Chapter 3: No Longer Daddy’s Little Girl?

Resting her hand on the smooth glass Vivien watched as her father left. “Daddy,’ she mouthed as she couldn’t find the words to say. Lost within her thoughts she 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. 

Still looking out Vivien didn’t even notice that Catharine had entered the room. “He left, did he?” she asked. 

“You would have known if you would have had the decency to say goodbye.” Vivien said as she turned and faced her stepmother.

“My, my, my after her dear father leaves the real person comes out doesn’t she?” Catherine asked as she tossed her 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. Why? “Why?” she asked in a cry while she tried to prepare herself for the answer that was to come. 

“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,”Catherine muttered as she looked down at her hands that had a ring on each finger, from ruby’s to diamonds. “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 hissed 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!” 

Catherine laughed at this. “You silly girl, you don’t know much do you?” 

“I know plenty, my father gave me the best tutors,” Vivien shot back as she knew she spoke the truth. 

“If you know a lot then why don’t you do as you’re told?” Catherine said coldly. This girl rarely did as 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. 
“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. 

“Then get busy.” Catherine commanded as she yet again pointed toward the kitchen once again. 

“Can I have Callie back?” Vivien asked almost in fear of the answer. 

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. 

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. 

The next day Vivien wrote to her father. After starting the letter a thought struck her. Would her father believe her? 

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 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 go work on her lessons with her father 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 in side for all those months. Walking a little farther Vivien came across a small silver stone that sat under a lovely cherry bloom 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 caring 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, 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. 

“My son would kill for this estate.” Jenny said as she looked out the nearby window. It had anything and everything, from seven bedrooms to the tennis court out back. Why you could hold parties here ever 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. 

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.” 

“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 London.” Rachel pointed out as she messed with her gold bracelet.

Catherine did not take that lightly. Taking in a deep breath she spoke “If you will excuse me I have to get ready for this evening’s party.” 

“Alright dear,” Jenny said putting her cigarette out. Picking up her purse she headed for the door.“Thank you for the tea,” 

“You’re welcome,” Catherine said as she saw them to the door. “Don’t forget about the party tonight. Things will be getting underway around eight.” 

Showing them out the door Catherine slammed the door and began to get furies. “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. 

Turning around she saw her stepdaughter standing there. “How dare you question me?” 

“I was just-” Vivien began as she found dark eyes glaring back at her.

“You were just being nosey was all you were being.” Catherine yelled.

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.

“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. “He is?” she asked as if she couldn’t believe her ears. 

“Yes, he will be home in a matter of hours.” Catherine answered. 

This was too good to be true her father was coming home on leave. 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 something’s for me.” Catherine said as she approached her. 

Vivien didn’t know where Lady Alexander was getting at. She wasn’t Cinderella after all. 

A few hours later 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 was so glad to see him. “Oh, father, I thought you would never come home.” Tears of happiness filled her eyes. 

“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. 

“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. 

“What’s all this talk about?” Richard asked as he forced his daughter to look at him. 

“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. Shirley her father would believe her. He just had to. “I help around the house. I help you when you need it.” 

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 hugged his legs. 

“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. 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 a thing.” 

Vivien’s blood went cold. Her father was taking Catherine’s side not hers? The Army had changed her father and it didn’t seem to Vivien that it was a good thing.

“Too 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.” 

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. 

“No, but's 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 she departed as well. Feeling as if she had just been defeated Vivien left the room as well. She was no longer Daddy’s little girl.