Chapter 3: No Longer Daddy's Little Girl?
Resting her hand on the smooth glass of the large oriel window just to the left of the big gothic oak door Vivien watched as her father left. "Daddy," she mouthed as she couldn't find the words to say. Her mind raced with many thoughts. Would her father be alright? Would he write often? Would he be home soon? But above all would he come back at all? Lost within her thoughts Vivien had forgotten about her kitten. Hearing the kitten meow's Vivien knelt down and picked her up. "Wave bye-bye Callie." She told her kitten as she lifted Callie's small pawl. Holding Callie close to her she could hear its own heat beating while hers was doing just the same.
Still looking out the window Vivien didn't even notice that Catharine had entered the room. "He left, did he?" she asked in a cool voice. Jumping at the sound of her stepmother's voice Vivien turned around swiftly.
"You would have known if you would have had the decency to say goodbye." Vivien answered sharply. Why couldn't she just call to her father and have him there right now. If he were here then none of things that were about to take place wouldn't.
"My, my, my after her dear father leaves, the real person comes out doesn't she?" Catharine asked as she tossed her sunshine golden hair behind her. "Pull back those claws girl. I can tell you that I have no true feelings for your father."
Vivien couldn't believe this. What? "Why?" she asked in a cry while she tried to prepare herself for the answer that was to come. How could Catherine not love her father? Everyone loved him. He was always there for people. And yet one of the people that were supposed to love him did not?
"Why you ask? I will tell you why. When I married your father I married for money, for power. I married for a great deal of things." Catharine began as she looked down at her hands that had a ring on each finger, from rubies to diamonds. Even a topaz stone rested upon her pinky finger. It was as blue and as dark as Vivien's eyes. Each one was 20 carts at least maybe even more. "I for one didn't think you would be part of that package. I should have sent you to boarding school when I had the chance." If that was one thing she would have had to do to be the prettiest in London so be it. She would have done it in a heartbeat.
How dare she? How dare she? Vivien said inside her head as she found herself not being able to take much more of this. "My father wouldn't have sent me to a boarding school. You would have never gotten away with it!"
Catharine laughed at this. "You silly girl, you don't know much do you?"
"I know plenty my father sent me to the best school's in London." Vivien shot back as she knew she spoke the truth. After a few years away Richard figured the best thing for his daughter was fresh air and the feeling of home. Why not just pick a school that was closer to home? It seemed a good idea at the time.
"If you know a lot then why don't you do as you're told?" Catherine said coldly. This girl rarely did what she was told let alone doing it on her own.
"I don't know what you mean?" Vivien said. She found this rather infuriating "I do as I'm told."
"Then get cleaning those dishes. They won't clean themselves you know." Catherine pointed in the direction of the kitchen.
"No, I won't." Vivien yelled as she began walking to the door. However, Catherine beat her to it.
"You will or your kitten will go for a swim in the river." Catherine shot back as she took Callie from Vivien's arms. Holding the kitten by the fur of the neck Callie began crying out, in what seemed like pain.
"No," Vivien cried as she tried to get Callie back. She wasn't going to let this happen. If she had to she would write her father telling him of this event. "How would you like it if I took Cleo?" Vivien muttered.
"What was that? You know I don't like the muttering." Catherine said as Callie began to meow from being so helpless.
"Nothing, it was nothing." Vivien said as she hung her head. No matter what she said Catherine would always twist her words into thinking she said something else. So it was best to leave well enough alone.
"Then get busy." Catherine commanded as she yet again pointed toward the kitchen.
"Can I have Callie back?" Vivien asked looking up. By now a few tears were in work and a few could drop very easily from her dark blue sapphire eyes.
Rolling her eyes Catherine dropped the small kitten into Vivien's arms. Leaving the room she went to look at herself in her lovely mirrors. What else did she have to do?
Holding her kitten Vivien went and did the dishes before Catherine came back and took Callie and put her in the river. This just had to stop, it just had to. Entering the kitchen Vivien found piles and piles of dishes. How was she going to get all of these cleaned? How long had it been anyways since the dishes were cleaned? Vivien didn't want to know. Putting Callie down she got to work. Putting the soap in the sink Vivien got her hands wet. Looking down she saw Callie lick up a little of what looked like…spaghetti. That just happened to be three days old. Gross! Vivien yelled inside her head as she scrubbed the dry food off of her mother's favorite china.
