Chapter 1 - SERVANTS EAT LEFTOVERS
"Servants eat leftovers."
Diane Whitmore said it like she was announcing a house rule.
My mother, Ruth Carter, lowered her eyes to the plate in front of her. Two cold potatoes. A strip of fat. Steak bones from Diane's dinner.
Everyone else at the memorial table had rib-eye.
I looked at my husband. "Ryan?"
He stared at his wine.
Diane smiled. "Your mother helped in the kitchen. I assumed she wouldn't mind what was left."
"Mom, give me that plate."
Ruth touched my wrist. "Claire, not tonight."
That was my mother. She could survive almost anything if it meant keeping a room peaceful.
Diane leaned back. "See? She understands her place."
My brother Noah stopped cutting his steak.
Ryan muttered, "Claire, don't start."
I picked up Diane's bowl of tomato soup.
"Claire."
I threw it into her face.
Diane screamed.
Ryan slapped me.
The room went silent.
My cheek burned. I slapped him back.
His fist came up.
Noah moved first. One punch sent Ryan into the buffet.
"Touch my sister again," Noah said, "and you'll need a dentist."
"NOAH!" Mom shouted.
Diane wiped soup from her hair. "You animals! Get out of my house!"
Mom looked at the plate of bones.
Then she stood, lifted it, and dumped it into Diane's lap.
"You wanted to humiliate me?" Ruth said quietly. "Now everyone sees what you are."
Diane stared at her.
Ryan pushed himself upright. "Get out!"
Mom took my hand.
At the door, Diane shouted, "Don't you ever come back!"
Mom stopped.
"Your house?" she asked.
Diane frowned.
Mom smiled for the first time all night.
"Tomorrow morning, Claire, remind me to call the attorney about the deed."
Ryan's face changed.
May you like
And suddenly, he wasn't looking angry.
He was scared.
