, but she was rooted to the spot.
Her mother was naked on the bed. Clothes were scattered on the floor. Joy stared as the man leaned forward and kissed her mother. Little cries of ecstasy reached Joy's ears.
"Sam," her mother said, "don't you ever get enough?"
"You're getting paid," he sneered, "and you know what I want."
Joy sucked in her breath. It made a hollow sound in her throat. A tremble shook her. She tried to think that the woman kneeling on the bed over the man was not her mother. But it was.
Joy felt nausea ... but she had to watch as the look of pleasure spread across the man's face.