A dried egg here, a carrot here this just made Vivien sick to her stomach. After letting some of the dishes soak in the soapy dish water Vivien picked up a frying pan and scrubbed off the week old food. Goodness didn't her father higher a maid? Vivien thought as she piled up the new clean dishes.
Finally after hours upon hours Vivien was done with the dishes. At hearing the clock strike eight Vivien's head fell. Three hours. It took her three hours to clean all the dishes. "Vivien where is dinner?" Yelled Catherine.
Snapping her head up Vivien gasped. Oh no she spent so many hours cleaning the dishes she had forgotten about dinner. "Um just a minute," Vivien called into the other room.
Opening the ice box Vivien found some lamb. Putting it on the stove Vivien went and got the other necessary things, the carrots, Brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes and the rolls.
Putting it on a plate nice and neatly she carried it out into the dining hall. Placing the plate in front of Catherine Vivien went and got the bottle of wine and a cup of milk for Cleo. Coming back into the room she found her stepmother staring at it. "What's wrong?"
"This looks like sheep's intestines not fried lamb." At hearing those words Vivien's stomach churned a little. However it would be far worse in just several moments. "And where is the blood pudding?
The blood pudding? Vivien asked herself. She had heard of it, but that was something that didn't sound good anyways. Vivien's face turned chalk white.
"You don't know what it is do you?"
"Yes I do." Vivien corrected.
"Then if you know what it is then why isn't it on my plate?" with her hands folded she glared at her stepdaughter through her dark evil eyes.
Vivien could feel her breakfast of what she had of it come up at the talk of that. Oh great mother of God who would eat that? Vivien had lived in England her whole life and not once did she ever see the sight of it. Thank God her father disliked blood pudding. "I-I didn't know I was supposed to make it. Father doesn't like it, so I've never seen it or made it."
Catherine's laughter filled the room causing Cleo to jump and look around in the process. "Well you best get busy learning how to, because your father won't be home for quite some time."
"Yes, ma'am," Vivien answered as she tried to keep her act together. She couldn't look her stepmother in the eyes. Not after the mistake she just caused. "Will there be anything else?" Eye's still fixated on the floor.
"No, now go on I want to enjoy my meal in peace."
Leaving the room Vivien made her way to her room. Yawning a little she knew it was time for bed. Yes it was only 8:45 but Vivien didn't think she could keep her eyes opened much longer.
Climbing the stairs with her body acing and her eyes almost closing Vivien finally made it to her room. Shutting her door Vivien got ready for bed. For the first time in a long while she was happy to see her bed. Within moments she was asleep and in her own world, where no harm could come to her.
The next day Vivien wrote to her father. After starting the letter a thought struck her. Would her father believe her? That was utter and complete nonsense of course he would. She was his daughter, his little princess. There should be no reason why he wouldn't.
Dear Father;
I know it's only been a day but father there's something I must tell you. Catherine is making me do the house work. If I refuse to do them she says she will throw Callie into the river. Oh, father, please come home. I need you so much.
With all my love
Vivien
Taking a deep breath Vivien had the letter mailed. If she was lucky her father would get the message soon and would be on the next train back into London. Within in a week's time Vivien received a letter from her father.
Dear Vivien;
My darling daughter I'm sure you must be exaggerating all of this. You're just imagining all of these things. Catherine loves you so. She has told me herself. Take it easy before you know it I will be home.
Love Always
Father
No, her father didn't understand. Catherine really did hate her. Vivien just knew she did. As her fingers clung to the paper her hands began to shake as sobs over took moments later. She would just have to keep a clear head and keep thinking that her father would be home within a few days the war was to be over soon. Nevertheless, the war would last for three more years. But General Alexander would be home just a few times over the next three years.
Walking up the stairs with the letter in hand Vivien tried to get more work done around the house while her father remained on her mind and in her heart.
Four months later….
While the months rolled by Vivien turned 18 without her father by her side. However he did send her letters upon letters saying how much he missed her and how he hoped he would be home soon.
Walking around in the rose garden Vivien took in a deep breath. It was spring. Thank God for that. She didn't know how much longer she could take being inside for all those months. Walking a little farther Vivien came across a small silver stone that sat under a lovely cherry blossom tree. Sitting down in front of it Vivien read the stone. Natalie Ann Alexander. At seeing her mother's name she automatically thought of her and knew she was a great lady. After all she would have to be to marry her father. Even if Catherine didn't show any signs of carrying for her father, at least Vivien did and she would continue to.
Meanwhile Catherine was entertaining some friends. "You know Catherine you do have a lovely home." Rachel said as she took a sip of her tea.
