(All characters are over eighteen.)
*
In any family there can only be one dominant female. This was a simple fact of life, something that Valerie Quinn had always known to be true. There was no room in her life for competition, not even from her own daughter.
"So how long exactly am I grounded?" Tanya wanted to know. "I'm a little too old don't you think?" Her tone was belligerent. Her expression hostile.
Valerie continued to unpack the groceries. She felt surprisingly calm given Tanya's confrontational attitude.
"Until I say otherwise," she told her. She turned her back to put some juice in the fridge but she could still feel Tanya glowering at her.
This had been coming for a long time. She'd let things slide. It was almost time to take steps to restore the balance of power. She closed the fridge and looked at Tanya in silence.
They'd been fighting a minor battle of wills for some time. The tension had been growing stronger day by day. Tanya stood against the counter, sullen and unhappy. Valerie knew she couldn't let things continue as they were. The time was fast approaching for a confrontation.
"And nineteen isn't too old to be grounded," she added. "I decide, okay? Me, not you."
She could see Tanya didn't like it. She looked on the verge of making a smart comeback but Valerie spoke first.
"And don't go shooting your mouth off or I might see what else I can think of... Your cell phone for instance. It seems to me you said you'd pay the bills, unless I dreamed it."
Even the biggest storms start with only a gentle breeze. She saw Tanya narrow her lips and knew she'd scored a hit. Tanya was an attractive young woman with an enormous chip on her shoulder. Valerie was determined to nip this in the bud. Her face radiated confidence. Tanya's sullen gaze conceded nothing.
It hadn't been easy bringing Tanya up alone for the last two years. Valerie decided to push things along a little and hasten the approaching storm.
"A little help around the house now and then wouldn't hurt," she said.
She took a bottle of cleaning spray from the grocery bag and held it out.
"Here's an idea. Go clean the bath and maybe I'll go on paying for your cell phone."
It was just a little push but it would probably be enough. She resisted the urge to smile at Tanya's expression and the depth of barely controlled hostility in her gaze. She couldn't deny that she wasn't looking forward to what she knew was coming.
"Fine," Tanya sighed dramatically.
She snatched the bathroom cleaner with a distinct lack of grace and another hard stare and Valerie shook her head as she watched her flounce out of the kitchen.
Valerie's thoughts turned inwards. Her moment was coming. A woman had to do what a woman had to do.
She went upstairs twenty minutes later to find Tanya sitting on the side of the bath holding the cleaner, looking sullen and staring moodily into space.
"That's a new one," Valerie said, indicating the unopened bottle. "Lemon Zest. Supposed to take the dirt right off. Course, you have to open it first, and actually use it."
"I don't want to be grounded," Tanya said. She looked up with a forlorn, unhappy expression. "There's a party next weekend. Everyone's going." Her mood changed. She tried a hopeful smile and her eyes grew larger as she rose off the side of the bath. "I'll clean the bath, I'll wash the car. Whatever you want. Just please, can I go to the party?"
Valerie stood in the doorway and Tanya looked suddenly optimistic. It was like someone had thrown a switch. She held the bottle of bathroom cleaner before her in both hands and launched into hyper drive, breathlessly reeling off a list of the people who were going to be at the party.
This was the fun part for Valerie, although she concealed the pleasure it gave her.
She shook her head firmly, "No."
But Tanya kept talking, refusing to give up and Valerie shook her head, shook her head and shook her head.
Finally she managed to speak. "You're not going to the party. You're not going anywhere unless I say you can. End of news."
"But..."
"No way," Valerie said. They were coming to it now. She knew it. She was ready to rise to the challenge. "I've heard all this before." She saw the light of hope fade in Tanya's eyes. Too bad. "Things are going to change around here. I know you don't like it but it's tough. Get used to it. It's time you learned who's in charge."
Tanya expression changed, just like that, back to glowering, sullen anger. Hot colour rose to her cheeks. Her eyes blazed but Valerie simply looked at her.
"Clean the bath," she said. "When you've done that I'll find you something else to do."
They glared at each other but Valerie was ready. She easily held Tanya's gaze.
The tension between them had just gone up a couple of levels. Valerie welcomed it. Tanya was still glaring but Valerie felt good.
"Clean the bath," she said again. She turned away, left her there, staring after her. Hating her, more than likely. That was okay too, she'd cure her of that.
Behind her the bathroom door slammed shut before she reached her own bedroom. Valerie broke stride but then continued into her bedroom.
She could feel the blood racing faster in her veins. Excitement increasing as their final confrontation approached. This was the way it had to be. She began to unbutton her blouse.
A loud noise from the bathroom made her turn around. She knew immediately what it was: Tanya had just hurled the bottle of cleaner into the bath tub. It made that kind of sound. Fortunately it was a plastic bottle. She heard it bounce around in the bath. Valerie smiled coldly to herself. It wouldn't be long now.
She took off her blouse and unfastened her bra and her heavy breasts slipped free. Her breasts were a symbol of womanhood. It was right they be exposed.
She heard another sound from the bathroom. Bottles this time, plastic soap dishes, the toothbrush holder, shampoo bottles. She knew exactly what it was, Tanya had just thrown everything off the glass shelf over the wash basin.
The time was right and Valerie was more than ready. She strode across the landing and threw open the bathroom door. It hit the wall behind with a crash and Valerie stood in the doorway with her chest heaving.
Tanya whirled around in surprise to gape at her.
