Chapter 2: The Woman in the Kitchen
Loretta stood in the kitchen doorway with a dish towel draped over one shoulder.
At sixty-two, she had learned that trouble rarely announced itself honestly. It arrived wearing a smile, speaking softly, and insisting that everything was fine.
But she could see Malik's face.
She could see the way he pressed himself against the wall, as though he wanted to disappear into it.
And she could see the red bowl sitting on the table.
Her gaze moved from the bowl to Renee's hand, then to the unplugged security camera.
“What happened?”” Loretta asked.
Renee immediately placed both hands on her hips.
“Nothing happened.””
Loretta didn't move.
“Then why is my grandson crying?””
“He's being dramatic.””
Malik lowered his eyes.
Loretta noticed.
She had seen that gesture before. Over the past several months, Malik had begun looking at the floor whenever Renee raised her voice. He apologized for things that weren't his fault. He asked permission to get water in his own house.
Every time Loretta questioned it, Renee had an explanation.
He was sensitive.
He was spoiled.
He needed discipline.
And Darnell, exhausted from working long hours and determined to make his second marriage succeed, had believed that Renee was simply struggling to connect with his son.
Loretta had tried not to interfere without proof.
But looking at Malik now, she wondered how much time she had already wasted waiting for it.
“Malik,” she said gently, “come stand over here with me.””
Renee stepped between them.
“He isn't going anywhere.””
Loretta's eyebrows lifted.
“Excuse me?””
“I said he isn't going anywhere. We're handling a family matter.””
Loretta glanced at the unplugged camera.
“Is that why the security camera is disconnected?””
Renee's jaw tightened.
“The cord was in my way.””
“It's mounted above the doorway.””
“Are you accusing me of something?””
“I'm asking you a question.””
“Well, maybe you should mind your own business.””
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
The sunlight fell across the wooden table, catching the tiny crumbs scattered beside the red bowl. Malik sniffled quietly behind Renee.
Loretta's expression softened when she heard him.
“Baby,” she said, trying to see around Renee, “are you hurt?””
“No, Grandma.””
“Did she do something to you?””
Malik opened his mouth.
Renee snapped her fingers.
“Don't you dare start lying.””
The boy flinched so hard that his shoulder struck the wall.
Loretta's face changed.
“Don't snap at him like he's an animal.””
Renee took one deliberate step toward her.
“Be careful, Loretta. You're a guest in this house.””
“I helped raise the man who owns it.””
“And I'm his wife.””
“That doesn't make you the owner of everybody inside it.””
Renee gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
“You know what Darnell says about you? He says you never learned how to let him grow up.””
Loretta remained still.
“Darnell can speak for himself.””
“He does. And he says you interfere in everything.””
“Then he can tell me that when he gets home.””
Renee's eyes flicked toward the front hallway.
She had expected Darnell to be gone until late afternoon. He had mentioned a meeting across town and promised to call before leaving the office.
She had planned accordingly.
Now Loretta was standing in the kitchen doorway, watching every movement.
Renee turned back toward Malik.
“Pick up the bowl.””
Malik didn't move.
“Did you hear me?””
He nodded, crying harder.
“Then pick it up.””
Loretta stepped forward.
“Renee, that's enough.””
“No. You don't get to walk in here and undermine me.””
“I'm not undermining you. I'm telling you to stop frightening a child.””
“He needs to learn consequences.””
“For what?””
Renee's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Malik looked between them, his small hands pressed tightly against his chest.
Loretta saw the hesitation. She saw Renee searching for an explanation that would make the bowl, the tears, and the unplugged camera seem reasonable.
And Loretta understood something important.
Renee wasn't merely angry.
She was afraid of being seen.
Loretta slowly glanced up at the dark camera.
Then she looked toward the wall outlet.
The plug rested just behind the decorative cabinet, its black cord curled against the baseboard.
Renee had been so focused on disabling the camera that she hadn't considered who else knew how the system worked.
Loretta did.
Darnell had shown her how to reconnect it when they first installed it. He had even made her practice because he worried about the power going out while he was away.
She remembered his words clearly.
“Mama, if that little light is blue, it's recording.””
Loretta kept her face calm.
“Malik,” she said, “why don't you take a breath for me?””
Renee whipped around.
“I told you not to talk to him!””
Loretta lowered her eyes, pretending to retreat.
“All right. I won't argue with you.””
Renee looked satisfied.
“Good.””
She turned toward Malik again and reached for the wooden stick lying beside the table.
Loretta's stomach tightened.
It was a smooth wooden stick Darnell used for reaching a high shelf in the pantry. It had no place in a confrontation with a frightened child.
Renee picked it up.
Malik immediately raised his arms over his head.
“Please don't!”” he cried.
Loretta took one involuntary step forward.
“Put that down.””
Renee held the stick at her side.
“Stay out of this.””
“You don't need that to discipline him.””
“You don't know what he did.””
“Then tell me.””
Renee's eyes narrowed.
“He disrespected me.””
“By refusing to eat dog food?””
The silence that followed was answer enough.
Renee's cheeks flushed.
“You heard nothing.””
“I heard enough.””
Renee moved closer to Malik, forcing him to remain trapped beside the table.
“Your father isn't here,” she told him.
Loretta watched the boy's trembling hands.
Then she watched Renee's grip tighten around the stick.
And while Renee focused on Malik, Loretta quietly moved behind the cabinet.
Her fingers found the unplugged cord.
She eased it toward the outlet.
One inch.
Then another.
Renee was still talking.
“Maybe after today, you'll finally learn who makes the rules in this house.””
Loretta pushed the plug into the socket.
A small blue light appeared above the kitchen doorway.
She looked up at it.
Recording.
But as she turned back toward the table, Renee grabbed Malik's shoulder and raised the stick again.
May you like
And a man's voice suddenly filled the dining room.
“What the hell are you doing to my son?””
