But the teenager standing in front of her looked exhausted.
Camille lowered her voice.
“Do you want me to make you something?”
His eyes filled.
For a moment, he seemed about to answer.
Then footsteps sounded upstairs.
He stepped backward.
“No, thank you.”
And disappeared into the hallway.
Camille watched him go.
That night, she asked Vanessa whether everything was all right.
Her sister looked irritated.
“What do you mean?”
“Malik seems nervous.”
Vanessa sighed.
“Because he's constantly trying to make himself the victim.”
Camille frowned.
“He barely talks.”
“Exactly. Passive-aggressive behavior.”
For a moment, Camille hesitated.
Then asked.
“Is he eating enough?”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Don't start.”
Camille stared.
Her sister continued.
“You've been here two weeks. You don't know the history.”
“I know.”
“Then don't undermine me.”
Camille backed down.
She told herself there was more to the situation than she understood.
That Vanessa had experience raising children.
That Adrian must know what was happening.
And that interfering could make everything worse.
But every evening she saw Malik sitting beside an empty plate, those explanations became harder to believe.
And eventually, Camille would have to decide whether remaining silent was really the same thing as staying out of someone else's family business.
Evelyn Brooks first suspected something was wrong at Malik's fifteenth birthday dinner.
The celebration was smaller than usual.
Adrian was away at an engineering conference in Philadelphia, but he'd arranged to call during dessert.
Vanessa invited Evelyn and Camille.
Zuri helped decorate the dining room.
Malik requested fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate cake.
Danielle used to make that meal for his birthday every year.
Evelyn arrived carrying a small wrapped present and a container of homemade sweet potatoes.
She found Malik standing beside the kitchen island.
He was wearing a blue shirt Danielle had bought before she died.
His smile looked tired.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
He hugged her.
For a moment, Evelyn noticed how thin he felt.
She stepped backward.
“Look at you.”
He smiled faintly.
“What?”
“You're growing taller every time I see you.”
He shrugged.
Evelyn touched his cheek.
“Are you eating properly?”
Malik looked away.
“Yeah, Grandma.”
She didn't like the answer.
It came too quickly.
But before she could ask anything else, Vanessa entered.
“Evelyn! So glad you could make it.”
She hugged her mother-in-law.
Then turned toward Malik.
“Why are you still standing around? Go finish setting the table.”
The boy immediately obeyed.
Evelyn watched.
For a moment, she said nothing.
At dinner, Vanessa served everyone.