A mother’s work client became an unwanted presence in her daughter’s life

Evidence

When she emphatically told me she did not want a male stripper at her party, I explained, “Honey, I can’t afford to offend Mr. Butt Man, he’s my best client. I’m sorry, but this is the gift he wants to give you. How can I not invite him?” So at Viva’s party John showed up dressed as Dracula and during his pathetic performance he chased Viva and her girlfriends around the room, trying to suck their blood. After that affair, Viva seriously threatened me. “Just don’t ever expect me to call him Daddy.” — Dolores DeLuce, Blow Jobs, 241

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes chapter 9’s earlier scene where professional demands collide with parenting duties — the daughter’s boundaries losing out to the paycheck.