''You brought me to see your dad's mistress?" Cheryl shouted angrily at Annie over the music.
''God, Mom!" Annie rolled her eyes. ''Look closer!"
Cheryl looked at the woman again, and finally, it clicked. Beneath all that makeup, the dress, the high heels, the shoes, and the wig…was her husband.
''Frank?" she asked, widening her eyes at Annie, who nodded knowingly.
''How long has this been going on?" Cheryl asked.
''Well, the show has only been happening for a few months, but I think it may have been a latent desire or a hidden talent,'' Annie answered carefully.
Cheryl's mouth opened and closed several times through Frank's musical number. "Frank's a drag queen?" she gasped. "Oh god!"
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Annie nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Mom. But I only discovered it by chance when I was here with my friends one night."
Cheryl could see how the guests seemed to love Frank. He did a great job, and she clapped when his show was over.
"Can we meet him?" she asked Annie eventually, and they went backstage to see Frank, who was shocked. He began removing the wig nervously as if that would hide anything.
"Keep the wig, Frank," Cheryl said, patting his shoulder. "God, you scared me. I thought you were cheating. But I'm glad I know the truth now."
As they drove home, Cheryl broke the silence. "So, did you wear my shoes?"
"At first," Frank answered. "But they didn't fit. Your feet are too small."
"Does this—whatever you're doing—so are you a woman now?" she asked worriedly.
"No! Jesus!" Frank gasped. "Drag queens are not transgender women, honey. That's their identity. I only dress as a woman and perform for entertainment. But I know I'm a man and love you and Annie and our lives together."
"But how did you end up in that club?" she asked as they arrived home.
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"Money has been tough since Annie started college," Frank said. "Initially, I took the job of arranging the stage and handling equipment like a roadie. But then I was entranced by the shows, found myself singing along, and guess the other queens told the manager. He offered me the job, and I couldn't say no. Better pay and we don't have to worry for a while now since people seem to like me," he chuckled, opening her car door.
''I didn't know we were in trouble," Cheryl expressed, grabbing his arm to stop him on their porch. "Besides, why didn't you tell me anything at all? I thought you were cheating and went crazy. Compared to that…this is pretty great. I can accept this."
"I never knew you'd be so open to this, Cheryl. And hey, we're not in trouble. But I was just dying at my regular job. But now, I can enjoy it because I get to do something amazing at night, and I'm earning more for our family. It gave me peace of mind, and it's like a whole new world opened up."
"That sounds exciting," Cheryl smiled. Annie arrived in her car right then, and for a while, they all just hugged and stood in silence.
The next morning, they were having breakfast when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Cheryl walked to the door and stared through the peephole in shock.
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"What are you doing here?" she slipped outside and sneered at Adam, who looked flabbergasted and upset. "Look, I'm sorry we forgot you in the closet, but just leave. We can't be seen here together."
"Don't send me away again, Cheryl! You told me he was the wrong choice…unless it was all a lie? Were you manipulating me?"
"Shush…they'll hear you! Okay, let's meet later. Give me your address," she said and calmed down when Adam left. She lied to Frank and Annie that it was a neighbor and went to Adam's apartment later.
"Getting a divorce is hard and expensive. I'll pay for the lawyer," Adam began, not letting Cheryl get a word in.
Cheryl backtracked. "I love you, Adam. It's as if I can't live without you. But Frank is my daughter's father."
"Hey, I was just worried… that you wouldn't pick me again if the divorce were too hard," he smiled and got closer to her. "We can get to know your daughter…figure something out."
''That's a good idea, baby,'' Cheryl touched his face, keeping the charade. Then she suggested they could have wine together and excused herself to the bathroom.
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After opening his medicine cabinet, Cheryl immediately spotted a bottle of sleeping pills. Fortunately, the pills were the kind with powder encased in gelatin, so she opened as many as she could, dumping them into his wine and stirring it to dissolve it when he didn't notice.
They sat on his couch, drinking, and Cheryl sipped, observing him. They talked for a while until Adam's words started slurring, and his eyes spun. He fell from the couch, and foam slipped from his mouth, but Cheryl left him alone, deciding not to call 911.
A few days later, Frank and Cheryl booked a trip to their favorite cabin getaway and were at the airport check-in.
''Let me help you with your carry-on," Frank said and grabbed her stuff with one hand, putting his other on her waist to guide her toward the security area.
An unexpected commotion stopped them as several police officers ran with airport security.
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''There she is!" an officer suddenly pointed directly at Cheryl, and all the others swarmed towards them.
"Mrs. Smith, you're under arrest for attempted murder," a cop said as he grabbed both her arms to put her in handcuffs. She didn't fight, but Frank was frantic as other officers pulled him back. Adam had survived and testified against her, and Cheryl couldn't escape the consequences of her actions.
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