Page 70 of Share with Me

Chapter Twenty-Three

Brinley wasn’tsure what had gotten into Ivan. He had seemed antsy the entire time they ate lunch. Sure, the McMillan kitchen was small. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been in a small kitchen before. Her apartment when she was at UGA wasn’t any bigger.

Still, his behavior was suspicious. He had made her sit facing the wall and away from the rest of the galley kitchen and refused to let her get up to do anything. She had wanted to help and he had made it look like she was useless. Couldn’t get the silverware or plates. Couldn’t fill glasses with water. Couldn’t dish out the spaghetti. Couldn’t do a thing.

In the end, Brinley waited until Ivan had sat down to eat his lunch before she made her move. He wasn’t going to get away with making her look like she was too fragile for kitchen duties. She wanted to show him that she could help in the kitchen, load the dishwasher, wipe down the counters, domestic stuff that she had seen Cara do. How hard could it be?

She finished her small portion of spaghetti before everyone else and was the first one on her feet as soon as Yun finished her plate.

“Seconds, Yun?” Brinley asked as calmly as she could.

“Yes, please.”

Ivan was on her case again. “I’ll do it. Please sit down, Brin.”

What has gotten into him?

“Ivan, dear.” Yun’s voice was quiet but firm.

“Yes, Grandma?”

“Let Brinley help.”

When Ivan didn’t respond, Brinley did. “Thank you, Yun.”

Brinley carefully carried Yun’s plate to the stove.Don’t drop the plate! Have to show Ivan—

She was blanking out as she tried to remember the order of things. Put the spaghetti on the plate first. Then the meat sauce. Then cheese on top.

Seriously, Brin!

She almost laughed at herself, but the plate rocked in her hand and she nearly freaked out.Boy, these stoneware plates are heavy.

“How much do you want, Yun?” Brinley showed Yun her plate. “This enough?”

“More than enough.”

Brinley didn’t dare look at Ivan as she sprinkled parmesan cheese on top. Back at home, they’d be shredding imported Parmigiano-Reggiano, not this whatever-it-was. Then it was back to the table.

Whatever you do, don’t drop the plate.

Aunt Ella also wanted seconds. And thirds. By the time lunch was over, there was nothing left to eat on the stove.

“We still have cookies,” Yun said.

Everyone groaned.

“Maybe in a little bit.” Ivan started clearing the table.

Brinley wasn’t going to let him get away with it anymore. It felt like a domestic squabble and she had to win this. Without asking Ivan, Brinley helped to clear the table. Ivan said nothing to her as they piled up dirty plates on the Formica counter next to the two sinks. In the sinks were colanders, ladles, pot covers. Brinley wondered how he was going to rinse out the plates before putting them into the dishwasher if he couldn’t turn on the single faucet.

He seemed to hesitate. Then he cleared the sinks. That was when Brinley saw that the porcelain sinks were old and stained. In a reno house, that would be the first thing she’d throw out into the dumpster.

In fact, she’d rip up this entire kitchen and throw everything out. Those four-ton dumpsters could take quite a load.

But they live here.

People actually live here.

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