Chapter 1: The Plate in the Trash
The plate hit the kitchen trashThe plate hit the kitchen trash can with a hollow crash.
For one suspended second, nobody moved.
Mac can with a hollow crash.
For one suspended second, nobody moved.
Mac and cheese, roasted chicken, and green beans slid down the black plastic liner while a and cheese, roasted chicken, and green beans slid down the black plastic liner while a smear of yellow sauce clung to the rim. The smell of warm butter and seasoning smear of yellow sauce clung to the rim. The smell of warm butter and seasoning still hung in the air of the modern Georgia kitchen, mixing with the sharp scent of lemon still hung in the air of the modern Georgia kitchen, mixing with the sharp scent of lemon cleaner.
Imani Carter stared at the trash can.
She was eleven years old, old enough to recognize cleaner.
Imani Carter stared at the trash can.
She was eleven years old, old enough to recognize cruelty when it wore a smile, but still young enough to hope that an adult cruelty when it wore a smile, but still young enough to hope that an adult might stop it before it went too far.
Across the kitchen island, Felicia Carter might stop it before it went too far.
Across the kitchen island, Felicia Carter brushed her hands together as if she had just finished an unpleasant chore.
“There,” Fel brushed her hands together as if she had just finished an unpleasant chore.
“There,” Felicia said.
“Maybe now you'll understand what happens when you decideicia said.
“Maybe now you'll understand what happens when you decide to be disrespectful in my house.””
Imani's fingers curled around the edge of to be disrespectful in my house.””
Imani's fingers curled around the edge of the counter. She wore a faded lavender T-shirt and black leggings, and her natural hair had been gathered into two neat puffs that the counter. She wore a faded lavender T-shirt and black leggings, and her natural hair had been gathered into two neat puffs that her father had helped her arrange that morning. Her eyes stayed fixed on the food she had been looking forward to eating all afternoon.
“That her father had helped her arrange that morning. Her eyes stayed fixed on the food she had been looking forward to eating all afternoon.
“That was my dinner,” she whispered.
Felicia tilted her head.
“What was that?””
Imani swallowed.
“I said that was my dinner.””
“And I heard you.”” Felicia's voice sharpened.
“You don't get to tell me was my dinner,” she whispered.
Felicia tilted her head.
“What was that?””
Imani swallowed.
“I said that was my dinner.””
“And I heard you.”” Felicia's voice sharpened.
“You don't get to tell me what you deserve after the attitude you've been what you deserve after the attitude you've been giving me.””
At the far end of the kitchen, Darius Carter slowly lowered his glass of water.
He giving me.””
At the far end of the kitchen, Darius Carter slowly lowered his glass of water.
He had come home from his construction management office twenty minutes earlier, still wearing had come home from his construction management office twenty minutes earlier, still wearing his charcoal button-down shirt and dark trousers. He had expected the usual evening his charcoal button-down shirt and dark trousers. He had expected the usual evening routine: dinner, a few questions about Imani's schoolwork, routine: dinner, a few questions about Imani's schoolwork, perhaps a little television before bedtime.
Instead, he had watched his wife snatch a plate from perhaps a little television before bedtime.
Instead, he had watched his wife snatch a plate from his daughter's hands and dump the contents into the garbage.
He pushed back his his daughter's hands and dump the contents into the garbage.
He pushed back his chair.
“Felicia,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “what in the world are you doing?””
She chair.
“Felicia,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “what in the world are you doing?””
She turned toward him with an expression that changed so quickly it almost looked rehearsed. Her turned toward him with an expression that changed so quickly it almost looked rehearsed. Her mouth softened. Her eyebrows lifted.
The anger remained in mouth softened. Her eyebrows lifted. The anger remained in her eyes, but the rest of her face rearranged itself into wounded innocence.
“Darius, please. Don't start.””
her eyes, but the rest of her face rearranged itself into wounded innocence.
“Darius, please. Don't start.””
“Don't start what?””
“Making me look like the villain because“Don't start what?””
