Page 168 of When Love Takes Root

Josiah looked at him over the rim of his glass. “It’s just the answer.”

“Anybody can say they know what they’re doing.”

“True.”

Kayden’s brow twitched, thrown off by the agreement.

Josiah set his glass down. “That’s why I pull permits, document my work, and let inspections speak where my mouth doesn’t need to.”

JJ’s lips pressed together like he wanted to smile and cuss Kayden out in the same breath.

Maya murmured, “That was actually a good answer.”

Kayden heard her.

Of course he did.

He stabbed a green bean with enough force to scrape porcelain.

I felt my patience stretch thin enough to shine.

Zuri lifted her roll, curiosity brightening her whole face. “Mr. Josiah, do you fix outlets too?”

Josiah glanced over at her. “I do.”

Zuri pointed toward Maya with the roll in her hand. “Oh, good. Because the ones in Maya’s room don’t work.”

My hand stopped halfway to my glass.

Maya’s head snapped up from her napkin sketch. “Zuri.”

“What?” Zuri blinked at her. “They don’t.”

The dining room shifted before anybody moved. The chandelier glowed warm over the table, but the light suddenly felt too bright on Maya’s face. She lowered her pencil. Her shoulders curved inward, and her fingers crept over the corner of her napkin like she wanted to fold herself inside it.

I looked at her. “Maya, why didn’t you tell me your outlets weren’t working?”

Maya’s throat moved. Her eyes dropped to her plate, lashes low and heavy. “I didn’t wanna bother you with more.”

The words found a soft place in me and pressed hard.

My face fell before I could hold it up.

Across the table, JJ’s fork went motionless in his hand. Josiah’s eyes lifted to me, then shifted to Maya with a gentleness that made my chest ache. Even Kayden looked away from his plate, his mouth flattening when he saw what Maya’s words did to my face.

For two breaths, only the air conditioner spoke through the vent above the China cabinet.

I set my fork down and reached across the table. Maya hesitated, then placed her hand in mine. Her fingers were warm, tense, smudged with graphite near the tips.

I told her, my voice thick enough to scrape, “Baby, I’m your mama. Nothing is ever more when it comes to y’all.”

Her eyes lifted, shiny and guarded.

I squeezed her hand, then looked around the table. Skye’s lips had parted. Zuri’s roll rested, forgotten on her plate. JJ watched me with his jaw tight. Kayden stared at the wood grain beside his fork.

I let my eyes touch each one of them. “Every one of you. Do y’all hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Skye answered first, small and serious.