"She didn't clean her room properly. She argued with me about her homework. And she's been walking around all evening with that miserable expression."
The little girl whispered, "I finished my homework."
Her stepmother pointed at her.
"See? There she goes again."
The father moved between them.
"Do not point at her."
His wife's eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't point at my daughter like she's done something wrong by answering a question."
The woman stared at him.
He turned toward the kitchen counter.
There was a covered serving dish beside the stove.
He lifted the lid.
Two additional pieces of grilled chicken rested inside.
He stared at them.
Then he looked toward his wife.
"There's more chicken."
She hesitated.
"Those are leftovers."
"Leftovers for who?"
"For tomorrow."
He looked toward his daughter's plate.
"You took food away from a hungry child while there was more sitting three feet away?"
The stepmother's jaw tightened.
"You're missing the point."
"No."
His voice remained quiet.
"I think I'm finally seeing the point."
He placed a piece of chicken on his daughter's plate.
Then he knelt beside her again.
"You can eat, sweetheart."
She stared at the food.
Her hands remained folded.
"Is it okay?"
The father felt something inside him break.
"Of course it's okay."
She looked toward her stepmother.
The father gently turned her attention back to him.
"You never have to earn dinner in this house."
Her eyes filled again.
This time, the tears spilled down her cheeks.
The father pulled another chair beside hers.
He sat quietly while she picked up her fork.
She took one small bite.
Then another.
The stepmother stood motionless beside the counter.
After a moment, she said, "Are you seriously going to undermine me in front of the children?"
The father looked at her.
"We'll talk after they eat."
"Don't speak to me like that."
"After they eat."
Something in his voice made her stop arguing.
The boy remained frozen in his chair.
The father noticed.
"Hey, buddy."
The boy looked up nervously.
"Yes, sir?"
"You can eat too."
The boy glanced toward the extra chicken.