“It gives me joy to find you the perfect gift,” she’d say. “It lets you know that I’m thinking about you.”
The temptation to reciprocate was strong, something I repeatedly had to talk myself out of. There was no way I could keep up anyway, and I’d been taught that material objectsweren’t a measure of love, your actions were. So I gave back in my own way… baking her vegan cookies that wouldn’t upset her stomach, loaning her books I thought she would like, and giving her cooking lessons, back rubs, and lots of orgasms.
In retrospect, we should have expected that we couldn’t sneak around forever, no matter how much I avoided being with her in L.A. But when we were discovered and all hell broke loose, it still came as a surprise to both of us. Especially when we realized who was behind it.
Tori
“Mom. I told you before, I’m done withSusie Sniper.I’m at risk of being typecast as a cartoon character as it is.”
“You don’t need an Academy Award,” my mother sneered. “Susie Sniperis a cash cow. The fans love that character. Another film or two in that franchise and you’ll be able to print your own money.”
Why my mother continued to give me unsolicited career advice was beyond me. Why I continued to argue with her was also a mystery.
“I have more money than I can spend in two lifetimes,” I said, refraining from reminding her that wasafterI gave her an enormous monthly allowance that she did nothing to deserveother than, as she liked to remind me,“I gave up my career and perfect body to give birth to you”.
Mom decided to try another tactic. She always did.
“You know, you’ll be thirty-five soon. You refuse to have any fillers or the eye lift you need, and you’ve clearly gained some weight since your little binge fest in the parking lot at theIn and Out. You’re five pounds and a wrinkle away from being cast as some teenage ingenue’s mother.”
I’d done a lot of work on myself to lessen my mother’s ability to undermine my self-confidence, but nothing worked as well as having Hailey in my life.
“My body is perfect the way it is,” I said firmly, ignoring my mother’s incredulous look.
“Just ask her girlfriend,” Pepper mumbled from where she was working on her laptop on my dining room table.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d just done, then she winced as she saw my glare.
“Sorry,”she mouthed.
Damn it, Pepper knew better than to share anything about my life in front of my mother.
“Girlfriend? There’s a girlfriend now?” my mother asked suspiciously. “This explains your sudden change in attitude. Who is she? Bob didn’t say anything about setting you up with someone when I saw him last week.”
Now my glare was leveled at my mother. “Why are you talking to Bob? He’s my agent, not yours.”
Mom gave me a dismissive wave. “We like to check in from time to time to coordinate. It’s important that we work together to keep your career on track since, unlike you, he appreciates my professional opinion on things.”
I looked at Pepper again, but she seemed as surprised by this revelation as I was. Making a mental note to fire Bob, I brought my attention back to my mother.
“As fun as this has been, I really need you to go now, Mom. I have plans.”
“With your girlfriend?” she sneered. “Is she the one who’s telling you can do better thanSusie Sniper?”
“Actually, she thinks I can do better than acting. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Pepper packed up her laptop, grabbed her bag, and took my mother by the arm.
“Come on Ms. Cross, I’ll walk out with you.”
Unfortunately, it was too late. My phone buzzed with a notice that the security gate was opening, and by the time we got to the front door, Rick’s SUV was driving up to the house. I’d had a few meetings this morning, so I’d sent him up to Seattle to fetch Hailey in the plane so she wouldn’t have to travel alone. The two of them had developed a cordial relationship and relished in ganging up on me to give me shit. I loved it.
Rick’s astute gaze took in my mother’s presence as well as Pepper trying to lead her to her car, and a slight wince passed across his normally stoic face. He’d spent enough time with my mother to know how she was, and to understand that her getting her claws in Hailey was bad.
“Hey Tori.”
“Tori?” I heard my mother mutter.
Hailey stepped towards me, then paused as if she was uncertain if it was okay to touch me in front of these people. I moved towards her, holding out my arms, and pulled her into a tight hug.
