Chapter 5
five
On Friday evenings, I typically visit my parents’ house with a bag of dirty clothes. The Omega laundry room is gross. And I’m sure there’s black mold inside the rims of the machines. From the iron-and-mildew stench in the basement, you’d think that someone was murdered down there.
Fridays are also my standing dinner dates with my mom. She usually finishes her neurology clinic early, so we eat together and catch up.
When I pull into the driveway, my older brother’s neon green pickup gleams under the streetlights. Darkness blankets the sky already as I get out of my car.
For a second, I glance over my shoulder, half expecting someone to be watching the house from the street. The thought is ridiculous…but lately, ridiculous things have been happening at Northview University.
The chilly January wind cuts across my face as I race through the front door toward home.
“It’s me!”
Mom yells, “I’m in the kitchen!”
After I hang up my coat, Dad grabs me in a tight bear hug. “My Padawan. Missed you.”
“Missed you, too, Dad.”
My oldest brother, Landon, leans over the kitchen island, huffing in pizza rolls like he hasn’t eaten in an hour.
“Why aren’t you at your hockey game?” I ask.
“I have ten minutes before I have to leave. Was grabbing my laundry.”
I scoff. “I thought Theta Rho Zeta’s Manor had maid service for that.”
“They do. But I, uh… Never mind. It’s broken this week.” His grip clamps down on my shoulder. “I heard a rumor.” He says it loud enough that my mom’s eyebrows shoot up.
My jaw clenches. “What?”
When he turns, his body towers over me. Long blond hair hangs stringy and loose around his shoulders. “Did Ayan fucking Dutta cheat on you?”
Mom snaps, “Language, Landon.”
“Sorry, Kinsley.” To me, he lowers his voice. “Did he?”
Dad peeks around him, popping a few grapes into his mouth, blue eyes suddenly serious and icy.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
Dad grabs both of his shoulders, then shoves him toward the door. “Get to your game.”
Lan points at me, then waves two fingers in front of his eyes. He’s not going to let it go. “Uncle G. Aunt Kins. You need to educate your daughter on how a man should treat a woman.”
“That’s rich. Coming from you,” I say, crossing my arms. Technically, he’s my first cousin. But my mom and dad adopted him when he was an infant after my uncle died. And that was before I was born. I’ve only known him as my brother.
But he still seems to call attention to the fact that he’s not one of us when he chooses.
Before he heads out the door, he swiftly plants a kiss on my cheek, then stuffs the rest of the pizza rolls in his glaring face. Dad perches on a bar stool, too big for it. He’s silently waiting for me to say something, and I can sense his anger bubbling beneath his skin.
On the counter behind him sits a stack of medical journals and a yellow folder stamped CONFIDENTIAL – MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. Mom quickly slides it under a magazine when she sees me looking.
“Is Bo at practice?” I scan the room for my younger brother.
“He’s out with the football crowd tonight,” Mom answers as she stirs some pasta. Casually, and without looking at me, she asks, “Are you two done, then?”
“Yeah, we’re over. He was a mistake.”
“George, try this,” she says to Dad, shoving a spoon of sauce in his mouth. He nods once. “Well, the POT is being weird. And I’m hoping they won’t appoint you to Ayan Dutta. Especially now.” Mom’s face, one that’s almost a reflection of mine, pinches with seriousness.
“Me, too.”
“I want to take a more active role at NU and not allow them to determine who my child will be married to. Especially now that I’m hearing about…” She glances at me, her cheeks turning pink.
“About what?”
Dad’s hands ball into fists.
A long moment of silence stretches as Mom plates up fettuccini.
“They have some new breeding program. I don’t know what it entails.
The president of Northview University is being evasive about it.
But I think it has to do with new drugs being pushed through our hospital. Ones that increase fertility.”
Dad’s hand tightens around his fork, hard enough that the metal bends slightly.
My jaw drops. Then one thought cuts through the shock. “It’s good that I’m on the pill, then.” I shove a piece of garlic bread into my mouth.
Mom doesn’t smile.
“That’s the thing.” She waves her pasta spoon in the air like a conductor. “There seems to be a shortage of pills right now.” Lower, beneath her breath, she says, “I’m telling Elle. She’ll do a more thorough investigative report.”
Elle Joseph is my mom’s close friend. And the Northview News’ top journalist.
Mom whips around and points at my dad like she’s scolding him.
“You and I need to get more involved. There’s still the opening for the Dean of Health Sciences since Townsend died.
And don’t forget that Emit Dutta is Dean of Arts and Sciences.
If Ayan has it out for Scout…there’s not much we could do to protect her. ”
Dad shakes his head. “That’s not my thing, princess, and you know that.”
“Make it your thing.”
I interrupt before they start arguing. “Let’s take a step back.”
They glance at me.
“The good news is, I haven’t been appointed to anyone.”
I finish my tasty bite and shrug.
“And hopefully, I won’t be.”