“Making me look like the villain because I'm trying to teach your daughter some manners.””
Darius glanced at the trash, then at Imani.
“She I'm trying to teach your daughter some manners.””
Darius glanced at the trash, then at Imani.
“She was eating.””
“She was giving me an attitude.””
“She was sitting there quietly was eating.””
“She was giving me an attitude.””
“She was sitting there quietly when I walked in.””
“Because you were here.”” Felicia threw up her hands.
“ when I walked in.””
“Because you were here.”” Felicia threw up her hands.
“You never see what happens when you're gone. She knows exactly how to act when herYou never see what happens when you're gone. She knows exactly how to act when her father is watching.””
Imani's head lifted.
“That isn't true.””
Felicia snapped her father is watching.””
Imani's head lifted.
“That isn't true.””
Felicia snapped her gaze toward the girl.
“Did I ask you?””
Imani flinched gaze toward the girl.
“Did I ask you?””
Imani flinched.
The movement was small, barely more than a jerk of her shoulders,.
The movement was small, barely more than a jerk of her shoulders, but Darius saw it. He had seen his daughter startled by thunder, nervous before a but Darius saw it. He had seen his daughter startled by thunder, nervous before a school presentation, and tearful after losing her mother. This school presentation, and tearful after losing her mother.
This was different. Imani reacted to Felicia's voice as though she had learned to was different. Imani reacted to Felicia's voice as though she had learned to expect something unpleasant after every sharp word.
Darius stepped away from the table.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
Felicia stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“So now I can't correct her in my own home?””
“Correcting a child doesn't mean throwing her food away.””
“You don't know what she did!””
“Then tell me.””
Felicia opened expect something unpleasant after every sharp word.
Darius stepped away from the table.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
Felicia stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“So now I can't correct her in my own home?””
“Correcting a child doesn't mean throwing her food away.””
“You don't know what she did!””
“Then tell me.””
Felicia opened her mouth, paused, and glanced at Imani.
The pause lasted only a moment, but Darius caught it.
“She her mouth, paused, and glanced at Imani.
The pause lasted only a moment, but Darius caught it.
“She was rude,” Felicia said finally.
“She rolled her eyes at me. I told her to apologize, and she refused. I wasn't going to reward that behavior.””
Darius turned was rude,” Felicia said finally.
“She rolled her eyes at me. I told her to apologize, and she refused. I wasn't going to reward that behavior.””
Darius turned to his daughter.
“Imani to his daughter.
“Imani, did you roll your eyes at Felicia?””
Imani looked from her father to her stepmother.
The kitchen suddenly felt too bright. Every polished cabinet, every stainless-steel appliance, every spotless countertop seemed to be watching her.
“I didn't mean to be rude,” she said.
, did you roll your eyes at Felicia?””
Imani looked from her father to her stepmother.
The kitchen suddenly felt too bright. Every polished cabinet, every stainless-steel appliance, every spotless countertop seemed to be watching her.
“I didn't mean to be rude,” she said.
“That isn't what I asked.””
“No, Daddy.””
Felicia made a disbelieving sound.
“Oh,“That isn't what I asked.””
“No, Daddy.””
Felicia made a disbelieving sound.
“Oh, come on. You're really going to pretend—”
“I'm talking to my daughter,” Darius interrupted.
The come on. You're really going to pretend—”
“I'm talking to my daughter,” Darius interrupted.
The words struck the room like a slammed door.
Felicia's lips pressed together.
words struck the room like a slammed door.
Felicia's lips pressed together.
Darius crouched beside Imani, bringing himself down to her eye level.
“BabyDarius crouched beside Imani, bringing himself down to her eye level.
“Baby, look at me.””
She tried. Her eyes filled before she could hold the tears back.
“, look at me.””
She tried. Her eyes filled before she could hold the tears back.
“Tell me what happened.””
Imani rubbed her palms against her leggings.
“CanTell me what happened.””
Imani rubbed her palms against her leggings.
“Can I just go to my room?””
The question hurt him more than he expected.
