Simmer: An Inferno World Novell - Measha Stone Page 0,1

focus. I close the door and get to work on the cornbread.

The stew is bubbling, so I turn the heat down on the stove as I put the cornbread into the oven.

I’m washing the dishes when the back door opens. I tense at the familiar scent of wood and leather.

“Go on, son. Get washed up and dressed. Nicolette’s made us a good dinner tonight. You’ll join us.” Papa’s voice cracks through the silence behind me.

“Thank you, Papa. I’ll be down in a minute,” Elijah says softly. He shuffles behind me, toward the hallway. I turn my head enough to see the angry red marks crisscrossing his bare ass and thighs. There’s a thick welt across his back. Dirt from the shed floor covers his feet, splattered around his ankles and calves. It rained a few days ago. There’s more dried mud on his knees. I blink and turn away.

“Smells great,” Papa brushes his hand along my shoulder. “Can’t wait to eat tonight. I’m starved.”

I put the last dish into the drainer and turn off the water.

“I used the last of the lamb,” I tell him as I wipe my hands on the dish towel. “We only have one more pound of beef and two pounds of bacon,” I say softly.

His smile falls. “Make it stretch a few more days.”

“I will, Papa,” I promise him. If he would bring us more vegetables and flour, I could make our grocery supply last weeks.

“That’s a good girl.” His lips kick up into another smile. Not as bright as when he came inside with Elijah, but he’s not scowling.

I push a smile onto my lips. He’s in a good mood. When he’s like this, it’s easy to be around him. I still have to be careful with the rules—Papa won’t tolerate anyone breaking his rules, good mood or not. But when he’s happy with us, he’s more generous. It’s a good day so far, and I’m not looking to mess it up.

“The bread should be ready in ten minutes,” I say, gesturing toward the stove. “I’ll set the table.”

Papa stares at me, his gaze distant. Like he’s floated off to another place and left me behind. He blinks a few times, returning to me.

He plays with the ends of my hair, dark and stick straight.

“You look like your mother more and more,” he says, but it’s not a compliment. Mama wasn’t good. Mama disobeyed too much and didn’t put the family first in her heart. I think it pains him to see so much of her in me.

“I’m sorry, Papa.” I don’t like to see him hurting.

“Nothing to be sorry for.” He drops my hair and steps back. “A beautiful woman you’ve grown into. And a good one.”

“We have apples. I could make a pie for dessert if you want,” I offer, wanting him to stay in the present with me. When he thinks back on Mama, he gets sad.

“No. No dessert tonight.” He shakes his head. “Go ahead and get dinner on the table. I’ll see what’s keeping the boys.”

“Yes, Papa.” I grab the potholder from the counter and pull the oven door open. His heavy footsteps fade as he makes his way down the hall.

I busy myself with setting the table properly, placing the stack of bowls at Papa’s chair, the spoons beside them. I put the pot of stew directly in front of the bowls and the cornbread to the right of his spot. Once the napkins are laid neatly at all four chairs, I fold my arms over my stomach. Hunger twists my insides.

It’s been a good day.

Papa’s happy.

Surely, we’ll get to eat.

Everything’s ready when I get back to the kitchen. Nicolette has done so good today. It’s hard for her because she’s a woman. Her instincts tell her to rebel, but she fights hard to be a good girl for me. She wants to please me, to feel all the love I have to give her and the boys.

I’ve done my best by them, never letting them experience a home full of fights and disrespect. I’ve protected them from that. The memories are distant, but they’re still there. The name calling, the disrespect. It’s burned into my mind, but Daddy fixed things for us. He made things better, and I’ve done my best to keep the peace in my own home.

Elijah and Mark stand at their places, waiting for me to signal them to sit. Good boys, both of them. Elijah keeps his gaze down from me, but it’s