"Thank you dear, I think so too." Catherine laughed as she knew she and her friends spoke the truth. After all she had the loveliest home for miles and the richest man as well. Besides the king Catherine thought Richard was the utmost richest of all.
"My son would kill for this estate." Jenny said as she looked out the nearby window that looked out over the garden. It had anything and everything, from ten bedrooms, four car garage all the way to the tennis court out back. Why you could hold parties here every weekend if you wanted to.
"Well if my husband has anything to do with it. This home is staying his." Catherine put her two cents in. She wouldn't dare live any other place other than Notely. After all she had come to love it after eighteen years. Who wouldn't? The place had it all?
Smiling as if she had something to hide Jenny continued looking out the window. "You know Vivien is looking more like her mother every day." Jenny along with the rest of Catherine's friends knew Vivien would out shine her before long. "I'm sure she must miss her terribly."
"Yes, of course she is." Catherine said as she tried to hide the anger within her voice.
"I hate to break it to you but I think Vivien may have you beat on being the most beautiful woman in all of England." Rachel pointed out as she messed with her gold bracelet.
Catherine did not take that lightly. Taking in a deep and shallow breath she spoke "If you will excuse me I have to get ready for this evening's party." She just had to do something. She couldn't have an outburst in front of her friends. What would they think of her? Crazy was what they would think.
"Alright dear," Jenny said putting her cigarette out. Picking up her purse she headed for the door. "Thank you for the tea,"
"You are quite welcome," Catherine said as she saw them to the door. "Don't forget about the party is tonight. Things will be getting underway around eight."
Showing them out the door Catherine slammed the door and began to get irate. "What does that girl have that I don't have!" she asked herself aloud as she found herself pacing the drawing room. Catherine was absolutely livid. How could this happen? Catherine was so mad that she didn't even here Vivien enter the room.
"Talking to yourself Catherine?" Vivien asked as she stood in the doorway. She thought Lady Alexander was a little crazy, but not this crazy. Wait…no she was crazy alright crazy as they come. Turning around she saw her stepdaughter standing there.
"How dare you question me?" Her mouth turned into a straight line. "No one questions me." How dare she question her? HER!
"I was just-" Vivien began as she found dark eyes glaring back at her. She began backing up a little as she knew there soon wouldn't be much space for her to back up. Feeling the wall just inches behind her Vivien knew there was no place to go. Except the door and she couldn't leave if she did Catherine would yell and scream at her telling. Telling her what an unfit daughter she was and how lazy she was.
"You were just being nosey was all you were being!" Catherine yelled. Feeling the edge of the trim of the door Vivien turned to leave the room before it could get out of hand and she found her kitten in the river. "Where are you going?" she heard Catherine call back to her.
"Getting away from you," Vivien fought back as she turned back around. She wasn't going to stick around to see what happened. Because Vivien knew what would happen and it wouldn't be pretty.
"Oh, so I guess you don't want to know that your father is coming home for a short visit?"
Vivien's eyes lit up like two bright stars. "He is?" she asked as if she couldn't believe her ears. After all this time her father was coming home. After all this time after all these months without him he was finally coming home.
"Yes, he will be home in a matter of hours." Catherine answered as she put her hands together. This was too good to be true her father was coming home...maybe forever. Maybe he wouldn't have to go back. Maybe they found someone else? So many questions had filled Vivien's head. Before long other thoughts pushed the previous ones out. What should she wear? The red dress, no the green dress? And what about shoes, jewelry and hair she couldn't forget her hair. Turning to go get things ready she heard Catherine call for her once again.
"What now?" Vivien asked. She wasn't scared to fight back.
"I need you to clean and pick things up for me." Catherine said as she approached her. Vivien didn't know where Lady Alexander was getting at. She wasn't Cinderella after all. But Catherine was her guardian for now and she had to do as she asked. Sighing heavily Vivien went over to a nearby table and picked up a pad of paper and began writing. "Are you complaining? Because if you are then I can throw you out with a snap of a finger,"
"No, Catherine." Vivien said as she held the things within her long china like hands. "Well?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"My evening gown needs pressed, see to the food and the seating arrangements." Catherine begun as her arms crossed her very wide chest. "Don't forget the silver needs polished and the best wine." Catherine smacked her hands together and Vivien stood up straight. "Don't just stand there get busy."
"Yes, Catherine," Vivien spoke as she ran off and got things ready. Getting herself ready would have to wait until her demon stepmother was taken care of and God knew how many hours that would take. Going into Catherine's room she picked out the royal blue evening dress and took it to be pressed.
