Millstone

Two

It was Della’s wild curls that tickled my nose and woke me. I sat up fast, pushing my own wild mane out of my eyes. “Damn it,” I breathed, forgetting Della was in earshot. I had slept through my alarm which meant no time to study, which meant there was no way I was going to pass the damn economics test. If my GPA isn’t what my parents expect, it means I will not be able to attend the school of their choice. This is the time of year I have dreaded since I was a freshman. Applying for schools. I don’t want to go to college. What I want to do with my life doesn’t require attending a university, but not continuing my education is out of the question where my family is concerned. Not only are they adamant I go to college, but I am obligated to study medicine to have a career in the family business as a guarantee that our empire will continue. I could care less. I have no interest in it. In fact, I find it rather offensive. Aside from all of that, I need to pass economics first and there is no way I am ready for this test. My only comfort is my first period is study hall so I should get some review time in there. Until two months ago, Mitch helped me with economics and our study time was a homework session I looked forward to. Now that he is with Jennie Hayes, I am on my own and my grade in that class has dropped considerably.

I grabbed my backpack, slipped on my flip flops, and took a final glimpse in the mirror before heading downstairs. Mitch was not worth my thoughts and if I continued to dwell on him and Jenna together, I just might cry and ruin my perfect make up job. I took extra time this morning painting a butterfly wing over my right eyelid, and he wasn’t going to ruin it.

“Caressa you’re running late!” Mother’s voice stopped me cold. What was she doing here at this hour? She was usually gone by now.

“I know! Sorry.” I apologized before heading for the corridors leading to the garages. “See you later.”

“Not so fast.” She narrowed in on the cotton candy, pink hair color, covering my natural blonde. Her lip curled in disdain. “When did you find the time to do that?”

“Last night…while I was studying.” I added for good measure.

She shook her head in disapproval as her eyes left my hair and focused on the masterpiece around my eye.

She brought her coffee to her lips and continued to examine me from head to toe. Her eyes peering over the rim of her China cup snubbed my clothing choice. “When did they add flip flops to the dress code?”

I released a long, drawn-out sigh, an indication I was done with her scrutiny. “It’s college fair day mother, I can get away with it.”

She shook her head while swallowing. It was her way of rebutting even though her mouth was full. “Caressa,” she sat the cup on the table. “You’re not going to make a great impression dressed like a fortune teller at the county fair.”

Her attempt at a disparaging critique didn’t wound me as she had intended. Being referred to as a fortune teller was a compliment to me. I’d much rather resemble a gypsy than a corporate bitch in a starched shirt and a pencil skirt. “I don’t have time to change. Besides, I don’t think the college president or anyone important works the kiosks at high school recruitment fairs.”

She didn’t care for my sarcasm. “Not so fast. Sylvia.” She snapped her fingers, getting the attention of one of our kitchen staff. “Bring Caressa some breakfast. She’ll be eating with me this morning.” She pointed to the place setting across from her.

There’s no way in hell I was going to make it to school on time for first period and I desperately needed to study hall this morning. “Mom, I’m going to be late.”

“I thought it was college fair day,” She was snide with her comeback.

“It is, but we still have first period.” I used whatever ammo I had.

“Study hall, is it?” She sneered. “You may think I am out of touch with your life, but I know more than you think. Now sit.” She pointed to the chair with her perfectly manicured nail. I knew what was coming. It’s her modus operandi. She makes mountainous issues out of the smallest things and uses it to guilt me into doing a long list of things she should be doing, as a mother, but has no time, since she is more involved in BWC corporation than she is in her own family.

I loosened the strap from my shoulder and let my backpack drop to the floor as I took my seat. seat. Sylvia was quick with my breakfast dishing out a steaming omelet, sizzling sausage, and a buttered croissant. Her eyes met mine in empathy, as she poured cold orange juice in my glass. She was no stranger to my mother’s cruelty, having experienced her abuse daily.

“After you eat your breakfast, you will change into something more appropriate before dropping Della off at school this morning.” She began dictating my day.

“Again?” I used her scolding voice trying to shame her in not having the time to drive her own daughter to school. “I think you should take her. Maybe reassure her some. Did you know she came into my room again last night?”

“I’ll give her something to help her sleep.” She said nonchalantly as she added cream to her coffee.

Now I wish I’d never said anything. She throws a pill at everything. Both Gunner and Della were overmedicated as it is. “Maybe she just needs some mommy time. When was the last time you spent any time with her?” I blurted and watched her stiffen at my accusation.

“Just change your clothes and take Della to school.” She slid a piece of paper across the table. “I refuse to take parenting advice from a teen who thinks it’s cool to have pink hair and paints her face like a Monarch. Go ahead and judge me Caressa, but if it weren’t for my work, with our pharmaceutical company you wouldn’t live the opulent life you do. You live in a twenty-five-million-dollar home for God sake, drive a brand-new convertible and your closet rivals any boutique in town.”

I picked the corner off my croissant while she continued to throw materialism in my face as if I had begged for any of this stuff.

“All these things are for you, not us kids.” I pushed my plate aside. “We live here so we get to enjoy the amenities.”

“Well, I wonder how you’d feel without them.” She pushed my plate back in front of me. “The church is sending the teens on a mission trip this summer to South America. Suza went last year and helped on the medical team. Brennan said she came back as a different girl. Maybe I’ll sign you up so you can appreciate what you have.”

I tried to keep from rolling my eyes at the mention of Suza Wade or her notorious father, Brennan, but it’s a natural reflex whenever their names were mentioned. My mother noticed and fired again, impaling me with another Suza arrow. “She’s making something of herself. If she continues to follow in her father’s footsteps, she’ll be one of the wealthiest women in the world someday.”

“Money isn’t everything, Mother.” I reached for the coffee pot.

“You say that now because everything is provided for you.” She removed the cup from my place setting before I could pour just to make her point. “Coffee is not free, you know. You’d do good to rekindle your friendship with Suza instead of running around with that little flower child Brianna. I know you think it’s trendy to be earthy and go against the system, but you’d do well to start hanging out with people who are smart enough to recognize the system works. You don’t know how blessed you are, and if it takes a mission trip to South America then so be it.”

“Sounds good. I could use a change of scenery.” I fired back, not threatened by her warning.

She hands me the paper she slid across the table as if it were a summons to court. I may have dealt the final cutting remark, but she dealt the final blow.

“You need to drop Della off. Don’t be late or you’ll have to go into the office and sign her in. Make sure she eats something before she takes her meds. I won’t be home until late and your father won’t be home until tomorrow so whatever you had planned for tonight will have to wait.”

My cheeks burned hot with anger. She knew tonight was important to me and she didn’t care. She was doing this on purpose.

“Mom, can’t you get someone on the house staff?”

“I could, but in light of your attitude this morning I refuse. End of discussion. You’re making me late.”

I watched, dumbfounded as she marched her tailored skirt down the corridor. For the life of me I can’t understand why she chose to bring children into the world. We must be the wealthiest orphans on the planet, left parentless by circumstance, not by death. We are nothing more than tax credits on her spreadsheets. She doesn’t deserve us.