Page 12 of Steps

“Toya has anyone—” He pauses, considers this. “Hassomeone in your mom’s past acted off with you?”

My stomach tenses. Mom doesn’t want me to tell himthose things. She’ll be upset. If this falls apart, she’ll blame me, and Ican’t deal with her anger or watch her fall to pieces again. Not when there’snowhere to run to, now that Gran has passed.

“No,” I lie, and motion to leave. “I should startmy homework. It’s a lot.”

“Of course.” His smile returns. “Let me know ifyou’d like to make any changes to your room.”

“Thank you, it’s perfect. Um, okay if I borrowthis?” I wave the book before me.

Daniel nods. “Sure. You can keep it.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to give me anything.”

“It’s all right, Toya, I insist. Aside from youand me, no one else comes in here anymore.” He peers around the library. “Thiswas my late wife’s collection.”

My defenses soften. “I’m sorry about...” I don’tfinish, telling him instead, “Thank you.”

He bobs while smiling.

I return to my room.

That night, I offer to make dinner, wanting to tryand give Daniel the benefit of the doubt.

Mom returns with another box from the apartment.She and Daniel go out to the backyard to talk in private.

I’m in the middle of sautéing veggies when Varenwhispers at my back suddenly, “Smells good.”

“Geez!” I flinch and glare at him. “Don’t sneak upon people.”

“So jumpy.” He chuckles and goes to the fridge to graba bottle of water. I notice his eyes look a bit drowsy. He’s probably taken thepills.

Varen screws up his face. “What’s the problem?”

“Nothing.” I turn my attention back to the stoveand check on the rice.

“My mom used to make that at least twice a week.”There’s a bit of sadness in his words.

I look at him again, feeling bad. “Sorry. I didn’tknow.”

He scoffs. “Relax. It’s fine. Probably not asgood, anyway.”

My mouth drops. “Ugh, you—”

Mom and Daniel step into the kitchen, preventingme from cursing his ass out. I glower at Varen once more before he walks away.

“That smells really good, Toya,” Danielcompliments.

My annoyance fizzles. “Thank you. It’s just aboutready.” I turn off the stove.

He huffs at his son. “You skipped school today,again.”

“Yeah yeah,” Varen grumbles before leaving thekitchen.Yikes. What’s up with him and his dad?

“I’ll go set the table,” Daniel offers.

“Let’s talk for a sec,” Mom says to me, gesturingfor me to follow her.

Nervously, I walk behind her to the lower level.The bass in Varen’s sudden music drums in my ears.

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