Heading into the kitchen Vivien looked at the meal for tonight. A seven course meal! This made Vivien's head spine. Why didn't they have a cook? They did at one point, but he enlisted into the war. So for the past few months Vivien was stuck doing everything. Heading out the door Vivien grabbed her car keys and made her way towards her dark blue Rolls Royce. Starting it up she drove down the long blacktop driveway and was soon out the gates of Notley. Thank God she got out of that house. She didn't know how much more she could take. If it wasn't for her father's sake Vivien would have went crazy months ago. She didn't know how to managed to do all of the things that were asked of her and they weren't easy things by any means.
Making her way into town she stopped in front of a four story brick building. As Vivien stepped from the building she looked up. She hoped she was doing the right thing.
Vivien walked into the small dark, but bright room. Two big windows welcomed in the warm sunlight of the day. It seemed very strange to feel such warmth from the room. Vivien sighed sadly. Her sapphire colored eyes glanced around the rest of the room.
The room was laid out nicely. Dark oak was wrapped around the walls, grey carpet with small specks of brown in it laid from wall to wall. A black leather chair and a matching love seat sat in the middle of the room. Just across from the set was a desk that sat just catty corner from the furniture. Pictures of a happy family were scattered around the desk. It must be nice to have a loving, carrying family.
"Miss. Alexander, please come in." a gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts. Vivien blinked her eyes quickly. Had he called her name before? Vivien asked herself unsure. Vivien took a deep but shaky breath and stepped into the psychiatrist office. Dr. McKinley seemed like a nice man. He was around the age of her father. The hair upon his head was a dirty blonde color. His build was thick; he stood about 5'10. Not to terribly tall, but taller than her. His green eyes looked aged, but they looked kind and gentle. He didn't seem like any of the other psychiatrist Vivien had seen. Which hadn't been many, just one when she was a little girl.
Vivien took a seat on the leather sofa opposite of the doctor. Maybe this would help…
"Miss. Alexander-"
"Call me Vivien." Vivien hated being called miss. She felt so, so old.
"Alright, Vivien, tell me why you need my help?"
Vivien took a deep breath and began. "My home life isn't very well." Her voice came out shaky.
"Would you elaborate on that for me please?" Dr. McKinley wrote down what she had just answered. Vivien watched as the pen wrote swiftly across the paper. Did he have to do that? Vivien asked herself.
"Dr. McKinley, this is just between us? Right?" Vivien asked nervously. If her father heard that she had been to see a shrink he would wonder if his princess was crazy. But if Catherine got word of her going she would have Vivien institutionalized! She would have her put away into the darkest, dampest cell in the country. Vivien's hands began to shake. She clutched the edges of the love seat. At the touch of the cool leather she calmed down.
"Yes, this is just between us." The doctor reassured Vivien with a warm smile. Vivien sighed happily. Thank goodness. "Now if you would please go into detail about your home life?"
"I'm hated by my family." Her head hung with sham. Vivien felt so ashamed. It wasn't her father who hated me, but her stepmother.
"Who in your family hates you?" he asked as he finished writing and looked up at her.
"My stepmother Catherine," The words left Vivien's lips as if she had said it time and time again.
"Why?" the word pierced through the air. Vivien was taken aback by his tone. It now seemed dark and cold. Did she say something wrong? God please don't let this be like her last doctor. Vivien looked at him with fear shooting through her eyes. "I'm sorry my tone sounds so harsh, I just want to get to the bottom of this. Once we do. I will be able to help you."
Vivien nodded her head. "Ever since I was a small child she has had a hatred for me. Because, I'm prettier then she is. Everyone tells her that. Even her own friends do. I know what she is thinking. She probably hates me more then I know."In fact Vivien knew this. So why did she say it?
Vivien looked down at her right wrist. Peeking out from behind the glove was a small burn. A second degree burn. The burn wasn't very big. Just an inch long. But to her it felt as if it was a mile long. Vivien could see the images dancing before her. The stove incident. She could feel the hotness against her skin. Vivien could hear her stepmother's voice. Mocking her, yelling at her, telling her she was no good. Vivien quickly shut her eyes. "UH!" she screamed out. Vivien pressed her hands to her ears. MAKE IT STOP! she wanted to cry out. It's getting worse. The pain shoots up her arm and no matter how loud or how long she cried it still continues.
"You broke my mother's vase didn't you! Didn't you!"
"No!" Vivien cried out. It was true she didn't. It was her stupid cat.
