rey

at the kitchen island, a thick textbook

Jeanie marched into the kitchen, her face twisted in a sco

dress. A dark, dried red wi

water only. Use the special imported

to her secret dinner with Carolina last night. The wine st

y closed my book, gone to the laundry ro

heavy cover of my tax book closed.

rectly. "I have a headache," I said,

ouldn't process that the docile stray dog she had

iked an octave. "You lazy parasite! You eat my foo

hed the silk dress across t

two blocks down, t

her knuckles white. "You ungrateful litt

e entryway, holding a leather briefcase. He

saw his mother's furious fac

"Look at how she treats me! I asked her for one

land. He looked down at me with t

dered. "And go wash the damn dr

planned to marry. He looke

nic in my chest. I just tilted my head and aske

eath. His face hardened

for you!" he yelled, pointing at the floor. "The least

y time I asked for basic respect. It used to mak

y head. I didn't

stood up from the stool, and walked

disbelief. "If you walk out of this kit

break m

om and slammed the door behind m

crash of a ceramic bowl hitting th

low, genuine smile spread across my fa

olding desk and op

burn this