DISCLAIMER: THIS IS BASED ON THE WORKS OF VC ANDREWS. I DON'T CLAIM HER STYLE AS MY OWN.

CHAPTER FIVE: THE NEW BABY

Six months later, Claire gave birth to a healthy, blond haired, blue-eyed baby boy. They named the foul little thing not Cherish, but Brandon and he quickly replaced me in Daddy's eyes. He spent all his waking moments with Brandon, fussing over him, kissing and coddling him, and pampering him. He finally had the son Mommy never gave him, and I knew he didn't need me anymore. Claire became worse than ever, bossing me around and forcing me to be her slave while she was rendered to her bed following the birthing.

"Get me a glass of water," she demanded, as she lay in her bed, propped up by mounds of pillows. "And make sure you put ice in it." She thrust her empty glass into my hand and stabbed me with her cold, dagger-like eyes.

"I'm not your slave," I snapped. "Why don't you have Mrs. Carrington do it? That's what you pay her for."

I shoved the glass back into her hand and started for the door, but Daddy clamped his hands on my shoulders. "Do what she says, Spring. I won't ask you twice," he ordered, giving me a shove toward the door.

"Why?" I snapped, angrily, pulling out of his grip. "I'm not her servant. You hired Mrs. Carrington to serve that thing you call your wife, so why don't you order her to get her ice water?!"

"Spring, I will not ask you again," he snapped, tightly, his lips pursed. "Now go and get her ice water."

"No," I snapped, rebelliously, pulling away from him. "I won't." I turned and stormed down the hall, heading for the front door. I stopped to grab my coat as Daddy charged after me, a mad look in his eyes.

"Get back to her this instant, Spring! I mean it!" he roared, just as I slipped out the door and slammed it in his face.

I ran down the sidewalk, not noticing the tears streaking down my face. I had to find someone, maybe one of my friends, like Joyce Roberts, or Shelly Gold, or maybe Pru McDaniels. But I knew they had alienated me when Mommy died, and were going out of their way at school to avoid me. I had to find someone. I decided to find Brad Anderson, my friend from science class. Brad was a very bright boy with dark black hair and emerald eyes. I sometimes turned to Brad when I needed help in science, or just a shoulder to lean on.

"Hello, Mrs. Anderson," I said, when Brad's mother, Margaret, opened the door. "Is Brad here? I have to talk to him."

Brad's mother smiled and allowed me into her foyer, taking my jacket and hanging it on the coat rack. "Is something the matter, Spring?" she asked, sweetly.

"Yes," I replied, folding my arms beneath my breasts. "Something is the matter, Mrs. Anderson, and I really need to talk to Brad, if he's home."

Nodding her head, Mrs. Anderson pointed toward Brad's bedroom. "He's upstairs in his room, studying. I'm sure he won't mind taking a break from his science if it's you." Mrs. Anderson squeezed my shoulder, not prying into why I needed to see her son. I liked that about his mother. She understood, and was much more understanding than my father.

When I came to his bedroom door, I rapped on it, and called out softly, "Brad, it's Spring. May I come in? I need to talk to you."

"Sure" came his muffled reply, and I opened the door and stepped in, shutting it behind me. He was in his bed, scratching down science notes into his notebook. Looking up at me, he saw the worry lines creasing my forehead and pushed aside his homework. "What's wrong, Spring? You look like you're about to cry-"

He had barely gotten the words out when I began bawling. I ran to his bedside and he put his arms around me. "Oh Brad, it's horrible living with my daddy now! He's turned into someone I don't even know! I don't know if I can go back there!"

"Ssh," he whispered, smoothing my hair. "Start from the beginning."

"Daddy married our maid two months after Mommy's death, and all ready, this woman considers herself queen of the household. It's awful. She treats me like dirt beneath her feet, and hits me. And Daddy beats me, too. It was never like this before," I whimpered, as he held me and rocked me in his arms.

"I'll be there for you, Spring," he whispered, pressing his lips against my cheek. "You can stay here, with me and my mom. We'll take care of you, Spring. You won't have to go back to your daddy if you don't want to."

"Thank you Brad, thank you so much. I knew you'd understand," I cried, hugging him tightly and kissing his cheek. "We have to tell your mother."

* * *

TBC

Alex