Page 169 of When Love Takes Root

“Yes, ma’am,” Zuri echoed, her face softened with guilt.

Maya nodded before her voice followed. “Yes, ma’am.”

JJ cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”

Kayden’s answer came last, low and rough. “Yes, ma’am.”

I held Maya’s hand another second, then let go because if I kept touching her, I was going to cry into my rice like somebody’s overwhelmed auntie at a repast.

I looked at Josiah. “Would you mind checking it before you leave? Just to see if it’s something simple?”

Josiah didn’t hesitate. “I’ll check it.”

Kayden scoffed.

The sound scraped across the table.

JJ’s head turned slowly.

My voice lowered. “No. You had a reaction. Let’s hear it.”

Kayden leaned back in his chair, jaw set like he’d been waiting for the room to give him another reason. “Nothing.”

My eyes stayed on him. “Excuse me?”

Kayden’s eyes flicked to Josiah, then back to me. “It’s just convenient.”

JJ’s fingers curled around his fork. “Careful.”

Kayden ignored him. “One broken outlet, and now he’s checking bedrooms.”

The table went cold.

I warned him, every syllable sharp enough to cut. “Kayden Jeremiah Coleman. That is enough.”

His nostrils flared. “What? I’m the only one thinking it?”

“No, you’re the only one being disrespectful enough to say it at my table.”

Josiah set his glass down with controlled calm. “I’ll only go where your mother asks me to go. I’ll only check what she asks me to check. And I’ll do it with the door open.”

Maya’s eyes flicked toward him.

Skye’s shoulders lowered.

Zuri swallowed.

JJ’s face moved through anger, respect, and frustration so quickly I almost missed all three.

Kayden looked irritated because Josiah’s answer left him nothing solid to grab. “Man, whatever.”

I placed both hands flat on the table. “Look at me.” Kayden’s eyes cut to mine. “You will not whatever me in this house.” His jaw jumped. “Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The words came out obedient.

His face stayed hard.