Chapter 1

On Thanksgiving, my brother's girlfriend came to the house for the first time.

My mother had the groceries bought before I was even awake, then told me to cook.

"Millie, honey, you're the head chef at a five-star hotel. Today the kitchen's all yours!"

I cooked in a kitchen well past a hundred degrees while the whole family sat in the living room under the air conditioning, eating watermelon.

When I finally had a full spread ready, I called out toward the living room, "Mom, food's done, come in and carry it out!"

I called three times before my mother lost her patience.

"Can't you see I'm sitting here talking with your brother's girlfriend? Just bring the dishes to the table, everyone's been starving for ages!"

The wet towel around my neck had long since gone warm, and fat beads of sweat ran down my cheeks to my throat.

I stared at the spread on the island for a moment, then scooped myself a bowl of rice.

Once I'd eaten my fill, I dumped everything that was left into the trash.

...

I threw all the grease-caked pots and pans into the sink in one go.

Washed my hands, wiped my face, and felt a rush of pure satisfaction.

I pushed open the kitchen door, and the cool air came at me in waves, like every pore in my body had burst open.

God, that felt good.

Seeing me come out, my mother looked up. "The food's all done, right? Bring it out already, your brother's girlfriend's been hungry forever!"

I didn't answer. I walked straight back to my room.

My brother's girlfriend, Zelda Simmons, changed color slightly. "Auntie, your daughter isn't upset, is she? She didn't look too good just now."

My mother quickly grabbed her hand to smooth it over. "Oh please, of course not. She knew you were coming, she took the day off just to make you something nice!"

"Millie's cooking, there's nothing to say about it. And taking a day off, that's over a thousand in wages, just gone."

I heard my mother's voice clearly from my room. So she did know my day's pay was over a thousand.

Three days earlier she'd told me to take today off, because my brother's girlfriend was coming over.

I'd suggested she bring everyone to eat at my hotel instead. I get an employee discount, it would save a lot of money.

My mother refused. "Whoever heard of taking someone to a hotel the first time they visit? Haven't you heard a home-cooked spread is the highest way to honor a guest?"

I'd tried to talk her out of it. "Eating out at a hotel is totally normal now. Nice atmosphere, good impression, what's wrong with that?"

She flat-out refused and told me to take the day off and cook at home.

Thanksgiving is already a busy time at the hotel. I had to beg until my throat was raw before the manager finally agreed.

I had our purchasing manager bring me back a case of seafood, and chicken, duck, fish, and meat on top of that.

From early morning I was in the kitchen washing and chopping, and the whole time, my mother never once asked if I needed help.

After Zelda arrived, she didn't set foot in the kitchen at all.

One minute she'd send me to pour a glass of water, the next to cut up some fruit.

My father was curled up on the couch on his phone, my brother was eagerly rubbing Zelda's shoulders and legs, and my mother kept holding Zelda's hand, fussing over her comfort.

Only I was in the kitchen drenched in sweat, grinding away like a workhorse.

It was so hot I cracked the kitchen door open. A little cool air came in, and it made a huge difference.

But the next second my mother came storming over. "What are you opening the door for? All the heat from the kitchen is coming into the living room!"

Bang, she slammed the door shut again, and I stood there at the stove for a moment.

The food was all done. All I'd asked was for them to come carry it out, and even that was too much.

"Millie! What are you doing? What are you doing holed up in your room?" My mother's voice pulled me back.

"I'm taking a shower. I reek of sweat," I answered.

"Honestly, you always drop the ball at the worst time!" my mother muttered. "Hurry it up!"

As I showered, I pictured the look on my mother's face when she found the whole spread in the trash.

But even after I'd washed up, changed my clothes, and come out, the whole family was still sitting on the couch.

"You're done! Go bring the food out!" My mother shot me a glance.

Then she turned to Zelda with a smile. "Millie's a chef at the Regent House Hotel. Everything I had her make today is a signature dish from her restaurant. Zelda, honey, you have to eat plenty!"

"Thank you, Auntie, you're so good to me!" Zelda clung to my mother's arm like the two of them were the real mother and daughter.

"What are you standing there for? Go bring the food!" Seeing me freeze, my mother pursed her lips.

"Seriously, I'm starving. Why are you so slow today? Couldn't you have brought the food out before going to shower?" My brother joined in complaining.

I stayed where I was, and glanced toward the kitchen. "I forgot to buy drinks. I'll go get some."

I grabbed my bag and headed quickly for the door.

"Hold on!" my father called after me.