Chapter 1 - NOT YOUR REAL DAUGHTER
Margaret Carter grabbed a handful of dirty food scraps from the trash bin and shoved them toward Emma’s face.
“EAT IT!”
Emma twisted away.
Her shaved head brushed the side of the cabinet.
The small bandage near her temple remained clean.
Her arm dressing pulled tight as she raised both hands.
“No! Please!”
Margaret caught her chin.
“You made the mess.”
Emma cried harder.
Then the kitchen door flew open.
Claire stopped dead.
“What are you doing?!”
Margaret turned.
Claire ran.
She slapped Margaret’s hand away and pulled Emma against her chest.
“Get away from her!”
Emma clung to Claire’s gray top.
Claire wiped crumbs and sauce from the girl’s cheek.
“She’s sick!”
Margaret pointed at the trash.
“She made the mess.”
Claire stared.
“You tried to make her eat trash?”
Margaret shrugged.
“She needs consequences.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Margaret looked directly at Emma.
Then at Claire.
“Why do you even care?”
Claire went still.
Margaret’s mouth twisted.
“She’s not even your real daughter.”
Emma broke down.
Claire’s arms tightened around her.
For one second Claire forgot Margaret existed.
She only heard Emma crying into her chest.
“I am your mom,” Claire whispered.
Emma nodded desperately.
Claire looked back at Margaret.
“Get out.”
Margaret laughed.
“This is Daniel’s house too.”
Claire’s husband, Daniel, was still at work.
Claire reached for her phone.
Margaret’s expression changed.
“Don’t turn this into something it isn’t.”
Claire looked down.
A plate sat overturned near the trash bin.
Plain noodles.
One of the only foods Emma had been able to tolerate after treatment.
Claire recognized the bowl.
She had prepared it before leaving for the pharmacy.
“Why is her dinner in the trash?”
Margaret answered:
“She refused it.”
Emma lifted her face.
“No.”
Claire froze.
Emma whispered:
“Grandma threw it away.”
Margaret snapped:
“She was playing with it.”
Emma shook her head.
“I was eating.”
Claire looked at the trash.
Then at Emma.
For three weeks, Emma had been losing weight.
Everyone had blamed treatment.
Then Emma said something Claire had never heard before.
May you like
“Grandma says sick kids who won’t eat right don’t deserve good food.”
Claire’s blood went cold.