"Don't lie to me!" Catherine yells in Vivien's face. She holds her wrist over the stove longer. The longer it stayed the more numb it got and the hotter it got. Vivien could feel the skin burning and it began to smell. "You are worthless. You are not fit to live in such a fine house such as this."
"I'm not lying!" Vivien yelled back with pain. "Daddy!" she screamed. Where was daddy? Was he in his study? Out in the garden? Where was he? "Daddy!" Vivien didn't bother saying anything about the other statement Catherine had shouted at her. She was not worthless. Her father loved her very much.
"Your father isn't here. He went to town to play golf with friends." That was right. Vivien had forgotten all about that. "Now tell me the truth. I won't let go until you do!"
"Alright, alright I broke your vase." Vivien cried out. Catherine let go of her wrist. Vivien collapsed to the floor in a mess of tears. The pain was still there, the scar was still there and the memory would always remain.
"It seems there is something else you are not telling me." The doctor asked as he looked in Vivien's direction. Her heart began to beat fast. "It's alright to tell me. That is why I'm here."
Vivien bit her lower lip until it bled. Her hands had come down from her ears. Tears began to fill her blue eyes. "I saw another psychologist when I was six." The tears clung to her long black eyelashes. She blinked and they fell down her face and onto her hands that were clasped in front of her. It was awful. The other psychologist was mean, hostile and cruel. He blamed Vivien for all of her problems. He blamed her for the way her stepmother acted. He blamed her for the burn. He blamed her for everything. He had never taken her side.
"Really? Tell me about that experience." The doctor asked as he rested his fingers on the edge of his chin.
Vivien took a deep breath. "My father took me after the accident. He thought I seemed off in some way." Richard thought that Vivien wasn't his little girl anymore. It wasn't the fact that Vivien had changed, but the fact that Catherine had scared Vivien so much that she feared for her own life. Which is natural for a child of six after what she had just been through.
…..
Richard walked up to a big wooden door. Six year old Vivien clutched his hand. She looked up at the door. My, it seemed so big. Wrapping on the door Richard looked down at his little princess and smiled. "This will be good for you my darling."
Vivien just nodded. She wasn't sure what was really happening. All she was told that a nice man was going to ask her questions and she was to answer them and to also be on her best behavior. Richard opened the door and they walked in. The room seemed cold and lifeless. No color was on the walls. No warm pictures in the office. All that was in the room was a desk, a sofa and two chairs.
"Aw you just be Richard." A tall gentleman asked as he walked over to the two of them. He was 6'4, 190 pounds, red hair, and green eyes.
"It's nice to meet you Dr. Blackburn." Richard shook the Doctors hand warmly. "And this is Vivien." Richard looked down and saw no Vivien. All of a sudden he could feel Vivien gripping his pant legs. "Come along Vivien," Vivien refused to move she just shook behind her father's legs. "Be on your best behavior young lady." At hearing that tone of voice Vivien emerged from behind her father's legs. Vivien managed a small curtsy and looked up at the doctor.
The doctor just ignored the small child and went back to his desk. Sitting down he moved his hand towards the chairs for them to sit down. Sitting down Vivien sat just an inch from her father. Her heart beat rapidly. Her hands shook from fear.
"Alright, Vivien tell me what has been going on?" the doctor asked as he placed his glasses on his face. Vivien just sat there and looked at the doctor. She couldn't speak to this man. He wasn't nice. Not nice at all.
"Why did you bring me here daddy? He's a bad man." Vivien said in her head. Vivien looked from her father to the doctor.
"Go on dear. The doctor is here to help you." Richard urged his princess. Vivien still remained silent.
"Mr. Alexander, I can't do anything for her unless she is willing to tell me what is wrong. It is apparent she doesn't want to say anything." The doctor just shook his head and wrote something down.
Vivien's lower lip began to quiver. Blinking her eyes the tears flowed over. Vivien scooted closer to her father. "My stepmother is a wicked woman. She hates me. She might say she loves me, but she hates me."
"Maybe you have done something to make your stepmother dislike you so." The doctor looked up from his notes. "Have you ever thought about that?"
"Now see here Dr. my daughter hasn't done anything." Richard stood up and looked at the doctor. "You see I lost my wife when our daughter was just five months old and it's been quite the journey."
"I see." The doctor put the ends of his fingertips together and pressed them together. "Vivien, has anything happened in the past few weeks that you would like to get off your chest?"
