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I let out my hot breath and debated going directly to my room or greeting everyone.

Grandmother Hudson would know I had come home and not been polite, I thought. I really had no choice but to go to the living room doorway and poke my head in for a quick hello.

My mother and Grandmother Hudson were seated on the sofa. Victoria had just sat on the settee across from them and the three of them looked up at me.

"Hello, Mrs. Randolph," I said. Victoria's lips went into a tight, cold smile. I nodded at her and said, "Ms. Hudson," emphasizing the "Ms" part just the way Grandmother Hudson often did.

"Is everything all right?" my grandmother asked with one of her scrutinizing gazes.

"Yes. I've just got to get right to my school work. They always pile it on toward the end of the year," I said.

"Maybe you're just not capable of doing as much as you think," Victoria commented. Her eyes narrowed. "It's wiser to face up to your limitations."

"How would she know her limitations? She's never been given any opportunities." Grandmother Hudson said. "I' m surprised hearing such a remark from you, Victoria. I thought you believe women are capable of anything men can do."

"Most women," she muttered.

"I'm running an A average in all my subjects," I said with hot tears under my eyelids. "So far, I haven't broken any speed limits."

Grandmother Hudson's eyes filled with glee. My mother tilted her head with a tiny smile and Victoria looked away quickly. I left them and went up the stairs to begin my work. Teachers were the same everywhere, I thought. They suddenly realized the school year was ending and they had fallen behind on their objectives, so they assigned even more homework.

I worked, but I expected to hear my mother's footsteps in the hall and then the knock on the door at any time. I had left it slightly open. She surely had come down here to bawl me out for permitting Brody to plan a trip to see me. My biggest worry was what Victoria had heard during her eavesdropping and what would result?

After an agonizing twenty-five minutes, the silence in the house was broken by loud voices coming from the entryway. Now curious and becoming the eavesdropper myself, I rose from my chair and went to the door. I could only make out a word or two, so I went to the top of the stairway. The front door was open and my mother and Victoria were standing on the portico shouting at each other.

"Why should we have to bear the cost of your sins, Megan? Why should you dump your mistakes on our doorsteps? How dare you take advantage of Mother like this?"

"I'm not taking advantage of her and I'm not dumping anything on your doorstep, Victoria."

"Somehow, that...that illegitimate child has wormed her way into Mother's last will and testament. What Mother gives her, she takes from me and I won't stand for it. If anyone is to leave her anything, it should be you and you alone. If you don't get those changes out of the document, I'll call Grant."

"You're so spiteful, Victoria. You've always been cruel to me and I don't know what I've ever done to you to deserve it," my mother wailed back at her.

Victoria laughed a chilling cold laugh. I took a few steps and sat down on the stairway.

"You don't know?" she spit at my mother. "Of course, that's always been the face you've worn. Innocent, precious little Megan doesn't understand what she's doing. She can't be blamed for anything. She's too perfect. We always have to forgive Megan or cover up for Megan's mistakes. We're still doing it!"

"I've never asked you to do anything for me," my mother said.

"No, of course not. It's not your style to ask, Megan. You just screw up and then come around with your big, innocent eyes. Father was always giving in to you. I had to make up for anything I wasted or anything I failed to do, but not Megan, oh no, not little Megan.

"Well, Father's gone and I'm the one who runs the business now. I'm not covering up your disgusting sexual blunders, and with a black man, too. How dare you bring that girl into this house and permit her to be a part of this family and our business? Haven't you any pride at all? I don't understand how you do these things with a husband as devoted as Grant is to you, and what about his goals and his career? Don't you realize what you are risking or don't you even care about him?"

"You're twisting everything and making it look uglier than it is, Victoria, and since when is Grant's career so important to you?"

They were both silent for a moment, glaring at each other. I could see my mother's face take on a cold smile too suddenly.

"You're jealous, aren't you, Victoria? You've always been jealous of me and Grant."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?"

"Think what you like, only remember what I'm saying to you, Megan. If Mother doesn't take that girl's name out of her will soon, I'll expose you. That's a promise," she vowed and marched down the steps.

My mother stood there watching her get into her vehicle and then she turned and with her head down, reentered the house. I stood and she looked up at me.

"You heard all that?" she asked.