Whetted Appetites by Anastacia Kelley Page B

value of being a Bradley and all that that implies.  The only value her mother knew of was the value of her mansion and everything in it.  She certainly didn’t know the value of emotions.
         “I just want what’s best for you, dear.  You’re my only daughter.  You’re not getting any younger and I want to see you settle down and produce me some grandchildren before I get too old to enjoy them,” her mother explained in a speech Victoria has heard a hundred times.
         No doubt I’ll be hearing it a hundred times more.   Victoria frowned.  She couldn’t see her mother growing old no more that her mother could.  At the first sign of a wrinkle or a blemish, her mother would rush off to her plastic surgeon for a touch up.  Or tune up, whatever the case may be.
         She knew, of course, that her mother would never cheat on her father.  Too much money was at stake.  Infidelity was in the pre-nup.  If it was ever proven that her father or mother strayed, they would get nada in the divorce.
         Her mother couldn’t do without her servants, as she called them.  God forbid she’d have to lift a finger in manual labor.  She might break a nail.
         No, her mother shouldn’t talk about morals when it was plain as day she had few.
         Victoria tried to explain to the best of her ability.  “Mother, when the time is right and when I choose to settle down and have children, I will.  No amount of pressure from you will dissuade my decision.  I’m not going to jump into something I’m not ready for.”
         “But, Victoria-----“
         “No buts, mother.  This is my life and my life alone.  I make my own choices. Including who I choose to date.”  Victoria sucked in a much needed breath of air.  Having had her say in the matter, she felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.  She should have done this years ago.  It felt great.  Really great to finally tell her mother, “no more”.
         “Fine,” her mother said sharply and a little put off.  “Don’t say I didn’t caution you when you mess up.  I don’t want to have to say I told you so,” she warned.
         “Don’t worry.  You won’t. If I make a mistake then I will learn from it and move on.  We are all human beings.  We’re allowed to mess up sometime.”  Victoria was tired of having the same old conversation.  “Good-bye, Mother.”
         Victoria hung up the phone and sat back in her chair for a moment, contemplating her words she had spoken to her mother.
         No doubt her mom was fuming after she got off the phone. 
         Victoria knew what that meant.  Shopping spree.  Every time her mother got the least bit upset, her father would console her the best way he knew how.  Credit cards.
         Victoria knew you couldn’t buy love and happiness.  But that was the only way her father knew how to show true affection for his wife.  Money.  And lots of it.
         Sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder if she was conceived by them or just bought.  Like on e-bay or something.  She had to laugh at the absurd mental picture.  Maybe she shouldn’t go that far.
         The Beavers’ they were not.  More like the dysfunctional family from hell.  Mr. Beaver would be shocked.
         What could be said about the times the maid was the only one to explain to Victoria what a period was?  Or safe sex?  Or standing up for yourself?
         Maybe her mom should have paid attention in sex ed.  Birth control was made for people like her.  She didn’t need kids if she didn’t want them around.
         Victoria had to learn most of the basic stuff from her personal maid, Miss Dora Hugo.
         She wondered what happened to that dear, sweet woman.  She wished for just a moment to see her again.  To show her that she didn’t grow up to be just like her mother.
         That was over fifteen years ago.  She had no way of