"My-my stepmother burned my wrist. She held it over the stove and screamed at me. She thought I broke her mother's vase. But I didn't. I swear I didn't." Vivien now was messing with the scar. Her hand glided a crossed it several times.
"Maybe you did break it." Vivien's head shot up. How could he say such a thing? Vivien quickly shook her head no. "And maybe that scar you did to yourself. Maybe YOU burned it when you were told not to do something. You know children do, do things without asking their parents. Maybe you burned yourself because you were told no, but you went along with what you wanted to do any way."
Vivien broke down in tears once more. She was only six. A small child. A little girl who still believed in prince charming and happily ever after. How could a child that still believed in things like that make up such a wild story? Or even worse. How could the doctor go along with such a crazy story?
"That's enough! I've had it. I will not have you torment my little girl like that. I should have you reported." Richard got down next to his daughter and picked her up. Crying against his shoulder Vivien's small hands hid her now swollen, red, puffy face. As he swept her up into his arms Vivien refused to look at the doctor as they left. Hearing the door slam shut Vivien knew she was safe.
"Why do you think the doctor talked to you in that tone?"
Why did Vivien feel as if she was being interrogated? Why did she feel as if she was a criminal being badgered by a district attorney? "Why must you keep asking me why?" She cried. This was starting to become too much. Her nerves were almost shot. "Do you think I can answer every question you ask? Do you think by asking me why that it will make my problems go away any faster?"
"I want to help you."
Vivien took another deep breath and told him the story. "When I was six years old my stepmother burned my wrist. There's a burn from the incident." Vivien showed him the burn. He looked at it and wrote all of it down. "Father wasn't home at the time. Catherine said I broke her mother's vase. But I didn't."
"Did you tell her that?" The doctor asked in a serious voice.
"Yes, but she thought I was lying. She thought I was trying to save my own skin."
"Did you tell your father?"
"He saw it later that day when he came home from the outing with his friends and asked what had happened." Vivien took a deep breath as a sob got stuck in her throat. "Catherine gave me a hateful look. I knew not to tell him. For if I did my life would be made a living hell. So I told him I burned it while helping to make tea."
As Vivien told the doctor all of this and more the visions began dancing before her and before long she was having another flashback…..
Richard came through the door an hour later with his golf clubs in hand. It had been a nice day for an outing with a few of his buddies. As he sat his clubs by the door he looked up and saw his little princess standing before him. The look of pain and sorrow was written upon the six year olds face. Her small hand was pressing a wash cloth to her left wrist. Richard drew in a breath and was getting ready to ask what had happened, but Vivien beat him to it.
"Daddy, it hurts!" she sobbed as she ran up to him within a quick second. Tears had stained her face as her little nose had turned a bright red. The cloth was dripping with water. A small puddle began to form just in front of Vivien's feet.
Richard looked at his little girl with confusion. What could she possibly be talking about? "What hurts sweetheart?" he asked as he got down on his daughters level. Vivien removed the cloth to reveal the burn. Blisters were forming and getting bigger as the time passed. The second layer of skin had already been destroyed. Fluid had started to build beneath the dead skin. Which caused more blisters and more pain. The rawness of the skin was still pealing as the blisters thickened with fluid. "Oh, my, gosh." Vivien cried and screamed. "How did this happen?" However, Vivien was too much in pain and sobbing too hard for her to answer. "Catherine!" Richard yelled from the long corridor. Catherine came into the room moments later. The room was silent as she looked at the scene as her heart beat fast. "What happened to Vivien's wrist?"
"I haven't the faintest idea. I've been up in my room the entire time."
"Didn't you think to watch her?"
"She's not a dog Richard." Catherine replied sharply. She can take care of herself. Catherine said in her head. Catherine cased her eyes down at her stepdaughter telling her to keep her small mouth shut.
"Daddy, it was my fault. I was trying to get a cookie and I burned it on the cookie sheet." She could feel herself giving in to Catherine's wicked ways.
"Next time ask Catherine or Max to get you one." Catherine's lips turned up right into a sinister smile as she knew she had gotten her way. "Alright darling?" Vivien nodded her head saying that she understood. "Come on sweetheart, let me take a closer look." Richard scooped Vivien up into his arms and carried her to one of the many bathrooms of the house.
The doctor could tell that Vivien was reliving that moment by the look upon her face. Her eyes had gone wide and he could hear her breathing picking up. "What did he say? Did he believe you?"
Vivien quickly shut her eyes and opened them again and was back to reality. She quickly nodded head yes. "He told me I must be more careful."
