Screen And Lies [Fiction]

Clara huffed and puffed, hands akimbo as she paced the living room of their hotel suite. What was supposed to be a fun and intimate family vacation had turned out to be a disappointment that might change their lives.

Outside by the pool, her daughter Naomi put on her dressing robe and tied the sash with a sad look. Lounge time was over.

She wondered what her mother would do after their shocking discovery. Deep down, she knew the inevitable was coming but maybe her parents who'd been married for twenty years would surprise her.

Ugh. She gazed up at the blue sky and exhaled, her chest felt tight. It started as a prank—harmless even—but it seemed social media caused more harm than good.

“What are you up to, honey?” Her mother sneaked up behind her, startling her. It was too late to hide her phone. She let Clara take a peek at her screen as they shared the chaise lounge.

“LoveMatch?” Clara snorted, sipping her fruity mocktail. “Do these dating apps work for you kids?”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “Mom, it works. The admin posts pics of matched couples every time.”

“You have an account with them? Naomiiii!” She whisper-yelled, her eyes bulging at her seventeen year old daughter.

“Mom! Not yet. Keep your voice down. All my friends have an account. I'm just looking around.”

“Huh. Let me see. What's that button - ‘cheaterslog’?” She pointed at the right side of the screen and Noami tapped it.

“I think it's a space to search for people dating many people at the same time.”

Clara grinned suddenly. “I have an idea.” She took the phone and typed in her husband's name. Noami sucked in a breath. “Mom!”.

The two ladies held their breath as the page buffered for a second. They both gasped when the search result revealed the picture of a man with arrows pointing to pictures of three ladies in bikinis. The man was Naomi's father.

Clara's mocktail glass shattered as it hit the floor, shocking Naomi even more. She watched as her mother marched into the hotel suite to confront her father.

She quickly put on her dressing robe, packed her towel and sunscreen and rushed into the suite. Her parents stood facing each other, their faces twisted with anger as they argued.

“I don't even know what you're talking about.” Her father said in denial while he repeatedly pulled at his nose and sniffed. Her heart lurched in disappointment. It was his telltale sign of lying.

“There are people that look like me in this country. It could be their account. Why would I be on a dating app?”

Clara gasped. “You're unbelievable, Greg. You've perfected your art of lying.”

Greg exhaled, letting his hands fall to his sides in exasperation. “You believe what you want. I'm out of here.”

Naomi watched as her father strode out of their suite. She was torn between going after him and staying to comfort her mother. Probably it was a bad idea to scroll through LoveMatch.com.

I hope you enjoyed reading this short story. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt word or phrase “art of lying”.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

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