Page 192 of Nyx

"It makes me feel hateful, but this is their home, too," she adds.

"I don't think it's necessary to have a cook," I say softly.

"This is the first shelter I've worked at that even had one. In the other places I worked at, there was a meal plan made and approved by all residents, and then the meals were prepared based on the skill and comfort level of the residents."

Emmalyn pauses her reach into the cabinet and turns back toward me.

"Can you give me a little more detail?"

"Of course," I say. "But understand the other shelters didn't have the same level of nutritional food that was made at Juniper House. They used a lot of frozen and processed foods, but I imagine it can be adjusted. Also, everyone had to participate. Some teamed up, so they were in the kitchen twice as much, but had help every time."

"I'm listening," she says as she crosses the kitchen and takes a seat at the table.

I follow and take a seat across from her.

"Let me explain it using the women that we have right now. Melissa's shifts at the grocery store don't usually start until around eleven or twelve, which makes her available for help with breakfast. Caroline is working second shift right now, but she still doesn't go in until closer to two, so she can help with lunch. Kayla and Dana are here every day so they can fill in the spots the working women can't."

"And with skill level?"

"We had one girl who couldn't cook to save her life, but she easily grasped the concept of the air fryer."

Emmalyn scrunches her nose.

I point over her shoulder to the cabinet. "There's a Ninja Foodi in there, which is so many gadgets in one. It's a pressure cooker. Did you know you can cook an entire frozen chicken in one of those in less than an hour?"

"I know they cook very quickly. I usually slow roast-"

I wave my hand. "We have to think in terms of what they have time for."

"Right," she says.

"Plus, helping them with a routine, responsibility, and learning ways to take care of themselves when they leave is the goal. And if someone argues about contributing-"

"Like Kayla," Emmalyn interrupts.

"Yes. I'd think she might be the first one to have an opinion, but I've dealt with that before as well. If she doesn't want to contribute, then she simply doesn't reap the benefits of the others' work. If she doesn't make breakfast for everyone on the day she's assigned, then she spends the other days of the week not enjoying the meals they cooked."

"That doesn't seem mean?" Emmalyn asks.

"Who's going to cook for her when she's on her own?" I counter. "She'll have to prepare something for herself every day then. There are four women capable of helping. So right now they only have to worry about every fourth meal."

"Makes perfect sense. I wonder what they will think about it."

I shake my head. "I've also learned that if you give too many options, you'll never get them to go in the direction you want them to," I say. "It's simple. We explain that Andrea has taken another job and then set out the expectations. The only option is that they can contribute or do it all on their own."

"I expect a little pushback," Emmalyn says.

"Of course, there will be. You know how much people hate change, especially when it involves higher expectations, but we frame it for its intended purpose. It helps build the community of women by working together. It lightens the load for them individually, and it will give them the skills they need once they're living independently."

"And if they say they can't cook at all?"

"I can hardly cook," I say, pressing my palm to my chest. "So I'll be in here learning from whoever is willing to teach me. We let them know we expect the same. If we have some who can't cook at all, then we show them how to roast a chicken in the pressure cooker, and they can make chicken salad that day. Or much to your dismay, cook chicken strips in the air fryer and make a green salad with crispy chicken."

"We'll have to set the expectations. I don't think it's healthy for someone to drop a box of cereal on the table and call it breakfast."

"We also can't expect them to make a four-course meal the way Andrea did. There's very little chance they'll have time to do that when they're on their own, especially Dana, who will also be juggling two kids and Kayla when she regains custody of Aleah."

"Looks like we're all going to have to manage our expectations," she mutters.