used to music blaring from my father’s record player and jokes and conversation flowing constantly between the three of us. Dinner in the manor felt foreign and forced. I felt uncomfortable and completely out of place. I looked up from my plate and noticed Kyler leaning back in his chair, gazing at me. His blue eyes completely captivating and inviting, yet harboring an undefined edge.
“So, Tammy, are you excited to get back in the swing of things?” I asked, my nerves getting the better of me. I needed something to break both his intense stare and the still silence taking over the room.
“I can’t wait, actually. I’m switching academic focus to charitable giving in order to prepare for a gap year after graduation. Then university abroad after that.” Tammy said, her eyes fixated on her mother. Probably trying to gauge her thoughts based on a reaction.
Monica was cool, unaffected, and incredibly collected. She dabbed the napkin on her lips and smiled sweetly. “Well, we can certainly talk about that, dear. Maybe when we don’t have guests.”
“Sure, Mom. Whatever you say,” Tammy said, her fingertips dancing back and forth around the rim of her glass.
By the time dinner ended, silence still suffocating me--or maybe it was Kyler’s intense sideways looks in my direction--I eagerly shot up to help Tammy clear the table, thankful for something to do.
“Maddy, can I talk to you for a minute?” Kyler said, leaning casually against the wall.
“Um, I’m helping Tammy right now.” I refused to look at him, even though every part of me compelled me to.
“I’m fine, Maddy, go ahead.” Tammy shot me a sympathetic smile.
“She can do the dishes alone, better yet, save it for the staff--”
“I’m not letting her do the dishes alone. If it’s really that important, I’m sure you have the patience to wait.” I started the hot water, thankful when it drowned out his reply. I couldn’t take the chance of glancing over my shoulder. If I saw him standing there glaring at me one more time, I couldn’t be held accountable for the harm I might do him.
“He’s such an asshole sometimes,” Tammy breathed at my shoulder.
“Sometimes?” I sighed, slipping my hands in the soapy warm water, thankful for the relief the familiar chore brought me.
“He’s right though, you know, we could just leave the dishes for the staff.” I could hear the tired edge in Tammy’s voice.
“You should go lay down, you’ve had a long day. I’ve got this, Tammy.”
“Really? I mean...I don’t mind--”
“I insist, get some rest. I like doing the dishes.” That wasn't a lie; I’d been doing them at my mom’s hip since the time I was old enough to balance on a stepstool. That’s when we usually did our best talking--over a sink of soapy water.
“You’re amazing, Maddy. I missed you so much.” She hugged me quickly, before stifling a yawn and sneaking out of the back hallway to the stairs that led to her bedroom.
As my hands cleaned the soapy dishes one by one, my mind wandered off into the future, what life would look like at the manor for me and my mom. Was this really our new home? Could I stand to live in such close proximity to the grouchiest person I’d ever met? A shiver shuddered down my spine when I thought of future holidays with Kyler staring daggers into me.
“You could have just used the dishwasher, dear. It’s top of the line, it’ll have those dishes washed and sanitized quicker than any human alive.” Monica placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I don’t mind, it warms my hands up in winter,” I offered.
“It has been chilly lately, hasn’t it?” Monica’s eyes drifted out the window.
“I wish I knew what to do about Kyler. We have tried everything, and yet he is so intent on making everyone near him completely miserable. I’m sorry he’s made all this hard on you. I was at a loss when we got the call from his boarding school that he was no longer welcome--the reason he was there to begin with was for...extra attention.” She twisted a lock of hair with one finger, disappointment watering her eyes. “He’s my first born, I love him more than anything, but I can hardly stand to be around him most days.”
I frowned, heart aching as I felt her own pain for her brooding son.
“I wanted to fight them when they insisted he repeat most of his senior year--he’s too damn smart for them to begin with. I’m convinced