“No. June said Dad’s in a foul mood, which doesn’t surprise me. But it got me thinking. Why is he such a controlling asshole? And why does he always rail on us for being entitled? I admit we’ve grown up with a lot of privilege, but so did he. As far as I know, his own father didn’t treat him this way. Maybe I’m missing something, but Grandpa never came across like an evil dictator.”
Though her grandfather had died when she was twelve, she couldn’t remember a time when he’d ever acted as demanding as her father.
As traffic picked up, Connor accelerated and made his way into the left lane. “You’re not missing anything. Grandpa was a decent guy. He’s the one that taught me to fish at Big Bear. Unlike Dad, he didn’t have a pathological desire to control everyone.”
“So, what pushed Dad to act this way?”
“No idea. Maybe because he’s the oldest, and he knew he’d have to take over Blackwood Cellars once Grandpa died? That’s a lot of pressure. Darren’s the same way. He’s going to be CEO after Dad retires, and he’s a total control freak.”
“I suppose.” She flinched as Connor slowed down in time to avoid hitting a slow-moving truck. “But that’s no excuse for treating us like crap.”
“Agreed. That’s why I’m better off running my own business, even if I’m broke. You’ll be amazed at how free you feel once this wedding’s over and you don’t have to report to him.”
True enough. Finding a new job might not be easy, but at least she wouldn’t be working under someone who demeaned and belittled her.
By the time Connor pulled into short-term parking at the San Diego Airport, their mother had texted to let them know she was waiting at baggage claim. Connor raced to meet her, with Victoria trailing behind, hampered by her heels. Ginny Blackwood was reaching down to retrieve her bag from the carousel when Connor swooped in and grabbed it for her. He set it down and swept her into a hug.
Victoria followed suit, hugging her mother as though it had been years, not weeks, since she’d last seen her. “Welcome home, Mom.”
Her mother wiped her eyes. “It’s so nice to see the two of you together. I’ve missed you both so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Mom,” Connor said.
Victoria offered to let her mother sit in the front so she and Connor could talk. Though he spoke calmly, the hurt was evident in his voice. Victoria’s heart ached for him as he pleaded his case.
“It’s not fair,” he said. “I’m much happier running Maverick Winery than I ever was working for Darren. But Dad won’t let me come home to visit. And I’m barred from the Blackwood Cellars Estate. I hate being cut off from the family.”
The pause that followed made Victoria seethe with anger.Come on, Mom. You’re better than this.
Her mother let out a long sigh. “I can’t go against your father’s wishes. It wouldn’t be right.”
Like always, she was too weak to take a stand. Victoria could relate because she’d been equally weak. But it didn’t mean she had to accept her mother’s behavior. She leaned over the front passenger seat. “Dad’s done a lot of terrible things, and you’ve never taken our side. Why do you let him treat us like that?”
Her mother’s voice wavered. “He…he only wants what’s best for you.”
“Are you sure?” Victoria asked. “Because it seems like he wants to control us.”
“I’ve tried calling him to talk things out, but he won’t answer,” Connor said. “And the one time I dropped by his office, he threatened to call security.”
Victoria nodded. “Even though Maverick Winery is too small to be a threat to Blackwood Cellars, Dad treats Connor like he’s the enemy. That’s ridiculous.”
Her mother took a peppermint out of her purse, unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth. “He feels betrayed, that’s all. You hurt him.”
Impossible. The man had no soul. Victoria didn’t want to make the conversation about her, but she needed her mother to understand how vindictive he could be. “Dad hasn’t treated me fairly either. He’s never let me forget that I still owe him a hundred thousand dollars.”
A protracted silence followed, filling Victoria with dread. She caught Connor’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Was it possible her mother had no idea?
“You know about this, right?” Victoria asked. Her stomach clenched into a knot. “When I was blackmailed, after coming home from Paris, Dad paid the guy not to send out the pictures. Remember?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her mother sniffed. “And I’m not sure I want to know.”
“How can you say that?” Connor asked. “Victoria went through hell, and Dad made it worse.”
Victoria swallowed as a mixture of anger and frustration coursed through her. Her father had said he’d told her mother everything. But he’d asked Victoria never to bring it up so as not to offend her mother’s delicate sensibilities. As always, she’d obeyed his wishes.
Not anymore.
“Mom, I’m sorry if this story is offensive, but you need to know what happened.” After everything Victoria had endured over the past two days, recounting the Paris incident didn’t pack the same emotional punch as when she’d told Rafael. Though she left out any mention of her sexual experiences with Henri, she made sure her mother understood what she’d gone through. The agony and humiliation. Her father’s rage. The way he’d held the debt over her head for years and used it to manipulate her.