“Not I just go to my room?””
The question hurt him more than he expected.
“Not until we figure out what's happening here.””
“Darius,” Felicia said impatiently, “you're turning a small disagreement into a whole production.””
He until we figure out what's happening here.””
“Darius,” Felicia said impatiently, “you're turning a small disagreement into a whole production.””
He stood.
“Then this should be easy to explain. Why did you throw away her dinner?””
“Because she was stood.
“Then this should be easy to explain. Why did you throw away her dinner?””
“Because she was being disrespectful!””
“And why couldn't you simply tell her to stop?””
“Because she doesn't listen to me!””
“ being disrespectful!””
“And why couldn't you simply tell her to stop?””
“Because she doesn't listen to me!””
“Maybe she doesn't feel safe talking to you.””
Felicia's face hardenedMaybe she doesn't feel safe talking to you.””
Felicia's face hardened.
“Safe?”” she repeated.
“Are you seriously suggesting I mistreat your child?””
.
“Safe?”” she repeated.
“Are you seriously suggesting I mistreat your child?””
“I'm asking“I'm asking why she looks terrified.””
“She's not terrified. She's dramatic.””
Imani's shoulders drew inward.
Darius saw it again.
He remembered how easily she had once filled a why she looks terrified.””
“She's not terrified. She's dramatic.””
Imani's shoulders drew inward.
Darius saw it again.
He remembered how easily she had once filled a room with stories. Before he married Felicia, Imani would talk through entire car rides, narrating everything from the clouds to the strange names of streets. After room with stories. Before he married Felicia, Imani would talk through entire car rides, narrating everything from the clouds to the strange names of streets.
After the wedding, she had grown quieter. He had blamed it on the wedding, she had grown quieter. He had blamed it on adolescence, on grief, on the difficulty of adjusting to a new family.
He had told himself that children needed time.
Now he wondered whether he had mistaken fear for adjustment.
Darius reached for the plate still sitting beside the stove. It was empty, but the adolescence, on grief, on the difficulty of adjusting to a new family.
He had told himself that children needed time.
Now he wondered whether he had mistaken fear for adjustment.
Darius reached for the plate still sitting beside the stove. It was empty, but the fork lay across it.
“Felicia, make her another dinner.””
She fork lay across it.
“Felicia, make her another dinner.””
She gave a short, incredulous laugh.
“You cannot be serious.””
“I am.””
“I'm not cooking another meal because she decided to disrespect me.””
“Then I'll do it.””
He turned toward the refrigerator.
Felicia moved in front of it.
“No.””
Darius stopped.
The word was so abrupt, so possessive, that even Felicia seemed surprised to hear it leave her mouth.
He looked at her hand resting against the refrigerator door.
“No?”” he repeated.
She withdrew her hand, smoothing her blouse.
“I mean, the kitchen is already a mess, and she needs to learn that actions have consequences.””
“The food is in the trash because you put it there.””
“Don't twist my words.””
“Move, Felicia gave a short, incredulous laugh.
“You cannot be serious.””
“I am.””
“I'm not cooking another meal because she decided to disrespect me.””
“Then I'll do it.””
He turned toward the refrigerator.
Felicia moved in front of it.
“No.””
Darius stopped.
The word was so abrupt, so possessive, that even Felicia seemed surprised to hear it leave her mouth.
He looked at her hand resting against the refrigerator door.
“No?”” he repeated.
She withdrew her hand, smoothing her blouse.
“I mean, the kitchen is already a mess, and she needs to learn that actions have consequences.””
“The food is in the trash because you put it there.””
“Don't twist my words.””
“Move, Felicia.””
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Felicia stepped aside, but her glare followed him as he opened the refrigerator and took out chicken, vegetables, and a container of rice.
Darius placed the ingredients on the counter.
“Imani, sit down.””
She hesitated.
“It's okay, baby. Sit.””
She climbed onto a stool at the island,.””
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Felicia stepped aside, but her glare followed him as he opened the refrigerator and took out chicken, vegetables, and a container of rice.