The doctor stayed quiet for a little while. Vivien could hear him making small noises as he wrote down what she had said. "Alright, Vivien, it seems to me that you are suffering from trauma that has been brought upon by child abuse."
The air that filled her lungs was no longer there. Child abuse, that's what it was. She was abused as a child. And in her mind no one seemed to have really cared. Vivien rose to her feet and tried to figure out where to go or what to do. Her legs began to feel like jello beneath her. She quickly gathered her things and headed towards the door.
"If you would like you can make another appointment." The doctor sounded as if this was what he had always said to all of this patients. "I can help you."
"No, I don't want to sign up for another session." Vivien's lower lip quivered. She couldn't take another session right now. She walked down the hall numb from what had just taken place. Vivien quickly let herself out of the building and walked as if she was a zombie down to the butcher shop at the corner.
Before arriving Vivien forced herself to put a smile on her face, even if that horrible news was killing her. Opening the butcher shop door she step inside.
"Good afternoon Ms. Alexander." The butcher said with a smiling face.
"Good afternoon Mr. Johansson." Vivien said smiling back. Mr. Johansson had known the family for years.
He could remember the first time Vivien had walked into the store. Hand in hand with her father when she was just a little toddler. She was such a cute child and now she was all grown up and still that cute child he had known all those years ago. "What can I get for you today?" Vivien handed him the piece of paper. At seeing the long list of things Mr. Johansson's eyes went wide. "You need all of this?" he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Yes, it's for my father's coming home party. Well he will be home on leave but it will be nice to have him home for a little while." Vivien said with yet another one of her lovely smiles. But on the inside her heart was aching. At the mention of this next part the smile fell from Vivien's face. "To top it all off I have to make everyone of these things and clean the house and-" Vivien stopped herself with a deep breath before anything else could be said.
Mr. Johansson couldn't do anything except feel sorry for the poor girl. First with her mother dying and now with her father off to the war the girl was by herself. Not to mention how mean he heard Catherine was. He heard she was as mean as the devil himself. "Thank you Mr. Johansson, see you in two weeks." Vivien said as she made her way to the door. Taking a pen out of her purse she marked the Butcher's place off the list. Next was the fruit and vegetable shop. Driving just a few blocks down Vivien pulled up next to the small but homey shop.
"So that's two dozen tomato's, one dozen green, red and yellow peppers, three dozen potato's, two dozen strawberry's, one dozen blueberry's and one dozen banana's." Mrs. Mitchell said as she checked off the many things on the list. She looked up from the list as Vivien placed the four to five bags on the floor. "My dear may I ask you a question. I'm sorry if I'm stepping out of line." Mrs. Mitchell questioned as the question rolled around in her head.
"Step out of line? Why would you step out of line for?" Vivien asked as she held her money in hand ready to pay. "As for asking me a question I don't mind."
Mrs. Mitchell bit her lower lip and then asked what was on her mind. "Are you happy child?" Her old and withered eye's looked in Vivien's until she looked away.
Happy? What's happy? Vivien asked herself. She was not happy she was everything BUT. How can one be happy to have one parent dead and the other in the war? Worried about his well being day in and day out? How can one be happy when their step family is breathing down their neck and there is nothing they can do about it? "Of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be? Father is coming home for a short while." Vivien answered replacing the saddened look upon her face with a smile. Taking the bags in hand she told Mrs. Mitchell she would see her later.
"That poor, poor child," Mrs. Mitchell said as she shook her head.
An hour so later Vivien pulled back into the drive of Notley Abby. Seeing the old 13 century home as she drove down the drive made Vivien wish she could move far away and never come back. Go live a happy and carefree life. At the sound of the door opening Catherine stormed in.
"Where have you been?"
"I went to the market like you told me to." Vivien said carrying all of the bags in one after another after another. Had Catherine known about seeing the doctor she would have her shut away. Vivien slowly walked over to the counter and dropped all the bags. Oh no she didn't need any help, why should she? After all she can do anything. Vivien told herself with some sarcasm.
"Well I forgot one more thing." Catherine said coming through the big oak doors that led into the dining room where she found Vivien sitting name cards aside for each gust. "I need you to give Cleo her bath and put her in the five carat diamond collar, after you've started dinner." That was impossible you didn't bath a cat. Vivien didn't even give Callie a bath. Why on earth would she give Cleo one? Knowing that cat's and water didn't mix she would make that ten, fifteen minute thing an hour long fight.
"But I-"
"No buts do as I say." Catherine went from the room to get ready for that evening. Meanwhile Cleo came around the corner and looked at Vivien.
