Page 65 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

“Fuck if I know what to make them,” I blurt out as nonchalantly as I can.

Mr. G. chuckles as he puts his fixed plate into the microwave then turns to face me.

“They eat anything if that helps.”

“Including leftovers?” I ask nervously.

I can almost swear that I see a smile trying to curve up the edge of his lips, but his resolve holds strong as his eyes begin to bore into mine.

“Anna Leigh! Maynard!” he suddenly booms at the top of his lungs causing me to jump slightly.

I can hear the footsteps of his children rapidly approaching and when they enter the kitchen, I swivel in my stool to look atthem. They’re both staring at their father expectantly, with Anna Leigh stealing a glance at me and sticking the tip of her tongue out of the corner of her mouth. I look away and stifle a giggle—it’s obvious to her that I’m on edge right now and she wants to make me feel better with her silly gesture.

“Yes, Daddy?” she asks.

“Do you think you can go easy on Miss Meryska today and share some of this with me for lunch?” he asks, using a knuckle to tap the side of the bowl.

“Well, what is it?” Maynard asks, causing Anna Leigh to rib him with her elbow almost immediately.

“Sure!” she replies with that same enthusiasm she had when she opened the front door for me.

Thank you,I mouth to her and she smiles. I get to my feet, walk over to where Mr. G. is standing at the counter and reach up into the cabinet next to his head to pull out two smaller plates for them. He nods at me to set them down on the counter before he reaches for a clean spoon and scoops out smaller portions for the kids.

After the microwavedings,he retrieves his plate, then waits patiently while each of his children’s plates heats up. They come over to take them from the counter with a sound,thank you Daddy and Miss Meryska,before they disappear back toward the living room.

“Help yourself,” Mr. G. tells me as he picks up his plate and begins to walk out of the kitchen.

As I begin to fix myself a small plate, I smile. Maybe he’s not so bad after all and he won’t be so quick to forget me again.

Chapter

Seven

Five o’clock came and went and Mrs. G. still hasn’t come home yet. I’m sitting in the dining room with Mr. G. and the kids since he insisted that we all take a place at the table.

“It’s almost bedtime anyway,” he reminded them with a stern tone, “you have to take your showers and get ready for bed soon.”

I push my food around my plate with the fork wondering how I’m going to get home. Part of the deal was that Mrs. G. would give me a ride back to the shelter, though I planned on having her drop me off just down the street.

“You aren’t hungry?”

I glance up at Mr. G. and swallow hard under the weight of his eyes. They have that stern hue to them again and I almost feel like one of his children right now.

“Lunch is still sitting, I guess,” I reply with a shrug as I set my fork down.

“Well, you make sure you clean your plate,” he tells me with a nod as he goes back to his dinner.

I guess he thinks I’m one of his kids, after all. May as well act like one then.

I let my fork clatter onto my plate as I push my chair back and get to my feet. I pick up the glass of water I’ve been sipping in between bites and walk out of the dining room.

The silence in the room behind me now is as stony as the man who rules the home, but I don’t care. If this is how he is on day one because Mrs. G. isn’t around, then it’s possible I don’t need this job as much as I thought.

I carefully place my plate in the sink and the glass on the counter as I turn the water on. There wasn’t much left on my plate for him to make a big deal over, so I know that the garbage disposal will take care of the rest.

I’m hoping that Mrs. G. will be home by the time I’m done so I can tell her what a dick her husband is and give her notice. That should make everyone involved in this farce happier than a pig in shit and hopefully, I’ll at least get paid for my time today.

I may not be much to anyone, but I do have my damn pride and I won’t be treated like a child.

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