Darius placed the ingredients on the counter.
“Imani, sit down.””
She hesitated.
“It's okay, baby. Sit.””
She climbed onto a stool at the island, keeping her hands folded in her lap. Darius began reheating the rice, his movements stiff with anger he was trying to control.
Felicia leaned against the opposite counter.
“You're undermining me,” she said.
“I'm feeding my child.””
“Your child needs keeping her hands folded in her lap. Darius began reheating the rice, his movements stiff with anger he was trying to control.
Felicia leaned against the opposite counter.
“You're undermining me,” she said.
“I'm feeding my child.””
“Your child needs discipline.””
“My child needs dinner.””
“And what happens when you're not here?”” discipline.””
“My child needs dinner.””
“And what happens when you're not here?”” Felicia demanded.
“What happens when she thinks she can do whatever she wants because Daddy will always come running to Felicia demanded.
“What happens when she thinks she can do whatever she wants because Daddy will always come running to rescue her?””
Darius turned off the microwave.
“Why are you so concerned rescue her?””
Darius turned off the microwave.
“Why are you so concerned about what happens when I'm not here?””
Felicia's expression flickered.
“Because somebody has to maintain order.””
“ about what happens when I'm not here?””
Felicia's expression flickered.
“Because somebody has to maintain order.””
“Then why does she look afraid of you?””
“Because she knows she'sThen why does she look afraid of you?””
“Because she knows she's been behaving badly!””
Imani made a small sound.
Both adults turned toward her been behaving badly!””
Imani made a small sound.
Both adults turned toward her.
The girl's fingers were trembling against the countertop.
Darius moved closer.
“Im.
The girl's fingers were trembling against the countertop.
Darius moved closer.
“Imani?””
She shook her head quickly.
“It's nothing.””
“Baby, tell me.””
“ani?””
She shook her head quickly.
“It's nothing.””
“Baby, tell me.””
“It's nothing, Daddy.””
Felicia crossed her arms.
“See? She knows she'sIt's nothing, Daddy.””
Felicia crossed her arms.
“See? She knows she's in trouble. Now can we please stop making this into something in trouble. Now can we please stop making this into something it isn't?””
Darius ignored her.
He pulled a chair beside Imani and sat down.
“You it isn't?””
Darius ignored her.
He pulled a chair beside Imani and sat down.
“You aren't in trouble for telling me the truth.””
Imani looked at him for a long moment, searching his face as if aren't in trouble for telling me the truth.””
Imani looked at him for a long moment, searching his face as if she needed to decide whether those words were safe to believe.
Then her gaze drift she needed to decide whether those words were safe to believe.
Then her gaze drifted toward Felicia.
Her stepmother's expression had become strangely stilled toward Felicia.
Her stepmother's expression had become strangely still.
Imani lowered her voice.
“Daddy, what if the truth makes you mad?””
Darius felt his chest.
Imani lowered her voice.
“Daddy, what if the truth makes you mad?””
Darius felt his chest tighten.
“Then I'll be mad at the person who deserves it.””
Imani's lips trembled.
tighten.
“Then I'll be mad at the person who deserves it.””
Imani's lips trembled.
Felicia pushed away from the counter.
“This is ridiculous. I'm going upstairs.””
“StayFelicia pushed away from the counter.
“This is ridiculous. I'm going upstairs.””
“Stay right here,” Darius said.
She froze.
He had never spoken to her like that before—not in front of I right here,” Darius said.
She froze.
He had never spoken to her like that before—not in front of Imani, not with such unmistakable authority.
For the first time that evening, Felicia looked uncertain.
And Imani, watchingmani, not with such unmistakable authority.
For the first time that evening, Felicia looked uncertain.
And Imani, watching her stepmother's face, seemed to realize something else.
Her father was finally paying her stepmother's face, seemed to realize something else.
Her father was finally paying attention.
But she still wasn't sure he was ready to hear everything.
May you like
attention.
But she still wasn't sure he was ready to hear everything.
