Cheated

“Well I had a good day.” Felix said, staring at his plate.

Kashi cut him the same look her father did. “That’s quite enough Felix.” Their dad said with enough bite to shut the teen up and wipe the smug grin from his face.

Kashi was too furious with her father to be amused. Her fork screeched across her plate as she attempted to spear the asparagus.

“Must you resort to acting like a child because you are angry, Kashi?” Her dad asked her. “I thought you wanted me to treat you like an adult.”

Kashi snapped her head up from where she was staring at the table. “Seriously, dad? It was an accident. Lord, you’re insufferable!” She shoved away from the table, jostling the dishes. She grabbed her plate, glass and utensils, dumping what she didn’t eat into her dad’s stupid compost bucket and tossing everything else into the sink.

“Kashi, wash your dishes!” Her father shouted, “Then head to your room because we need to have a chat.”

She rolled her eyes, making sure her father and brother could see how upset she was. Felix just raised an eyebrow with a smirk, turning to see what their dad would do. He didn’t say anything, just gestured to the sink with his fork.

Kashi flipped on the dim light over the sink clanging the dishes together as she washed them swift enough that they were certainly not clean. After dropping the dishes into the old cupboards so hard they nearly shattered, she jogged up the stairs and shut her door, clicking the lock behind her.

She pulled her suitcases from the closet, throwing in all the clothes her uncle had recommended for the job. He had said to come as soon as she liked. It was too late tonight, but she’d leave at the crack of dawn the next morning to get out of here if she’d have to.

Kashi threw a few pairs of shoes and her makeup into the smallest of her three bags. “Hair ties, headbands… oh my sunglasses…” Kashi muttered to herself as she wandered around to clean out what she might need. She spied a small forgotten jewelry box in the back of her closet. Perfect to pack a few pairs of earrings and some necklaces… she didn’t wear many rings…

“Kashi, can I come in?” her father rapped his knuckles on the door. His voice had lost the irritated edge from their shouting match earlier. He seemed… tired.

“Yeah, gimme a sec.” Kashi said, her own temper having ceased its original vigor. She shoved the suitcases into her closet and shut the sliding barn door that hid its contents from view.

“Hey honeydew.” he said with a small smile when she opened the door. The dark circles under his eyes had grown. That nickname…

“Daddy, I’m not five,” she protested, moving aside so he could enter her room.

He sighed, running a hand through his grayed hair. “Trust me, I know.” he motioned for her to sit as he took a seat on the edge of her bed. “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier today. I just… don’t trust my brother Kash. I know… I know it has been years since everything happened. But there are rumors in town again.”

“Come on dad, he cheated you once. When you guys were just kids, too.” Kashi protested, sitting on her carpet, running a hand through her braids to untwine the twisted strands. “Look, dad—”

“Just be careful Kash.” Her dad said. “I had my lawyer look over those employment papers and they were good, just be sure to thoroughly review your paychecks and everything, you hear?”

“My uncle isn’t going to cheat me out of a square paycheck. You must respect him enough to grant him that, dad.” Kashi sighed. Her shoulders slumped.

Her father simply raised an eyebrow. “You should review your paychecks no matter where you work.”

She put a hand on his knee from where she was seated. “Fine. I promise I’ll be careful, dad.”

“I love you very much Kashi and I don’t want you to get hurt.” Her dad said. He stood and wrapped his arms around her.

“Love you too, dad.”