"Don't look at me that way." Getting the water ready in a small bucket Vivien filled it with bubbles. Picking Cleo up Vivien tried placing her in the bath. Fighting with all her might Cleo tried to get away. "Cleo, stop it. Catherine wants you nice and clean for the party." Vivien said as she tried not to get scratched. "God only knows why. Cat's don't take baths and God also knows that you're not a cat you're a demon." The Siamese cat looked up at Vivien with those blue eyes, but this time they were small and full of hate. Hearing all that was going on Callie came into the room and saw what was going on. Sitting next to Vivien Callie jumped onto Cleo and in she went into the warm soaping water. "Good job Callie," Vivien laughed as she tried not to show how funny it was. Shaking off the bubbles Cleo just meowed with anger.
A few hours later everything was done and ready for the grand party that night. A little after three the front door opened. Vivien could hear her father's boots down the hall. Coming into the parlor Vivien saw her father standing there. Running and giving him a hug she couldn't believe he was really here. She was so glad to see him.
"Oh, father, I thought you would never come home." Tears of happiness filled her eyes. Giving him a tight hug she wanted to make sure it wasn't a dream. He felt real, he looked real. Oh and she could still smell his aftershave. It really was him. After all this time.
Looking at his daughter he didn't see anything wrong with her? Everything still seemed in place nothing broken or bruised. "From the sound of your letters it sounded as though you needed me right away. What's wrong?" Richard asked as he stroked his daughter's hair. Finally after all this time she would get to tell her father face to face of what really took place behind those stone walls of Notley Abbey.
"You've got to do something about Catherine. She's just so mean and hateful." Vivien cried as she put her hands to her tear stained face. Her face had gone from happiness to straight fear and sadness within a matter of seconds.
"What's all this talk about?" Richard asked as he forced his daughter to look at him. Putting his hands on her arms he turned her so he could understand her better.
"It all started the moment you left. She told me I wasn't a very good daughter and that I never do as I'm told. That I should start helping around the house, than she told me if I didn't get started right away that she would take Callie and put her in the river." Vivien cried as she told her side of the story. Surly her father would believe her. He just had to. "I help around the house. I help you when you need it and-"
Richard didn't want to think she was lying, but she didn't want him to leave for the war. Could that be what this is all about? "I shall talk to Catherine about this matter," As he turned to leave the room.
"No, father you can't. She will just turn it into something else." She begged as she slid to the floor and began hugging his legs as if she were a small child.
Before his very eyes Richard did not see a grown woman, but that of a little girl who was throwing a fit. "Viv, stop acting like a child," Richard commanded as he brought her to her feet.
What was wrong with her father? He had never acted like this. It seemed as though the war had changed him. Watching as he left the room she prayed that he would believe her. Sitting in the living room Vivien prayed that things were going well. While time passed and passed Vivien began to think her father would never come back. After fifteen minutes Richard came back into the room with Catherine by his side.
"Darling, everything was a misunderstanding. Catherine said she didn't say such things."
Vivien's blood went cold. Her father was taking her side not hers? The Army had changed her father and it didn't seem to Vivien that it was a good thing.
"To much daydreaming I suppose." Catherine lied through her teeth as a sly smile came across her lips.
She's lying! Vivien was screaming inside her head. What was it going to take to get her father to see her way? Maybe there was no such thing? Maybe being daddy's little girl ended five months ago?
"Maybe it is time that you start helping around the house." Richard began. "I know you help me when I'm here, but I'm sure your mother would like some help as well."
What was her father saying? Yes, Vivien knew it was better to help others, but what her father was saying was ludicrous. She knew that if she began doing things that Catherine would just take advantage of her. After all didn't her father want her to be a well brought up lady? Could she possibly do that with things to do all the time? In a way I guess it would help her become a lady, but this was still crazy.
"But Daddy,-" Vivien began as she could feel the tears fill her eyes. How could he take Catherin's side just like that? She was his little girl. His little princess how could he not believe anything she had told him.
"No, butts Vivien, now if you will excuse me I think I smell stew cooking in the kitchen." Richard said as he left the living room and went to the kitchen.
Giving her stepdaughter a cold hearted look Catherine departed as well, knowing that she had succeeded at her plan. Feeling as if she had just been defeated Vivien left the room as well. She was no longer Daddy's little girl.
A/N: Ch. 3 of my novel for my Children's lit final. What do you think? I do have a question. Would someone like to edit this for me? Thanks:)