Chapter 20 Tori
Tori
“Mom. I told you before, I’m done with Susie 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 Sniper is 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 was after I gave her an enormous monthly allowance that she did nothing to deserve other 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 the In 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 than Susie 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.
“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” I whispered in her ear before pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
Aware of my mother and Pepper both staring at us, I threaded my fingers through Hailey’s and gave her hand a little squeeze.
“Hailey, this is my assistant Pepper, and my mother, Barbara Cross. Pepper, Mom, this is my girlfriend, Hailey.”
I felt Hailey jolt a little, no doubt surprised to be referred to as my girlfriend since we’d never really defined our relationship. That was okay, we’d get there. Soon, I hoped.
Hailey gave Pepper a friendly smile, shaking her hand first. “Pepper, it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Pepper greeted her warmly, unlike my mother, who was giving off vibes colder than an iceberg. Hailey downshifted into what I recognized as her customer service smile, then shook my mother’s hand.
Mom’s gaze went up and down her body, lingering at her belly, then her face shifted into as much of a sneer as she could manage, given the amount of Botox she’d had.
“Hailey. You’re quite the surprise.”
That was Mom for, You’re way too fat to be seen with my daughter. I felt my temper rise. Hailey glanced back at me questioningly and I widened my eyes, telling her not to engage.
“We’ll see you guys later,” I said, trying to get Mom and Pepper to leave so I could eat out my girlfriend.
Mom couldn’t resist getting in one more dig though.
“No wonder you think you look perfect,” she said, sending a meaningful look in Hailey’s direction.
Hailey immediately caught the insult, my mother not being as subtle as she thought she was. She slid her arm around my waist and looked up at me with an extra sweet smile.
“I’m just glad you don’t have your face so full of toxins that you look like a wax figure, Tori.”
I couldn’t resist lowering my head to give her a kiss. “My face is glad to see your face.”
I ignored my mother’s angry huff as she finally headed for her car, driving off with a squeal of her tires, Pepper following in her own car. Rick closed the gate behind them, then went off to do a perimeter search.
“Come see my house,” I said, pulling her inside.
It was the first time I’d been able to convince her to come to L.A. and it felt important to me that she have a good time. I wanted her to love my house as much as I did.
“It’s kind of big just for you,” Hailey said, not easily impressed. “And fancy. I really don’t see why you need all this space.”
She wasn’t being mean, just her usual forthright self. I loved that she was the only person who’d ever visited and not fawned all over me about my mansion.
“There’s just one thing I need you to see while you’re here,” I said.
“The pool?” She guessed.
“My bedroom.”