“I am.”
“It’s probably terribly expensive, isn’t it? Everything’s so pricey nowadays. Cabinets, appliances, countertops—it’s just awful what things cost.”
“I’ll manage fine.”
Ms. Sterling shook her head with the practiced air of a life expert who’d seen it all.
“That’s good, of course. But you know, Kiki, maybe you shouldn’t rush into it. Money sitting safely in the account is a good thing. A cushion for emergencies. And the kitchen is perfectly fine as it is. It can definitely wait a while longer.”
There it is, Kiana thought with cold clarity. It’s starting exactly as I knew it would.
She slowly stirred sugar into her tea, watching the spoon move in circles.
“I don’t like this kitchen. I want to update it to something more modern.”
“Well, I understand that feeling, dear.”
Her mother-in-law leaned closer across the table, and the overwhelming scent of cheap floral perfume wafted over.
“But think about it carefully. What if you suddenly need that money for something more important? Medical treatment, for example, or some other emergency?”
Darius sat completely silent, staring into his cup of tea as if it held the secrets of the universe.
His face was strained and tense, as if he expected an explosion at any moment.
“If I need the money, I’ll use it,” Kiana replied evenly. “But I haven’t needed it yet for anything urgent.”
Ms. Sterling sighed so theatrically it deserved an Oscar nomination.
Leave a Comment