Katherine narrowed her cat eyes. “Even Paula? The one who writes that filth?” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Ooh chile, that girl has even infiltrated my circles. Betty Anne actually had the nerve to suggest one of her trashy books for our reading circle. Can you imagine?”

Victoria didn’t know who Betty Anne was, but she was grateful the woman had taste and was honest about it. She couldn’t wait to tell Paula. “No, I cannot imagine,” she said with irony. “How Betty Anne thought she could sneak something past you is beyond me.”

“Where’s your dress?” Katherine said snapping her fingers. “I need to see it.”

“Can I at least sit down and have a drink, Mother?” Victoria only just arrived and now she was being put through her paces. Her mother was more drill instructor than her father ever was. Three hours before the event and Katherine was already in giant hard curlers that pulled her face and scalp tight. In her sixties Katherine Reese was still a beautiful woman with skin the color of burnt honey, full lips that were always painted a respectable mauve, and carefully shaded eyebrows that always appeared accusatory. Victoria stared into the face of her future and felt exhausted already. She didn’t know how Katherine had the energy for any of it.

“The dress.”

Victoria heaved a teenage sigh and went through her bag for her dress. It was a simple black satin shift with spaghetti straps, that reached her ankles. She had planned to wear her braids in a bun. Simple, black, and easy.

Katherine took one look at it and shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

Of course not.

Victoria draped the garment over both her arms and extended it towards her mother. “What on earth is wrong with it?”

“It’s too formfitting, Victoria. It’s basically a nightgown.” She clucked her tongue in disappointment. “What did I say about looking fast?”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “This is not fast.”

“And that is exactly why I told you to arrive a couple hours before the ball. I can’t have you sashaying in the room giving away the milk when the lawyer wants to buy the cow.”

Victoria bit the inside of her cheek as her face warmed. As old as she was, she should have expected this from her mother. “It’s the only dress I brought,” she said, forcing a calm tone. Hysterics could not be employed right now, she had to speak to her mother like an adult and not the angry teenager she used to be.

“Not to worry,” Katherine said with a beaming smile. “I’ve got something upstairs that will look perfect on you.” She moved towards the stairway and stopped. “You’re still a size 12, right? It’s hard to tell with that ghastly sweatshirt you’re wearing.”